Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenifer Mangione Vogt.
Jenifer, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’m an accidental entrepreneur who has been blessed with great opportunity and I think I’m a living testimony to perseverance and faith because my company, JMV Media Group, resulted from the lowest point in my life and I openly share about it because, while I don’t indulge in self-pity, I think people are inspired by what other people overcome.
In 2008, I was treated for thyroid cancer and, subsequently, also clinical depression, which is common among cancer survivors, along with other physical and neurological ailments peripheral to thyroid disease. Until about 2013, I couldn’t work full-time as a marketing professional, my career since college.
Unfortunately, in the past ten years, I also had to cope with my biological father dying from lung cancer, my stepfather battling and surviving it twice, my aunt and uncle both dying of heart disease and my mother developing a life-threatening illness.
Argh, right? It all sounds sad, but the silver lining is that there were so many good things happening, too, and, luckily, I’m an optimist by nature, so I just kept going. I had to be resourceful. I did freelance art writing because I have my B.A. in art history and had worked for the Met and Christie’s and other arts organizations.
After the cancer, I’d reconnected with my biological father who was born in Italy. I knew him and my family in Italy my whole life, but difficulties had prompted him to give me up for adoption to my stepfather when I was 12. Cancer had compelled me to learn more about my cultural heritage because I realized how fleeting life is and in 2012 I started the Italian South Florida blog to celebrate authentic Italian culture. This and the art writing led me to freelance marketing clients who liked that I had both the cultural and marketing expertise.
By 2014, I had my health back and, though I’d originally planned to be a corporate marketing SVP, I incorporated as JMV Media Group, exactly what John Lennon meant when he said, “life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I specialize in art and culture, Italy, global finance and healthcare.
I’m most proud that my business decisions were always led by my heart and, because of this, I’ve been able to be a rainmaker for a lot of organizations by either providing pro bono work or working for significantly less than what a comparable agency would charge.
I can deliver high-level work because I had the privilege of working for global corporations where I learned my trade and honed my skills. I worked very hard prior to cancer. I was definitely a workaholic.
However, I’ve been very fortunate and am deeply indebted to my mother and stepfather who helped me out significantly and financially during and after cancer.
I never would’ve made it or done anything without them. Because of their generosity, I could focus on helping people rather than on profit and that’s really a blessing I don’t take for granted.
So, really, what sets me apart from others is that I have truly only worked with clients I love. I never solicited a client, everything came by referral and I’ve been really blessed there, too.
Every client has taught me something and they’ve all been amazing people and organizations. If they’ve been on my client list it’s because I have genuinely believed in their products or mission and if I felt I could no longer provide what they needed or work the way they needed, I was able to do the right thing for us both.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Florida is the best state in the nation to be an entrepreneur. It doesn’t matter what city you’re in, this state is just ripe with opportunity. I’ve been lucky to service clients in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties and I love both places and feel that every day here can be a fun and exciting adventure for hard-working and smart business people of all ages and professions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jmvmediagroup.com
- Email: jenifer@jmvmediagroup.com
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Alice Shanahan
October 25, 2019 at 6:03 pm
Jenifer’s story is both inspiring and intriguing. Thank you for publishing it.
Sharon Zareski
October 25, 2019 at 6:41 pm
Jen, I’ve proud to have known and loved you since you were seven years old. I’ve watched you grow into a beautiful, talented, brilliant, caring lady. You’ve always had a golden heart that you opened up to everyone. I’m so proud of your accomplishments and will continue to enjoy hearing about your future success. Jen, my beautiful niece – you e made me so proud! With love and admiration, your Aunt Shazy ❤️