Meet Brandon Ross of J and Z

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Ross

Hi Brandon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Born and raised in South Los Angeles in the late 80’s, early 90’s. My upbringing was unique compared to my neighborhood friends. I was exposed to different parts of life due to my Mom’s ambition to have me attend schools in areas that offered safer surroundings at the time. I had a interest early on in the entertainment industry. I thought I wanted to be an actor, but realized quickly that my heart was not in it. I did have a huge curiosity into how TV/Film was made and so I explored the idea of being a filmmaker. That profession turned out to be more a weekend gig than a full on career. Over the years, I was able to Direct and Producer several documentaries. But what ended up being my main career for years, was something I discovered while attending Santa Monica College.

During my time there, I stumbled upon an unexpected opportunity to manage friends who were DJs. This experience opened my eyes to a new realm of possibilities and sparked a career trajectory that would define the next chapter of my life. Armed with my newfound skill set, I embarked on a journey as a Road Manager for several pop acts, representing actors, writers, and a diverse range of below-the-line talent.

Through perseverance and a willingness to embrace change, I’ve navigated the ever-evolving landscape of the entertainment industry, continually seeking out new avenues for creativity and success. With each experience, I’ve honed my skills, expanded my horizons, and remained steadfast in my commitment to innovation and growth.

However, when the pandemic hit, the landscape of the entertainment industry shifted dramatically, presenting unforeseen challenges for my talent management business. In response, I pivoted and founded a new venture that epitomized resilience and adaptability. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technology, I established a company focused on creating virtual influencers. The goal was to provide brands with innovative solutions to reach niche audiences efficiently and cost-effectively.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth at all. My education of being a part of the entertainment industry or running a business was nonexistent. I had to learn a lot of what I know from the School of Hard Knocks.

A large part of my life I’ve been a business owner. When you’re growing a business, it can become a 24/7 task. When there is a 3am phone call, you typically are the one to pick it up. This is taxing professionally and personally.

The main challenges I’ve occurred is obtaining consistent growth with any of my businesses. As a manager of talent for years, you seem to think that each new opportunity for your client will be the one that not ony propels them, but also you.

In my new business and role in life as a father, the main challenge has been finding balance.

As you know, we’re big fans of J and Z. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
J & Z combines traditional storytelling and AI Technology to develop new-age tools, which enable brands to create trendsetting, versatile, and cost-effective experiences.

At the company, I am the CEO/Co-founder.

We feel our company will be a game-changer in the world of advertising, because our Influencers/Virtual Humans are highly adaptable and cost-effective.

What makes me most proud about J & Z is that it is a black and women owned tech company. This sets us apart in a few different ways, but mainly it’s our ability to tell stories through our Virtual Humans that are unique to our culture. Our first Virtual Human is a minority Chef who is traveling the world to teach people how to cook dishes from different cultures. Since the staff is diverse, we feel close enough to tell these stories and deliver Chef Jade’s recipes in an authentic way.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love that Los Angeles is extremely diverse and offers tons of opportunities to various economic classes.

What I like least is that the wealth divide is growing rapidly and the city is becoming more sectioned off based on it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jadeandzelda.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefjadesjourney/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefjade3739
• Other: https://cookingwithjade.com

Image Credits
Chef Jade (featured Virtual Human)