Today we’d like to introduce you to Kassie Jones.
Hi Kassie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started when I realized I had a knack for capturing the world around me.
It was originally just to show loved ones back home the outcomes of my travels, but soon it became an obsession. After completing my academic career through the MPH program at New York University and the MBA program at Quantic School of Business and Technology, I decided to use my education and strong interpersonal skills to challenge myself in a new way.
I first entered the workforce as an aspiring videographer, looking to elevate and amplify the efforts of non-profits and organizations enacting real change. Throughout that period of my life, I interviewed celebrity activists, captured impact-focused events, and told the stories of dozens of individuals. It was as exhilarating as it was exciting.
Then the pandemic hit…
I was fortunate enough to find employment before the world turned upside down, but everything I had been working towards came to a screeching halt. So, I decided to return to what I have always known how to do best – LEARN. I started attending workshops, courses, virtual networking, watching YouTube channels, and doing everything in my ability to become a content creation powerhouse.
In just ONE year, I learned how to produce podcasts, launch a video series, tell stories using animations, develop graphic elements, create campaigns, leverage public relations, enact a social strategy, and oversee all parts of social media management. I was so proud of the creative work I accomplished surrounding vaccine hesitancy and bringing awareness to inspire people to act on public health issues, but I was completely BURNT OUT by the end of that year.
I knew the pace I had set for myself to continue down this path was not sustainable. I couldn’t appreciate the work I was doing or find a fulfilling space to exist in. I longed for a new adventure and a new city to roam around. I knew if I couldn’t physically travel, I could at least reflect on my travels.
An entirely new adventure and chapter of my life have now begun as a travel creator. I’ve taken everything I have learned these last several years and applied it to cinematic storytelling. I am excited to now develop a business centered around community, connection, and creation within the travel industry.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I felt EXTREMELY intimidated and isolated when I stepped into what is considered a “non-traditional” career path.
Deviating from the education system’s idea of intelligence and success by pursuing work in creative or making your way as a solo entrepreneur forces you about ten steps outside your comfort zone. I remember feeling an immense wave of imposter syndrome for even attempting to step into a creative field or daring to dream of the life I wanted.
I had no idea when I started where my life pivot would take me. I just knew I needed to listen to my intuition and follow it as best I could. Finding a brand new community of peers and mentors was the hardest part. Once you find a place to ask questions and show up proud of the work you create, you can start to build confidence.
I also used to be so afraid of judgment and the opinions of others when it came to the art and passions that are close to my heart. However, through guidance, validation, and a strong support system, I overcame a lot of these worries.
I have known how hard it is to start from scratch and to have zero experience. I know that content creation is intimidating when you find yourself in a sea of influencers and worrying about the stares from others if you even dared to try.
But… I know the impact meeting people all around the globe and learning from them has had on my soul, changing the core of who I am for the better, and has changed the entire course of my life.
All I want now is to share this gained insightfulness and hopefully help combat some of the negative experiences for others to one day feel confident enough to show up as their authentic selves while embracing the world around them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My professional expertise falls into the category of a multi-hyphenate creative.
Life is so short that I truly believe you should be allowed to experience all that it offers. Why not enjoy what you do for as long as you see fit. For myself, this means that while I excel at video production and content creation, I also enjoy working collaboratively with clients on social media strategy and a variety of types of work in the creative space.
At the same time, one of my truest passions lies in wandering the globe. The people closest to me know I can provide incredible recommendations for trip destinations and activities while having the capability to help them document their memorable experiences by providing them with photography and videography services.
I am ecstatic to be building a business in traveling and content creation that can bring you more than just a spike in your social media engagement. There is enormous value and potential in learning from other cultures, customs, cuisines, and the world’s natural processes. What sets me and my services apart is that I’ve been there before… not just creatively speaking but with planning trips.
You finally get to your dream destination, take it all in, and realize you have no way of knowing how to capture the moment to take it with you. There is SO much to see and so much to do. How do you know which places will end up being great? You start to feel overwhelmed again, and this trip you spent so much time coordinating and waiting for only to arrive now feels more like a chore and less like a vacation.
I want people to feel at ease and at peace during their travels, knowing I can help alleviate this burden.
Most importantly, I help teach people how to wander around the globe with an open heart and an open mind. The privilege to travel should not be taken for granted, and I know that we can find health and happiness when we allow ourselves to move through life in this way.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a child, I was very involved in a wide array of activities. I had diverse areas of interest from playing volleyball through college to being a Girl Scout for over a decade and embracing literature and the arts.
I am the oldest of four sisters and found myself to be a natural leader in a variety of circumstances in and out of school. It led me to become a strong extrovert who enjoys the challenges of new situations.
I found that as I was growing up, as a young girl who excelled in math and science I was not nurtured in my school setting to find the confidence in my abilities in the areas I did well in. Even outside these areas, there were limited opportunities for us in the arts and music. I am truly thankful for having parents who are both teachers that were able to make up for some of this through extracurriculars.
I think the combination of my father’s desire to travel with us from an early age with my mother’s highly creative skillset in her hobbies may have led me to the future I now see for myself in marrying these two industries.
Pricing:
- Social Media Audits – $100
- Content Creation Audits – $200
- Videography Services (Half Day Shoot) – $400
- Video Editing Services Starting at – $200
- Social Media Strategy Consultations Starting at – $150
Contact Info:
- Email: kj1210@nyu.edu
- Website: kassandrajones.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassssj/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kassandra.lynn.jones/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kassandraljones
