Jessi Adler
[00:00:00] Jolie Downs: Welcome to the Career Wanderlust podcast, your compass for new career horizons. Today we are talking with Jessi Adler. Jessi has over 20 years of communications and storytelling experience.
[00:00:12] She started her career handling government communications before working with companies and organizations such as Emergent BioSolutions. Michigan Community Service Commission, and Michigan State University. Jessie is now the Director of Media and Influencer Relations with Platform, a communications agency working with companies at the forefront of innovation.
[00:00:34] When Jessi is not at her desk, she's traveling the country in her Airstream, hiking and trail running. Very inspiring. I'm really excited to learn more. Jessi, thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust podcast.
[00:00:47] Jessi Adler: Oh, thanks for having me. Excited to be here.
[00:00:49] Jolie Downs: I'm excited to have you. Could you please tell us a little bit about what you feel has been some of your favorite career advice
[00:00:56] Jessi Adler: and why?
[00:00:57] So I will get into that, but I'm going to back up a little bit to explain why that is my career advice. Okay. So. You mentioned that we, I kind of live in the, live and travel in the Airstream and a little background on my husband and I, about four years ago, actually longer than that, but four years ago, uh, decided that we were going to leave the corporate lifestyle, work remotely and travel the country.
[00:01:22] And so, which is very unconventional, although it's starting to be more popular, but this was pre COVID and. So, I mean, going back probably five or six years, we really wanted to do this. And we spent a good couple of years trying to figure out how to make it happen. And so now we do, I, I work remotely and so does he.
[00:01:41] And so we travel the country six to nine months out of the year, , in doing that, which is really cool. And, and so that leads me into. My career advice, which is don't settle. Like for me, it was, you know, I'd worked in government, I'd worked for manufacturing, I'd worked for the state, I'd worked for higher ed.
[00:01:59] I mean, I'd had all these, what you would consider a corporate job and. You went to an office every day, all day, no exceptions. And that just wasn't the lifestyle that we wanted. And so for me, it became, don't settle with what you have. Look towards the future and make sure that, you know, your. , what is your dream job or what is your dream lifestyle?
[00:02:23] Because I wouldn't necessarily say that the job I'm currently in is my dream job, but it affords me to have that dream lifestyle. And, and my employer is so supportive of that. And so I found a company that was fully remote and I spent a year, you know, looking for that right job and I landed it. And I've been there for years and have been very happy with it.
[00:02:45] And, and my, the clients that I work with are always so excited to. Find out where I am on any given day and, and to talk about our adventures. And so, you know, I think I spent way too long in jobs that just weren't getting me anywhere. I mean, professionally, yes, but not personally. And so again, going back to that, you know, you figure out what you want to do and, and don't, don't just settle because it works, but really get out there and.
[00:03:10] Figure out what your passions are and, and find a job and a lifestyle that works for you.
[00:03:14] Jolie Downs: I love this so much. Don't settle. Yes. There are so many opportunities out there, right? Especially in this day and age. I mean, we really live in a, in a time that no one before us has had so many opportunities available to them.
[00:03:28] And
[00:03:29] Jessi Adler: I think that's COVID did change a lot and people were very much more supportive and understanding of. What you, what can be done that's not necessarily in a bricks and mortar office. , and, and while many companies are requesting employees be back in the office part time, it just, and that technology has changed so much.
[00:03:47] So these jobs that were never available to us before are now out there. So yeah, there's just so many more possibilities. Exactly.
[00:03:53] Jolie Downs: And it starts with believing that you, that you can have what it is that you want, right? I mean, that, that don't settling, like you need to know that you can, that you can create that for yourself.
[00:04:01] You can, you got to first figure out what it is you want. Like you said, get that clarity, know what you want and then, and then create it. It might, it might take a little bit of time, but if you just keep moving steps forward in the right directions of where you want to be, you're going to get there. So I think it's incredibly, incredibly important career advice.
[00:04:17] Thank you.
[00:04:20] Jessi Adler: And I think as part of that, I just wanted to add that, you know, be willing to take risks. I mean, we weren't sure this was going to work. And so I think that's the other piece of advice I'd give somebody is be willing to take a risk on whatever that looks like, whether that's, you know, asking for a raise, a promotion, , jumping into a new career, going back to school, joy, you know, buying a, buying a van and he's an Airstream or trying to travel the country.
