Meet Jessica Joseph | Dedicated Business Professional and Community Building Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Joseph and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what do you attribute your success to?

Consistency, perseverance, and patience are essential for success.

I branded myself when I was given the opportunity to manage philanthropy and public relations in my former role. I was behind the scenes throughout my career, assisting C-suite executives, board members, and philanthropists. But when this opportunity presented itself, I accepted the challenge. The challenge was to gain the community’s trust. Therefore, I established relationships with people I knew would open doors for me, whether I was involved in organizations, sharing my story, or being passionate about delivering that same message to the public eye; once my credibility was established, I became the sole advocate for the organization’s mission. Getting involved is essential to success in your industry; anyone can do it with the right mindset and strategy. For this reason, success is not given; you must work hard to achieve it. It takes time to build a brand, not just build it but maintain it and obtain the trust of your community. I have been involved in many organizations and have established credibility with constituents because of the relationship and delivery of my purpose. Being consistent with your message, not quitting, and being patient is critical.  Everyone wants the easy way out. It doesn’t work that way; you will achieve your dream by working hard and being there in your industry. If you don’t, that’s when people settle or give up.  I have always said, today is all about using the right tools, and one of the powerful tools is social media.  Once I started sharing my passion through those outlets, I gained a tremendous amount of trust through the eyes of the public. There are many avenues to this, the key is to stay consistent.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started my journey as a young adult and learned throughout the years that a work ethic is something you acquire. I have worked in the corporate environment and had great opportunities working in the nonprofit sector, mainly in healthcare organizations. Many doors have opened since then. My career growth has taken me to where I am today. My breakthrough was when I shared my story about my grandparents, who were in a hospice. I started seeing how I resonated with the community as I became vulnerable, but I knew I was not alone. That is when I became known in the community and was passionate about being mission-driven for the organization because the community resonated personally. It was not easy to share something like this, but it is part of life. My last role helped shape who I have become and helped me change my mind set when it comes to helping others, from people who are visually impaired to end of life care and now infusion for individuals with immunocompromised diseases. That is where my advocacy played a role, educating the public, giving insights about my industry, and giving back to the community. Everyone faces challenges, and getting to the top takes a lot of effort. At the same time, not everyone is your cheerleader. I overcame many obstacles because of my perseverance, genuine authenticity, and eagerness never to give up! I am mission-driven; if I believe in something, I get involved in helping others. I need to learn to say no because I am passionate about helping others. I always like to inspire people about being a leader and not be selfish about it.  Being a leader is so important as there is always someone who you will inspire because we are all human, and we can learn from one another.  As they say, “Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.”  We all need to learn to be positive and not focus on the negative. For this, I started sharing inspirational messages about life experiences on my social feed to encourage someone to never give up!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think anywhere in South Florida is great for a vacation! I say to my family and friends who are not locals, “We live where you come to vacation!” I love going to brunch spots, especially now that we have foodies on social media where we can find anything. I am always looking to try something new. For example, the Design District, Michael’s Genuine is a nice spot and Brickell City Center, I am of Mexican descent, so I love a good taco place like Tacology. My nightlife consists of an upscale lounge or a hot spot like Sexy Fish or Rosa Sky. In Miami Beach, I love Papi Steak. For artistic lovers, a nice walk in Wynwood, sightseeing at Wynwood Walls, and hanging out at one of their restaurants for a quick bite, I love Coyo Tacos. For the South Florida culture, you must check out spots in Little Havana, 8th Street, also known as Calle Ocho.  There is a hot spot called Casa Tiki where they have a DJ with great food and drinks. If you have a sweet tooth, Azucar Ice Cream has unique ice cream flavors.  Anyone who comes to Miami must stop at the local spots for a Cafecito such as Versailles, take selfies next to the rooster, and watch a live domino tournament.  For a beach day, I prefer to sunbathe at Ft. Lauderdale Beach, and if you want to have a good margarita on the beach, go to Margaritaville in Hollywood Beach, and you can take advantage of their Flowrider!  A day in Ft. Lauderdale is also a nice stroll down Las Olas Blvd. with many restaurants. But there is plenty to do in Miami Beach on Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road. For the kiddos, I love adventure, so I would go zip lining in Jungle Island or jet skiing on the beach. There are also Museums, such as the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science; I love the Paradox Museum for a cute selfie spot! You can’t come to South Florida without renting a yacht for a day! If you like to shop, I like Aventura Mall and the Village of Merrick Shops. There are always exciting people around town; go to the local hot spots, and you will see someone!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This one is tough! There are so many individuals to recognize that I can write a long list of names who have helped shape my career. However, my family has supported me throughout my career. They have seen me work with blood, sweat, and tears, my challenges, and successes! So, a big SHOUT-OUT to my family! My support doesn’t stop there; the community has supported my passion throughout my career, and that is to spread the message of helping others in need. I look up to my mentors, community leaders, and close friends and colleagues for their support. No one can do this alone; it takes a tribe to become successful. Coming from the corporate world to nonprofit organizations and healthcare inspires me because I can assist individuals with compassion and purpose and inspire others not to be afraid of pursuing their dreams. I want to recognize everyone who believed in my vision (and you know who you are), the individuals who recognized me as a Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Hispanic Excellence Honoree, the Miami Lakes, and South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and all my women friends/leaders who strive to empower each other. I also believe in supporting my women friends and uplifting each other. We are a community circle of women who always inspire one another. Last but not least, I must give a shout-out to my community! Without your support, I would not be where I am today!

Instagram: @jessyljo

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jessicaljoseph

Twitter: @jessyljo

Other: threads: jessyljo

Image Credits Hispanic Women of Distinction: Downtown Photo Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce: AC Graphics Miami