Meet Trailblazer Janelle Kenny Orion

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janelle Kenny Orion.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Prior to starting Shine Bright Marketing, I was the Marketing Director for 15 years at SOL Lingerie, one of the largest independent lingerie companies in the country. I took a pause in my career in 2015 to travel, smile and laugh by going on a six-month solo round-the-world adventure that included volunteering in Nepal and Uganda, meditating in India, doing handstands on Antarctica and climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The break allowed me to spend time reflecting on what I wanted to do next.

During this time, I read a lot of books and spoke to lots of people. I learned terms like life-style design and geographic independence which really resonated with me. Becoming an entrepreneur, although scary, provided the opportunity to live the life I wanted which was to have a flexible schedule and be able to travel internationally.

Almost immediately after starting my marketing company I hired a business coach who works with female entrepreneurs. That was the best investment I could have made. She taught me not only the skills needed to run a successful business but how my emotional states and fears tie to those skills. I was able to apply what I learned in that course almost immediately to my business and saw my client base grow.

But my entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop with my marketing company. After a couple of years in business, my partner and I started what I call our side hustle, which is a travel company called Toward Awakening Travel. Once or twice a year, we take people on eye-opening travel adventures around the world. It keeps life interesting (and challenging) and combines all the things I love to do.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I believe that by choosing the path of entrepreneurship one is intentionally choosing a bumpy (but exciting) road. There is just so much to learn about running a business. From product development to marketing to sales, strategy, finances, taxes, time management, pricing my services… the list goes on and on. There were definitely days where I just sat down and cried wondering if I was going to succeed. I felt so vulnerable putting myself out there into the world and then on top of that, having to figure out a price tag on what my value was.

The strongest piece of advice I can give women who are just starting out is to surround themselves with a solid support system; whether a business coach, a circle of other female entrepreneurs or a close-knit networking group. Business skills can be learned but to have people cheer you on when you are down and know you are not alone in your struggle is invaluable.

We’d love to hear more about Shine Bright Marketing.
Shine Bright Marketing works with entrepreneurs who have been in business for a couple of years, are ready to invest in marketing but don’t know where to start. Marketing is this really broad term and in the modern workplace marketing, sales and operations are closely intertwined. We help clients gain clarity and confidence in where to spend their marketing dollars and why.

What sets Shine Bright apart from other agencies is our ability to analyze customer data (which is literally a goldmine of information) to help determine a company’s target audience which helps guide which marketing tactics to prioritize.

As I mentioned in a previous answer, the road of entrepreneurship is a bumpy one. Entrepreneurs may be really good at what they do, but may not have a lot of experience with marketing. I often serve as a part-time CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) which is a huge value to them. Owners get the guidance and help they need to establish their marketing operations and processes, so they can actually do the marketing they want to do (you can’t send out an email newsletter if you do not have a process around collecting emails).

I’m most proud of the integrity and professionalism we bring to our clients. It is always the highlight of my day when a client tells me how much they value what I am bringing to the table (and it’s even better when they refer Shine Bright to someone else). Several of my clients have been with us for years.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
There are literally tens if not a hundred networking groups focused on helping women succeed in business. My suggestion is to attend several, meet people and join the one whose vibe you resonate with the most. I also highly recommend hiring a business coach early on and every time you are going through a growth phase. When you have too much on your plate to keep up, that’s the time you need help. Even if it seems like you can’t afford it, the right coach is absolutely worth it.

Another tip is finding a mentor or coach who is actually DOING the skills she says she can teach you. For example, at the seminar I went to for my coach, I was so impressed with her sales technique that she used in getting ME to want to buy her services. I wanted to learn that skill and I knew not only could she teach it, but I could also learn from watching her do it too.

Pricing:

• Shine Bright Baseline Marketing Assessment – $1000

Contact Info:

• Website: shinebrightmarketing.com
• Phone: 303-548-4731
• Email: hello@shinebrightmarketing.com
• Other: https://linkedin.com/in/janellemkenny/

Image Credit:
Stephanie Martychenko, Sweet Green Photography (for the headshot)

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.