[00:04:44] Like. It, you know, life's too short, you got to have some
[00:04:48] Jolie Downs: fun with it. Well, look, and the studies show when they talk to people at the end of their lives, they do not regret the things that they did. They regret the things they did not do. So take the risks. Okay. Now, what about story time?
[00:05:00] Could you share a story about an impactful event or lesson that happened in your work or career? What happened? What did you learn from it?
[00:05:08] Jessi Adler: So this is The story I'm going to tell is kind of the, not the most, it is definitely not the moment we decided to work remotely, but the moment that sort of changed my whole correct trajectory.
[00:05:23] And I'd been working at Michigan state and the university had gone through a lot of, um, I'm going to say crisis issues over the last few years that I had been there. A lot of changes within the university, within my department, my role, just because of everything that was going on. And some things needed to happen and change.
[00:05:46] And so we were trying to figure out from an organizational structure where my role fit into that organization, simply because the job I had been doing was, did no longer existed. So what was, what was going to come next? And Ari and I had, my husband had already been talking about doing this remote lifestyle.
[00:06:04] And so we said, you know what? Let me approach my employer, Michigan state about whether I could work remotely for them. We already had a couple other team members doing it. Maybe we could do it too. And unfortunately, that conversation did not go as I planned. You took the risk, I thought. I took the risk, I took the risk, I laid it out on paper, I went in there and I said, here's what I want to do, here's how it's going to work, here are the days that I will be in the office, here are the days I won't be in the office, and it was a flat out no.
[00:06:34] Um, couple things with that. I mean, they, they basically said, well, you, you do what you need to do. That's best for your family. And I said, okay, well I'll, I'll think on that. And then a couple days later, , I went to, I went to coffee, , on campus with one of my colleagues, that kind of a manager mentor at the time.
[00:06:53] And it just so happened that. And I, I don't drink coffee. I never go to Starbucks, but she, you know, her and I just decided to go that day. And on the little chalkboard in that Starbucks, it said, you know, free drinks on us. If your name is any variation of Jessica. And I looked at that sign and I was like.
[00:07:14] Hey, free drinks, but will it really signified to me was her and I sat down and had a conversation that day about what, what was going to happen next for me, where was my role going to be within the university. And that was at the end of 2018. And we figured out a short, you know, we figured out a plan, but I.
[00:07:31] Pretty much put her on notice that day in that coffee shop that I was looking to leave and that I was going to be finding something and I think she didn't really think I was serious. And so I spent, you know, about nine months looking for jobs and that the day I walked in nine months later and told her I had found a job and I was leaving, she's like, Oh, you weren't kidding.
[00:07:53] You, you really were leaving. And I said, I told you back in that coffee shop. What I was going to do and I did it. I took the risk. I made a change. And so I kind of like go back on that day and every day that every time I posted it on Facebook and your memories, like I had taken a picture of like, Hey, bring drinks on us.
[00:08:11] And so every year when that memory pops up for me, it's just a reminder of how much has changed in my life for the last four years and that. I was willing to put myself out there and make a career change and, and stand up for what I believed in, because I think that was most important to me at that time.
[00:08:28] Oh, I
[00:08:28] Jolie Downs: applaud you. This is a great story. It's, it's very inspiring because this is, look, this is, this is how it works, right? Like you said, you take the risk. When, when you find out what it is that you need, what it is that you want, what you need to make yourself happy, you ask for it. And when you ask your employer for it, they now have the opportunity to give you what, give you what you need.
[00:08:48] Or give you a path towards what you need if it's not available to you right now, or say no, and at that point you have the information and you get to choose what you want to do with that information and it's completely up to you what you do with that choice. And when you know what it is you want and your employer says no, they can't give it to you, then that's the best time to start looking for something
[00:09:05] Jessi Adler: new.
[00:09:06] You know, it really was. And I am so grateful that my employer now. , fully embraces what I do. And, and, you know, she founded the company on the guise of, you know, she, a, she wanted talent from anywhere. And so understood that, you know, going with a remote format allowed her to do that. Um, but also that. You know, it really doesn't matter where, where I'm at.
[00:09:32] I, I get the work done and I'm available to my clients and it's a, it's a good talking point for the clients. And, and so it's, it's just a big difference in, in mentality. And so, , it's just, it's nice being in a company that fully supports like the whole package of everything.
[00:09:48] Jolie Downs: Right.
