We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jennifer R. Hudson. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jennifer R., it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
I’m a strategic communications consultant and my work is centered in the practice of public relations. People don’t understand that PR is a broad category of communications that includes everything from employee communications to community relations to crisis communications.
I focus specifically on helping companies and nonprofits decide which of those “channels” of communication make the most sense for their business so they can maximize their time, money and effort on activities that will motivate and move people to act, whether that action is to buy, give, support, vote, or invest. For far too many people, PR equals media relations. And many PR professionals hold the blame for this misperception because they unknowingly define what we do in narrow ways.
I’ve been advocating for more than a decade for PR pros to expand both their thinking about their work and the skills they bring to it so they can support organizations as strategic thought partners. I feel sadly validated in this advocacy because we’re witnessing both the continued shrinking of media outlets and the transformative ways AI is impacting our work.
Leaders will need more strategic insights from us to make smarter decisions, and I believe communications professionals are ideally suited for this because we are always hyper focused (or should be!) on seeking the mutually beneficial relationships needed for businesses to thrive.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
You’ll hear stories of people who sort of fell into public relations. I actually chose it very intentionally as a career. When i decided to pursue a master’s degree in public relations, it was because I saw it as the perfect way to blend my interests in working with the news media and speaking Spanish. I learned very quickly, though, that the field of public relations is so much more expansive. And the importance of nurturing “mutually beneficial” relationships that not only support companies but every stakeholder with which it engages made the practice incredibly meaningful for me. I want to use communications to transform people’s lives and I believe that when we communicate with the interests of others in mind, as well as with greater empathy and intentionality, the world can change. This desire for transformation is infused into all of the work I do.
Leaders often know or sense deeply when there are disconnects between what they want to communicate inside and outside the organization, and what they’re actually communicating. Helping them find and close those gaps is where I absolutely thrive.
Because I care deeply and am insanely curious, I want to know that what an organization is putting out into the world is a true reflection of the brand. And so, my work is heavily centered on getting the insights, ideas and opinions from people inside and outside the business to ensure that we land on communicating to the right people in the right channels with the right messaging in a way that is authentic and inspires action. We’ve seen time and again what happens when it is not and does not.
After almost 30 years of doing this work, I’ve learned that when there are external communications challenges, it’s usually because something is off internally: a lack of clarity about where the focus is or should be, departmental silos, or an inability to take a step back and look more broadly at the business..
The secret sauce is a great framework. I use structured frameworks for both strategic communications planning and corporate messaging to help leaders and their teams connect every communications activity they do to business goals. Facilitating these processes is the ideal way to get people out of, say, news release churn or events, and into thinking through the activities to prioritize that will help them strengthen relationships with the customers, partners, colleagues, and others who contribute to the long-term success of a company.
Strategic frameworks form the basis for my engagements at an organizational level as a Fractional Chief Communications Officer; for the private one-on-one “strategic thought partner” sessions I lead with busy small business CEOs; and for the training I do with other communicators. I launched the Strategic Communicators Collective last year for PR, marketing and nonprofit fundraising professionals specifically to offer a private, confidential space for people to connect, learn and grow together so they can gain greater confidence demonstrating the power of what strategic communications can do.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Studying and living abroad forever changed the way I see the world. My undergraduate degree is in Spanish (in fact, I got every job I’ve ever gotten because I speak Spanish!), and i studied in both Mexico and Spain. I lived briefly in the U.K., and again in Spain as a married adult with kids. And because my husband is Belgian, we’ve spent a lot of time there as well. Having to navigate life in a new country both humbles and strengthens you. If you speak the language, it’s certainly easier, but it takes time to understand the cultural nuances and rhythms of a new place.
These experiences have been invaluable for me as a communications professional. I’m very attuned to “difference” and the need to work hard to honor worldviews that are different from my own. The importance of meeting people where they are and speaking to them in a way that will resonate with them and move them to take action are both ingrained in my work ethos. I’m also really happy my husband and I have been able to share travel experiences with our children because move in and adapt well to new spaces.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
About seven years ago, I decided I was done with public relations. I’d had a tough outcome with a client and felt it was time to just move on. I was also at one of those milestone birthdays that make you rethink everything about life! In my infinite wisdom, I thought, “Hey – you love baking! Why not start a baking business?!” It took only a few baking trials for me to realize I had absolutely no desire to bake for hours on end. I loved baking for my family and friends but that did not mean I needed to turn it into a business.
What I needed was a reframe. And so, I shifted my focus to find the sweet spot among the areas of my work that truly brought me joy, what I was super amazing at, the problems clients truly had, and those they’d pay me to help them solve.
I still love baking, but I haven’t looked back. I know that helping people communicate better is what I’m meant to do in some form or another.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I value family time and have always worked like crazy to protect it. Family meal time was a huge part of that, as well as our annual family trips. My husband and I made a promise when we got married that we’d always eat dinner together as a family — even if we had kids. I’m really proud that we stuck to it as a priority even through busy school activities and events. I also loved adopting traditions from my own upbringing and merging them with his to make childhood magical for our kids. They’d leave shoes out for Sinterklaas in early December and a note for Santa at Christmas. So much of our great family moments revolve around food. Our family brunches are legend (for us!). My husband can throw down on some southern biscuits that rival my mama’s, and I make really great pannekoeken. As our kids got older, they noticed the difference with families that didn’t prioritize time together, so they’ve always appreciated it. They’re off to college and med school now, so I believe it’s more important than ever to protect this time. Life is just too short.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop deliberating about whether to do a thing. “Yes” would be my default.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wethinkbeyond.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkbeyondpr/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenrhudson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thinkbeyondPR
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thinkbeyondpublicrelations
Image Credits
K. Amey Photography
Jennifer R. Hudson
