Inspiring Conversations with Melinda Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Jackson.

Hi Melinda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up about 45 minutes outside of Raleigh in Erwin, NC. After attending Campbell University, I moved to Los Angeles, CA where I started a career in Entertainment Public Relations. It was the most amazing place to spend the bulk of my 20’s, learning so much about PR and having the opportunity to work with celebrities that I have always admired. After seven years, I got the itch to move back to NC to be closer to my family, including my two adorable nephews. Once I neared my 10th year in PR, I remembered that during my initial interviews for jobs in LA, I would always say that my 10-year plan was to own my own company. So in Oct 2018, I made the jump from full-time employment at an agency to full-time self-employment. Being the daughter of two hardworking entrepreneurs, I knew that I could successfully make my dreams a reality. Just a few years in, I am now able to work with clients who I truly believe in and help them grow their business, all while having the chance to travel the world and work remotely when I need to.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Both public relations and the entertainment industry can be very cutthroat. Add those together and it’s hard to keep your head above water sometimes. I am so thankful for the hardships I faced in my early 20’s as a young professional because it makes anything in my 30’s as an entrepreneur that much easier. When I first started my own company, I had a hard time asking for my worth, which I feel is a problem many female entrepreneurs have. However, once I started standing my ground and asking for the fees that I knew were fair, my potential clients began respecting me more and didn’t have a problem paying that.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Melinda Jackson Public Relations is a full-service PR firm specializing in traditional public relations, brand consulting, and influencer marketing. MJPR works with a wide variety of clients, including female entrepreneurs, thought leaders, as well as musicians. We are a small but mighty team!

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping clients grow their brands. I love when one press placement, no matter how big or small, positively impacts my client’s business. While not entirely intentional, I have found that our client roster has begun leaning towards servicing female entrepreneurs, which is so fun for me. Representation is important and it’s so fun to be able to tell these amazing stories.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I am a very spiritual person and think that I must have some good karma stored up somewhere! While I know that I have worked incredibly hard to get to where I am today, I also know that luck/God/the Universe has definitely had a hand in this as well! There’s something to be said about having faith in yourself and trusting your gut! You will always be rewarded.

Contact Info:

• Email: melinda@melindajacksonpr.com
• Website: www.melindajacksonpr.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/melindajacksonpr
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/melindajacksonpr
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/melindagale

Image Credits
The first white blazer image credit is Three Region Photography.