[00:09:48] I completely agree. And it's, it's really the smart way to go because as you said, you're, you have access to the talent that you need when you're open to that. And, and look, we, we've, we've known that this works for years, you know, like the pandemic just brought everyone up to speed with that knowledge. So now tell me, could you tell me a little bit more about platform?
[00:10:09] I mean, what attracted you to the position there? And if you can comment, , what do you think has helped serve you in landing your communications positions?
[00:10:19] Jessi Adler: So Platform PR is a boutique agency. Most of our clients are in the legal technology, fintech, insure tech, professional services spaces. So in a nutshell, that means we're, it's all B2B.
[00:10:34] Our clients make the software that other businesses use. For example, I said legal technology. So our, our clients make the software, the services that lawyers use in their daily jobs. That's, that's sort of the, the shortcut way of
[00:10:49] Jolie Downs: saying a lot of your, the B2B tech is really where you're at.
[00:10:52] Jessi Adler: B2B tech is where we really focus in on and, you know, I've gotten really good at that well known, you know, in the sphere for our, our PR work and communications and marketing works with our clients. So that's where we focus in on and, you know, it really takes. very smart, dedicated, and, you know, passionate people to be in our agency because we are fully remote.
[00:11:14] And so the only time I see my coworkers is a handful of times a year when we go to industry conferences and support our clients, or maybe we'll get together for a retreat or on zoom calls. And so you have to trust your coworkers that they're going to get their work done. You have to know that they've got the knowledge that they need to do the job.
[00:11:36] And, and we don't expect anybody coming into our agency to know everything there is to know about, you know, FinTech or legal tech. Like we can teach you the industry, we need solid PR skills. And so that's what we look with, look at when we're looking to hire is, you know, what's your background, , because we.
[00:11:53] , tend to not hire entry level because it is harder to train them when we're remote. So we usually look for a little bit more seasoned professionals, maybe, you know, minimum of five years experience so that you do have a good grasp of PR under your belt before you come to us. And then we can teach you whatever it is you need to know.
[00:12:10] I mean, I'm learning something every day, especially my gosh, technology is changing so quickly. Right. Yeah. That. Trying to keep up with our clients some days can be a challenge. So yeah, I know way more about a lot of things that I ever expected to in my life, whether it's, you know, gen AI or legal research or anything of that nature.
[00:12:29] Just, it's just crazy how Things are changing on a daily basis,
[00:12:34] Jolie Downs: but isn't that the beauty of what you do as NPR because you work with so many different types of companies. You, you gain this knowledge and all of these different areas. I don't, and then throughout your career that really expands. Oh yeah.
[00:12:47] It's really interesting. Every PR person I talked to is just a wealth of knowledge on all kinds of different
[00:12:51] Jessi Adler: things. Oh, isn't that the case? I mean, going back to my legislative days, I, my, my very first job out of college was working for the state legislature and, , It was almost like a mini agency because you worked for five or six different senators.
[00:13:04] They each had their passion projects. And so, you know, I learned everything from environmental regulations to telecommunications to, I mean, I don't even know you name it. We talked about it and learned about it. And so I, Yeah, I always say I know a little bit about like a gazillion things and it just carries on whether it was in manufacturing or higher ed or community service and now, you know, professional service.
[00:13:31] FinTech. Yeah, it's, uh, there's, there's a lot going on up here in this brain .
[00:13:35] Jolie Downs: Yeah. It makes me think. I'm curious, are you good at trivia ? I'm ,
[00:13:39] Jessi Adler: yes. Good. You're the one to bring it. Trivia. I'm unc un uncertain topics anyways. Yes, .
[00:13:46] Jolie Downs: That's great. So I'm curious, is there anything that you have read, watched, or listened to that had a really positive impact on you?
[00:13:55] Could positively impact other people.
[00:13:57] Jessi Adler: So I'm going to give you two completely different things on this because one of them was very personal to me and our lifestyle, which was the RV entrepreneurs podcast. And that was one of the things that my husband and I really started listening to prior to going on the road was, um, Other RVers who are entrepreneurs or trying to make a living working full time on the road, covering their expenses and our good friends of our start of the podcast.
[00:14:26] And so we listened to that for a good couple of years before we really made the plunge. And, and they even had an in person. conference. It was like the RV entrepreneurs conference summit. And so we, we went to that. And so that was very inspiring to us, uh, to learn about how to, how to work remotely and what all that entails.
