Trailblazing a Path for a Creative Career

My journey in entrepreneurship has led me to a place where I have decided to be fearless enough to fail, bold enough to create, and ambitious enough to succeed.

"My work wife, Alice, coaching me through one of our many strategy meetings with our AI assistant."

Earlier this year, I sat in the final round of an interview for a job I didn’t even want. It was a good job—interesting work, a fancy title, and respectable pay—but each time I moved to the next round, I couldn’t bring myself to feel the slightest excitement about it. I showed up underdressed, no suit, hardly even trying, almost willing them to tell me “no.”

Then came the final interview, a virtual panel. I could see the entire group on my computer screen, nodding along as we talked, clearly invested in what I could bring to the role. Finally, they asked if I had any questions. That’s when it happened—a last act of what I can only call self-sabotage. With absolute sincerity, I asked, “Are you all happy here?”

The lively energy of the discussion evaporated. Silence. They shifted uncomfortably, and through the screen, I felt the tension rise. One of the panelists, a young woman I could tell really liked me, mustered the courage to try to answer. But I didn’t need her response; I’d been in jobs like this before, where the title sounded impressive, but the experience wasn’t the same.

At that moment, I realized I didn’t want another role that only used a sliver of what I had to offer. I wanted to create something that embraced all of me—my love of journalism, my understanding of international affairs, and my desire to connect these experiences meaningfully.

What is JAM CQ?

Last week we had an epic virtual launch party, revealing JAM CQ to the world.

JAM CQ is my answer to the question, “What do you do with a unique skill set like mine?” It is a new publication blending global business with cultural intelligence, offering readers insightful stories that explore how culture shapes business. From emerging global trends to the nuances of regional markets, JAM CQ brings a fresh, accessible angle to what’s often seen as a complex topic. Yes, I want minorities to be part of these experiences and opportunities. Yes, I want women to be part of these business deals. Yes, I want students to learn about the world. We envision JAM CQ as more than a newsletter or magazine; we want it to be a community and an educational tool.

JAM CQ is where business and culture meet in the form of a newsletter, magazine, community, and other educational and training products.

JAM CQ brings together all my years of experience at the State Department and as a journalist—two roles I once thought were too different to reconcile.

This project is not just a career pivot; it’s a creative revolution in my life. Building JAM CQ from the ground up has reignited a part of me that I thought had been dulled by years of fitting into roles that only used pieces of who I am. Recently, a friend told me, “You seem alive again,” and I feel it. This is the thrill of building something uniquely my own, of shaping a narrative that doesn’t shy away from the complexities of culture and international affairs.

The Journey and the Team

Alice and I up late working.

Starting JAM CQ hasn’t been an easy path. It’s been a series of long nights, learning curves, and serious adjustments from the nonprofit work I was used to. But I’ve been blessed with an incredible team that makes it all worthwhile.

Alice, a close friend with a background in psychology, culture, and tech startups, brings a deep understanding of what it takes mentally to make a startup thrive. She knows how to keep us focused and resilient. One of my favorite things she has taught me is the importance of physical health when running a business. Working out is essential for building mental resilience.

Then there’s Muhammad, one of the best analysts I know, who worked with me at the State Department in Saudi Arabia. When I worked with Muhammad there, everyone wanted to poach him from me onto their team. I felt so honored when he reached out to me, saying he wanted to work with me again. His deep knowledge of the Middle East and his sharp analysis truly put us ahead of the curve.

Half of the journey is the people, and I feel so lucky to have a team. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone wanting to start something, it would be this: find a quality partner or two.

Motherhood and Business

Speaking of quality partners, there’s a reason many startups are run by young, single people. Being a mother and business owner isn’t easy. Yet, in some ways, starting a business at this age means I’m wiser and bring more experience to the work, which is invaluable for an intelligence product like JAM CQ.

Trunk-o-treat event with my two little pumpkins

Motherhood in business sometimes looks like being in a virtual meeting when one of my kids has an accident, rushing to end the call, bathing him, and then diving into the next meeting with plans to bathe the other later—if I don’t completely forget. It’s oven-baked chicken nuggets for dinner more nights in a row than I’d like to admit because, as much as I love what I do, something has to give. It’s leaving the dishes for “tomorrow” for the second day in a row because energy really is finite. It’s feeling like a failure when my kid has to miss the pumpkin patch field trip because I missed the date to submit the permission slip, and it’s putting off meetings because I promised to take the kids trick-or-treating. My husband and I are both stretched thin, and I know I could not do this without his support.

In the end, he believes in the work and supports each step we take to build this product. Family is another part of the network that has made this possible.

Choosing Your Own Path

At its core, JAM CQ is a testament to the power of finding your own way, of creating a path when the traditional routes just don’t fit. This journey has taught me that a career pivot isn’t about abandoning who you were but embracing the full scope of who you are. In a world that sometimes wants to box us in, JAM CQ is my way of breaking free—a platform as multifaceted as the people behind it, a place where creativity is more than a buzzword; it’s the pulse of everything we do.

I hope others take away that, in both career and life, there is always room to create—even when the world feels chaotic, even when the steps forward are unclear. When you follow your creativity, you might just find that you’re crafting not only a career but a life that feels fully, genuinely yours.

What We Need

Throughout this process, I’ve had a few people ask, “What do you need and how can we help?” And I am learning to be more open about what we’re looking for.

So here’s where we could use a hand:

• Sponsorships and Partnerships:
  We’re seeking companies and organizations that believe in JAM CQ’s mission and want to partner with us. Whether it’s sponsoring a newsletter vertical, supporting our educational content development, or investing in specific initiatives within JAM CQ, these partnerships are essential to our growth.

• Referrals and Connections:
  If you know someone who might be a good fit as a sponsor, investor, or advisor, please connect us. Every referral, every introduction is invaluable. We’re looking to connect with people who see the importance of bridging culture and business and want to make this happen.

• Paid Subscriptions and Community Support:
  Growing our subscriber base is a big part of making JAM CQ sustainable. We’ve set up a subscription model with both free and paid content, so if you believe in our work, consider subscribing or sharing JAM CQ with friends who would find our content valuable.

Thank you for being part of this journey, and for sharing in the vision of what JAM CQ can become.

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