Meet Jacynth Rodriguez of Leimert Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacynth Rodriguez.

Hi Jacynth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in a small town called Fredericksburg Virginia. I’ve always been creative, as a child I loved drawing, painting, writing, singing, and playing pretend. I remember being little and saying that when I grew up I wanted to be a ballerina, and a pop star, and a farmer, and an astronaut, and an actress, and and and…

I think that varied interest in so many artistic endeavors never really went away and that sort of refusal to niche down became a strength in itself when I went to college and eventually started my career.

In school I studied English, Art History and Media Studies, it seemed really wide spread to most people but I always saw those disciplines as interconnected and always I conversation with each other. Today I lead social media and content production for a mission driven fine jewelry brand full time, and write creative non fiction essays for my Substack, And Another Thing!, produce my podcast, Mommy Issues, and raise my wonderful 13 month old daughter with my husband.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s weird, the round definitely hasn’t been linear but at the same time I’ve been able to navigate the wrong turns, dead ends, and missed exits with an ease I’m really proud of, so the road ends up feeling smooth regardless. I’ve dealt with doubters, rejections, lay offs, and tough criticisms in life but I always try to just charge it to the game and keep it pushing. One of my favorite films is Meet the Robinsons and I love that one of the main themes in it is to “keep moving forward”, and I’m Puerto Rican so my mom is always telling me “pa’lante”. I try to apply that philosophy to my life as much as I can. It’s a value I really want to instill in my daughter.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I always tell people that I’m a storyteller by heart, and a marketer by trade. No matter what hat I wear, or what the current line of my resume says, at my core I’m just trying to tell a good story. I think holding true the intrinsic value you have no matter what title you carry helps ground you.

My Linkedin will tell you that I’m a Director of Social and Content. I specialize in organic social. My clients will tell you I’m known for thinking up big ideas for brand social and executing on them.

I love what I’ve been able to build on Substack, I love connecting with people there.

But if I’m being so real, the work I’m most proud of is being a mother. I’ve found that carrying, birthing, and now raising my daughter has completely expanded my world creatively, it’s pushed me to be more empathetic. It’s made me softer in someways and sharper in others and I love that.

How do you think about happiness?
Making something that makes people feel things. I think that’s the only reason to make any art, to remind people that they’re not alone.

When my daughter smiles real big and her nose wrinkles. Seeing what makes her erupt with joy is so beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anndanotherthing.substack.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoldbyjacynth/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacynth-serrano-rodriguez/