[00:14:46] So that's a personal thing. So, and even if you're not. Traveling. I think it's still a good podcast, actually, because it just talks about things that you might want to know, even if you're just an entrepreneur of where to get started, you know, your taxes, financing, you know, going solo, working with a team, just there's different resources.
[00:15:05] So whether you're doing and being the nomadic lifestyle or you're working at home, I think it's still good.
[00:15:10] Jolie Downs: Have you been a guest out of curiosity? I,
[00:15:12] Jessi Adler: we have not actually, we, it's, it's funny you say that cause we were just talking about that the other day, but that we're, we're hoping to, we've been guests on other RV.
[00:15:21] Shows as well. , but not specifically that one. And then the other one that I wanted to share, and this is going to be really silly, , but I'm a huge Disney fan. I've been a Disney fan since my parents first took me at like two years old. And there's two books out there. One is called dream it, do it. And the other one is, , one little spark and they were written by one of the Disney Imagineers, , Marty Sklar.
[00:15:49] And he was. Walt Disney's like right hand man for many many years and first and he started actually as a communications person He wrote like the Disneyland newsletter and he did all of Walt's speech writing. So there's like this PR connection Yeah He went on to lead all of the major projects across all the parks and help design the parks And so he has these two books unfortunately, Marty years ago, but he has these two books that really kind of dig into what it means to be passionate and creative and be a leader.
[00:16:23] And he wrote this. thing called Mickey's 10 commandments of what it takes to inspire people and take risks and be a leader. And, and so I kind of keep those in my heart a little bit about, okay, it may seem really silly, but it's not because all of those things are so applicable to everyday life and, and your management style.
[00:16:44] And so I've tried to emulate a lot of those as a leader of, you know, be the leader that you want to be. And, . You know, support your team members and he has a saying of like, there's no, and I'm going to totally butcher this now because I didn't write it down. Um, there's, there's no I in shooting. It's something related to Disney, but basically it's instead of saying like, I did this, it's like, we did this, um, anytime a new park was opened or a new attraction.
[00:17:13] And instead of somebody saying, Hey, I. Created this splash mountain. It was like, no, we created it. And so taking some of those little simple things and applying them to your daily life and then Anyway, so I just I found those books really they're fun reads , but they're really inspiring especially if you're a disney nerd because you kind of get some behind.
[00:17:32] Oh, i'm excited stories of like how it all came to be and and how they don't take no for an answer and if you have an idea just run with it and Somebody can always say no, but, but you at least have, it kind of goes back to that risk thing. Like, you still have to try it.
[00:17:47] Jolie Downs: Oh, yes. I completely agree. I'm really excited, actually, because I'm a Disney fan as well.
[00:17:51] I'm a big, big fan. So I'm, I'm gonna check out those books for sure. Oh, so, okay, before you go, , last question. I'm just gonna throw this out at you. I'm curious. What is your personal superpower, would you say?
[00:18:06] Jessi Adler: So, my personal superpower is Um, opening doors and networking and when I say opening doors, I literally and figuratively mean opening doors.
[00:18:18] Okay, tell me more. , I am not afraid to go up to a door and see if it'll open. , I am not afraid to go up to a door and see if it'll open. Asking people for help, you know, calling on them for whatever it is, networking with them. But, but literally in terms of, I will wander through a building. Let's say I'm touring a Capitol somewhere and I will just test doors and see if they open.
[00:18:44] And I have gotten ours myself in some really awesome places because I wasn't afraid to open that door and peek my head in and say hi to whoever might be working at the desk. And, and as a result of that, I've had some Fascinating conversations with people in like historical places. , I've gotten tours of places, , just learned more and met some really amazing people because I wasn't afraid.
[00:19:10] Try a door right now. My husband laughs at me and he's like, I not going to be with you when you do this. And I'm like, but, but look, I mean, I got us on the. On the rostrum of the Minnesota State Capitol, because I opened, I just opened the door to the chamber and there was some guy standing there and we struck up a conversation, told him who I was, said I used to work at Michigan's Capitol.
[00:19:32] And he's like, come on in, let me show you around. And, and I've done this in many places. So this is thing. And so from the networking perspective of that, I mean, it's allowed me to just, I'm very outgoing and I have no problems doing that. But my husband jokes that I know some, he, you could drop me in the jungle in Africa somewhere and I would know somebody like I, I know people everywhere because I have a huge network and I'm not afraid to say hi and talk to somebody.
