Stephanie Wright

Give her a follow and say hello!

1. Tell me a little bit about you, who is Stephanie outside of work?

Stephanie outside of work is a lover of my amazing community of friends, dogs, good conversations, and mindful movement in the outdoors. Over the past year, I've walked hundreds of miles around the neighborhoods near my house and it's been such a joy to get to know the nooks and crannies, but also the fresh air has been so good for my anxiety.

2. What do you do for work?

I'm the Senior Digital Media and Communications Strategist at JAM Collective, a boutique agency that focuses on public relations and social media for brands mostly within the outdoor industry. I've been there for just over four years now and currently I lead the social media side of the business. JAM is a fairly small, female-only agency (which I love!) and, similar to a lot of other small companies, I have the privilege to wear a lot of hats. My responsibilities range from managing client attribution and relationships, to content strategy, all the way down to the day-to-day community engagement for our clients' platforms.

3. As a female, what are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced within your industry / the workplace or within the education system?

I feel really, really lucky to say that I have not had to deal with the same obstacles that other women face at larger companies, or those that are male-dominated. The agency I work at is made up solely of women. The beauty of working with a team full of women is that I'm constantly surrounded by strong, empowering, empathetic, boundary pushing role models. If anyone on our team is feeling overwhelmed on a project or has a personal emergency to deal with, there's never any shortage of team members willing and excited to jump in to help.

4. What women in your life inspire you and why?

I'm in awe of the women in my life that are empathetic leaders - the ones that know themselves and where they're going, but also make sure that others are heard and seen along the way. For me, it's powerful and inspiring to see those friends and colleagues choose to not just focus on themselves, but to help lift others up, too.

5. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a new life direction -- whether that be moving to a new city, pursuing a new career path, starting a side hustle or choosing a new major in school?

Gosh, I struggle with committing to big changes in life. It's super scary, and it's also way easier to choose the path of least resistance. But it's important to remember two things:

1. You can do hard things, and you will learn and grow from them 100% of the time.

2. You are allowed to change your mind. Just because you're committing to a decision, doesn't mean it's forever. If anything, try it so your future self doesn't regret not taking the chance.

6. How do you balance a job, personal life and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

Although we can get close, I'm convinced there's no such thing as balance. "Balance" to me looks like making sure I stay on top of major projects at work, moving in some way every day (with no pressure on the type/time of movement), making time each week for catching up with those from my core group of friends, and, as an introvert, ensuring that I have plenty of downtime for myself during the week (no overextending myself).

7. What are some ways you implement self-care?

Lately self-care for me has been all about slowing down and disconnecting. When I’m craving easy, gentle movement (often), I start a Yoga with Adriene YouTube video, or go for a long, aimless walk on my favorite neighborhood streets. I also think it’s important to practice cancelling plans when they might drain you instead of fill you up on that particular day (true friends understand!). Having grace with myself is also a very big part of self-care for me.

8. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders, movers and shakers?

I would tell them to raise their hand and volunteer to participate whenever an interesting opportunity comes up. I’ve found that those always lend up steering me closer to where I want to be, and I’m always going to learn from those situations. Also, don't take yourself too seriously and make sure to have fun along the way. I'm always drawn to those creators that have a certain quirk to them.

9. How can women advocate for each other?

You’ll make a bigger impact through empowerment than fear. Lift others up whenever you get the chance, even when they’re not in the room.

10. What is your power color and why?

Mustard yellow. The brightness makes me feel bold and gives me confidence. Plus I get compliments whenever I’m wearing it, and that always feels good.

11. What is your female anthem – the song that hypes you up and makes you feel like a girl boss and that you can take on anything in the world?

This changes for me so often! But Miss Movin’ On by Fifth Harmony is a powerful song I always go back to. It will get you through a breakup (of any kind) and make you push past any mistakes that might be holding you back.

Portrait illustrations are by Hailey Coral.

WOMEN ARE MAGIC | Stephanie Wright