Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Simonds.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jill. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I had little self-awareness of my gifts or any special ‘calling’ graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008, with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I did have a whole lot of entrepreneurial passion and grit to take on any challenge ahead of me. Honestly, at the time, I was just ready to be done with college and graduate. Little did I know, a deepening (and now, never-satisfied) thirst for learning and a career in business leadership was in store.
Shortly after graduating with my undergrad degree, I started a position in marketing operations in the digital publishing industry. Over the next few years, I fell more and more in love with all things marketing, strategy, and operations, and found myself saying “yes” to every opportunity to take on more. The more I took on, the more I learned, and grew into positions of management and leadership.
After our first daughter was born in 2010, I purchased a new camera and rejuvenated my love of photography. I began capturing memories for our little family, and by the time our second daughter was born in 2012, I launched my first LLC and began professionally photographing weddings and families on the side of my full time career. Not only did I love the creative outlet my photography business provided, but it fostered continual learning experience for me in business ownership, marketing, and entrepreneurship. In 2014, I also started maintaining several consulting clients on the side of my full time career, leading them through marketing strategy. It was around then, another LLC was born to better encompass both my creative services as well as consulting services.
In 2018 and only a year after our third daughter was born, I was only a few months into my current position in leadership at a marketing and media organization in the natural health industry. I decided then to pursue a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University. I will graduate this coming Spring 2020, and can say it has been the most difficult challenge (aside from being a full-time working parent) I’ve ever faced. After years in a career of being promoted to positions of leadership, I grew eager for further applicable knowledge: not only of business management, but for better equipping myself for growing and leading people. This program has deepened the self-awareness of my strengths and the type of leader I strive to be. My current organization has provided me the incredible opportunity to exercise these strengths and to learn every single day.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
On the surface, accomplishments and growth seem like they’ve been a smooth road for me, but it’s because I go hard for what I want and don’t stop until I get there.
My husband often reminds me, I point north. I have an idea, or desire, and I make it happen. If life or work is always smooth sailing, we’re not being stretched outside of our comfort, we’re not growing. I struggle endlessly with self-doubt, comparison, insecurity, and imposter syndrome. Am I really good at what I do? What do people really think about me? What does my team really say about me? Am I ever going to be as good as this person…? … Are the questions that seem to haunt me daily.
What should we know about Crave Light Media & Simonds Photographic? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a strategic business and marketing leader, consultant, and photographer, who also dabbles in fitness instruction to keep myself fit (and sane).
Specialties include: business development and operations, people coaching, digital marketing. Photography specialties are portraiture: weddings, families, and business (head shots and business marketing) throughout Colorado and willing to travel.
Creative innovation, high quality, and interpersonal relations are standards to be proud of and that set her apart in both her leadership work, and her own businesses.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
My advice particularly to women, (and especially to my amazing three daughters): do not let anything stand in the way of your passion, your potential, or your influence. Being a woman is an advantage, not a disadvantage. You are capable right now of far more than you give yourself credit. When, not if, you fall on your face, or make a mistake, because you will…Stand up. Keep going. Maybe its timing, maybe it’s another person stifling you, or maybe it’s actually YOURSELF: do not let any of these stand in your way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.simondsphotographic.com
- Email: jill@simondsphotographic.com
- Instagram: instagram/simondsphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimondsPhotographic/
Image Credit:
All photos copyright of Simonds Photographic
Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
