Jessica Rae, Engage & Resonate
ADVICE FOR YOUNGER WOMEN TRYING TO GET AHEAD IN THE INDUSTRY?
Never be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to offer your opinion, and never stop learning. The best leader is also a great humble learner.
HOW ARE YOU HELPING CLIENTS UPGRADE THEIR EXPERIENCES?
Continuously pushing boundaries that our clients may not be entirely comfortable with at first blush, but ultimately lead to success by achieving overwhelmingly positive results. We’re not the type of partner to just stand by and wait for direction. We like to challenge the status quo and look for unexpected new angles, solutions, etc. Strategically operating out of the comfort zone, at times on both sides, is almost a requirement to cut through the clutter and achieve extraordinary results.
WHAT IS ONE PROGRAM THAT MADE YOUR HEART BEAT AND WHY?
I’m very proud of many of our activations, but the one that stands out for me is the ‘McCafé Sustainable Coffee Journey’ immersive pop-up experience. It was a bit of a passion project, and the production/logistics and extreme planning required to create a single-day South American coffee farm on Michigan Avenue in the middle of winter (using natively sourced live trees, florals, and real landscaping/landscape architecture etc.) was an incredibly rewarding challenge for all of us involved. The fact that it was an enormous success with everyone pulling together, brings a great deal of pride on many fronts.
NAME ONE PERSON WHO HAS INSPIRED YOUR EVENT CAREER AND HOW/WHY?
Andrew Connell, my business partner. As a veteran in the industry, working his way through the ranks at multiple agencies and then starting his own, I admire him. His work ethic and drive, his attention to detail, and his creative mindset is hard to measure against anyone else I’ve come across during my 12 years operating within the experiential world. He’s humble in all that he does and rarely takes credit that is rightly due. He allows his team members generally, and me as his business partner specifically, to shine. This is a true leader. He helps drive our team, our productions, and our activations to a level that is not only appreciated by our clients and their target customers, but campaigns that often receive industry-wide recognition for their creative approach and high level of production.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE JUST STARTING OUT IN EVENTS?
Be prepared for a crazy (insane) roller coaster of ups and downs, long hours, and days filled with new challenges… and incredibly fulfilling opportunities. With this comes great team comradery and a fun and passionate work environment. You’ve been through the trenches together, so to speak. It is comparable, in a way, to my personal experience raising a now almost 4 year old… no matter what anyone tells you or how much you try to prepare… it is an experience that is impossible to imagine without the ability to live it day-to-day. I would not change either one for the world.