[00:20:00] And, uh, you know, we were in the middle of. I think it was North Dakota at some little like tourist attraction. I happened to sign in on the guest book and said it was from Michigan. And the lady is working the desk said, Oh, I have relatives in Michigan. Oh, that's nice. Where are they at? Blah, blah. Turns out she went to school with my uncle.
[00:20:23] It's just, it's just funny things like that, that because I'm not afraid to be vocal about who I am and, and my passions and, you know, and everything that it's just that whole like networking and getting to do cool experiences. Because you're not afraid to try things. I bet apparently this entire thing is all about taking risks.
[00:20:41] I think that's what this week's coming back to. It's like, open that door, say hi to somebody, like be an advocate for yourself and like, and just don't be afraid. Like, that's the thing. It's like, you just have to. And I think I learned that lesson too late in life. I mean, we spend, you spend your early part of your career, like trying to be perfect and getting that next job.
[00:21:01] And when you're in your twenties, you just want to please everybody. And by the time you get to your thirties and forties, you're like. Forget it. I'm, this is all about me now and I really need to do what's right for me and for my family and, and my passions. And so, yeah. Yeah, it's, it's taken us on a, on a career path that I never would've imagined on a lifestyle I never would've imagined.
[00:21:21] , but one that is so inspiring and, and thrilling and it's just, it's perfect for my husband and I
[00:21:27] Jolie Downs: like, we just love it. I love it. I'm, I'm, I'm fully inspired right now on multiple levels, on multiple levels, not only by your lifestyle, but also I'm, I'm really inspired to go open some doors. I'm not going to lie.
[00:21:39] I've never been the person to open a closed door, but now I'm, now I'm like, no, let's be curious.
[00:21:44] Jessi Adler: What's behind that closed door? What's behind that door? Right.
[00:21:47] Jolie Downs: Jessie gave me permission. She says it's totally cool. I'm going to go open those doors.
[00:21:53] Jessi Adler: I've yet to get in trouble for it. I mean, the worst. So I'll be like, sorry, ma'am, you're not allowed in here.
[00:21:58] And I'll be like, Oh, thanks. Yeah. Thought it was the bathroom.
[00:22:04] Jolie Downs: Well, you know what? I love that it inspires you also. Um, you know, the literal inspires you for the figurative. So
[00:22:08] Jessi Adler: it's all kind of works together, but it all works together. We, we, um, The traveling nomadic lifestyle is not for everybody.
[00:22:19] It's not that it doesn't come with its challenges. Um, but when I was telling my boss that I was doing this podcast and she's like, you're going to tell them that you live in a van, right? And like that you travel. And I was like, well, I mean, we sold the van and we got something a little bit bigger, but yes, you're right.
[00:22:33] Like we started this whole lifestyle living in a van, , which is a little crazy and now we have a 30 foot Airstream because you know, when you're living and working full time, you need a little bit of. But yeah, it's, uh, I hope it can be inspiring for other people who are okay. Maybe not. Everybody's going to go jump in a van, live down by the river, but inspire them to sort of like, Look at take an introspective look at yourself and and what do you really want out of your career and your life and and make a change if you have to and maybe you're perfectly happy where you're at, but if you're not or you're just in Thinking hey, it's time to make a change make a change.
[00:23:14] I could change.
[00:23:15] Jolie Downs: Yeah, this is your one life. This is it better Better grab it on both hands,
[00:23:21] Jessi Adler: be happy, like
[00:23:24] Jolie Downs: do the things that you love. The opportunities are out there. You can create it. I think this is the most important message people can hear. So thank you.
[00:23:32] Jessi Adler: You're welcome. It's been, it's been a pleasure to share.
[00:23:35] Jolie Downs: Yeah. Well, I really appreciate you joining us on the Career Wanderlust podcast, Jessi. It has been an absolute pleasure. Thanks,
[00:23:41] Jessi Adler: Jelly.
[00:23:42] Jolie Downs: Thank you for joining us on the Career Wanderlust Podcast. If you find value in learning from others, give us a like and subscribe. If you're looking to grow your communications, marketing, public relations, or sales and biz dev team with the best talent and quickly, check us out at ParadigmStaffing. com and submit a request.
[00:24:06] We are wishing you a most successful and fulfilling career. Until next time.