This week on Own It we’re talking to Jenna Cummings from Rival. She is originally from Spokane, Washington, but is now based in London, England. One of the things she says she loves about ownership and the advertising business is the ability to live and work anywhere and enjoy a global lifestyle.
Rival is an agency focused on helping challenger brands become blue chip ones, primarily through leveraging research, data and marketing technology to do so. That’s where Jenna’s skills come to the table in a big way. She oversees all things paid media, data and martech.
We talked about why her motorcycle is named after her grandmother, where her journey to ownership took her, and her thoughts about closing the gender gap in agency ownership.
The best thing about hosting this podcast is the amazing people, perspectives and ideas we get to hear from our guests. This episode certainly delivers on those promises.
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Jenna initially thought she needed deep personal passion for her work. However, she realized that finding a job that facilitated a desired global lifestyle, even if the daily tasks weren't inherently thrilling, was equally valuable. This allows for a focus on how work serves personal aspirations rather than being solely driven by subject matter interest.
While the myth of the solo entrepreneur is pervasive, having a co-founder with complementary skills can be crucial for success and sustainability. Jenna highlights the importance of having a partner who excels in areas she finds draining, such as large-group networking, allowing both to leverage their strengths and overcome individual weaknesses. This partnership dynamic makes the entrepreneurial journey more manageable and effective.
Jenna emphasizes that many perceived "rules" in business are artificial constructs. She encourages a defiant attitude, questioning why things are done a certain way, especially if those ways seem inefficient or self-serving for a select few. This mindset empowers individuals to innovate and create their own paths, rather than conforming to established, potentially outdated, practices.
While often advised against, overthinking, particularly among women, can be a valuable asset. Jenna argues that thorough consideration of potential impacts, scenarios, and requirements can avert disasters and lead to more thoughtful and effective decisions, distinguishing this from indecisiveness.
Developing unwavering confidence in one's capacity to navigate challenges is essential. Jenna suggests that this belief, built through experiences like travel and difficult situations, empowers individuals to face obstacles with resilience, understanding that even if things are hard, they will ultimately be manageable or inconsequential in the grand scheme.
