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

Hi Jessica, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had thought about creating my blog The Desi Jess for about 2 years before I put it into action. I wanted to have a space to share my unfiltered thoughts and learnings throughout my 20’s. As a first-generation South Asian, I know firsthand that it’s difficult to practice the cultural expectations of both the Western and Eastern realms in our day-to-day lives. My main goal was to give back to a community of other young professionals in a creative and intentional manner.

A lot of my professional work in paid media inspired me to build my website and create a strategy that builds my personal brand. Very early on in my career, I’ve had a deep-rooted passion for entrepreneurship and have found many ways to meet like-minded folks who also like to create cool things. Meshing both my passions for marketing and networking into one has fueled a fire within me, helping me host events like yoga classes and professional mixers.

I recognize I am still very early on in my career, but I do want to send a message that it is never too early to start building what makes you inspired. Many times, we tend to stop ourselves because we are not as “experienced” or feel limited by time. In reality, what you pour into your projects is what you get in return, so make sure you give your dreams the absolute most.

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.
In my day to day, I work as a paid media specialist for a marketing agency. Ever since I was in college, I knew that I wanted to work in the marketing realm; my biggest question was where that would be. When I stumbled into a digital marketing role for my first job after college, I truly did not think I would become as interested as I have become in ad strategy and analytics. In the beginning, it was a challenge to pick up the jargon and become familiar with platforms that are available to use, but it has allowed me to stay vigilant with my education as changes in technology have introduced new learnings to consumer decisions across a variety of industries.

My experience in paid media is also what enabled me to explore website development and analytics. There are a lot of transferrable skills from my professional role that have helped me succeed as a blogger. I have to know how to write copy, create content that is appealing to the eye, and understand how to apply data to reach a larger audience. The biggest learning that has come from these experiences is remembering to stay curious in different realms of the field. Whether it is networking with folks who you would partner with in the future (in my case, graphic designers or SEO specialists) or taking relevant courses, it’s so important to invest in that education so you can show up as your best self in whatever setting you are in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Since I am from Orange County, it’s possible to be able to experience the beach, snow, and desert all in one day. I would make sure that we can experience that since it is not something you can do everyday. I love OC because we are so close to LA and San Diego and also half a day from Vegas!

Some other must-sees would be to go to Laguna Beach as it is the cutest beach town with a ton of hidden and local nooks, like Gelato Paradiso and Sawdust Festival. I also think the hot air balloon ride at the Great Park is a local secret; it’s beautiful during sunset and not to mention it is free. It wouldn’t be a week with Jess unless we hit a night out in the town at least once. My personal favorite place to enjoy a drink would be the Bungalow Huntington Beach; it’s nicely decorated with great music!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As generic as this sounds, the greatest role models in my life have been the women in my life. I grew up in a woman-dominated household, where my mother left her entire family and dreams in India for the chance of a better future for both myself and my sister. Growing up in a do-it-yourself household forced me to be independent at a younger age, but it also taught me how to dream big while leading with compassion and empathy.

Today, I am so grateful to have the unconditional support of some badass women who are powerhouses in their roles. They have seen the potential through my low lows and that is what has inspired me to stay curious and continue hustling. I look forward to using this passion to continue uplifting and inspiring the future generations ahead of me.

Website: https://www.thedesijess.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicashah29/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-shah99/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008172486075

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.