Today, we’re talking to Jacqueline Jensen of infographic design app Piktochart. #TEDx speaker, community evangelist, digital nomad, this girl can…and is.
#1. So, what’s your favourite word?
I really like the word “distro” short for distribution. I first heard it when learning about 500 Distro, which is 500 Startups’ in-house team of growth marketing experts.
#2. What gets you up in the morning?
As a digital nomad, exploring new cities is what gets me excited for the day!
#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?
I think social channels democratize the megaphone. People who traditionally didn’t have a voice can share their thoughts and agenda on social channels. It’s beautiful and powerful.
#4. Beautiful. Kindles or books?
Audible.
#5. Cheeky. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?
For those of us who work each day to strike partnerships and test community initiatives, the biggest challenge is creatively trying to provide value externally while at the same time justifying a need for your work internally as the company grows. Firm metrics can be hard to pin down when exploration and being open to serendipity is vital to discovering what works.
#6. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be an architect growing up, and I still aspire to be a developer.
#7. What led you to your current career?
The work I do at Piktochart is a result of what I liked to do most when running my own venture-backed startup. Today, rather than being bogged down with founder duties like meeting with lawyers and looking at payroll, I’m able to focus on what I am most passionate about. I am very grateful.
#8. Sounds great. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?
“Our paid social campaign is the most effective distro channel for blog content.”
#9. Now can you make it rhyme?
“Bistro” is close, but not quite there 🙂
#10. Close but no cigar, Jacqueline. What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to strive to get more comfortable with listening to my intuition. I have a very logical mind. I’ve only recently started to really give weight to what my gut is telling me about a person or situation, and it’s helped me immensely.
#11. That’s what we’re talking about. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?
There have been a handful of times when someone has put a stop to a situation for me – whether it’s determining a relationship isn’t healthy or ending a freelance contract gone sour for both sides. Those who have said “no” to me before I was able to say it myself have helped to free up my life for something better. Sometimes being stubborn and fiercely committed has a downside of not seeing reality as it is. I am grateful to others for making the tough calls when I couldn’t.
#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?
Giving a TEDx talk was a career-defining moment. It gave me the confidence I needed as a female entrepreneur.
#13. Go girl. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?
I would thank my family for all the support they give me.
#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?
While working remotely, I’ve found my most valuable timesaver is actually something that takes time – taking meaningful breaks during the day. It’s easy to lose track of time without “built-in” office environment breaks like getting lunch with colleagues or grabbing a cup of coffee from the breakroom. When I take time for meaningful breaks – like going for a walk or visiting a nearby museum – I come back refreshed and can get better work done during the rest of the day.
#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?
I see more tools for measuring the impact community work and brand awareness have on a company’s bottom line.
#16. Love that. Where were you 24 months ago?
I was interviewing with Piktochart. I was very impressed by the startup’s two million user base. We are at almost nine million now!
#17. BOOOOOM. What’s an interesting fact about your company?
Piktochart is headquartered on a beautiful island in South East Asia called Penang.
#18. Lush. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I would love to Skype with author Eckhart Tolle.
#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?
Committed.
#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?
*sends across*
#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?
Seth Godin isn’t on Twitter and I don’t often see him use social media campaigns, but his content could be on those channels if he needed it there. His blog is amazing. I read his content daily.
#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?
This has been my favorite quote for about a decade now:
“Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.” – Abraham Lincoln
#23. What’s been the best part of your day?
The best part of my day is when I talk to my three-year-old niece, Audrey.
#24. Bless. Finally, anything to plug?
Come use Piktochart PRO on us 🙂
