Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarni Jaye.
Sarni, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had a passion for storytelling. It started a child voraciously reading books and writing my own stories and evolved into attending a performing and visual arts high school for theatre, obtaining a journalism degree from one of the top programs in the country, and receiving a master’s degree shortly thereafter.
I was fortunate to be able to connect with people one-on-one as a journalist and counselor, but I decided that there were so many amazing people and businesses doing great work in the world that I wanted to be able to make a bigger impact by sharing their stories on a larger level.
From there, my PR and marketing communications career was born.
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha! What road is ever smooth? I think the illusion is that everything is easy when people see glamourous photos on social media or only see the end result of hard work. However, not much in life worthwhile is easy. Society would benefit so much if people let go of the need to appear perfect and shared their struggles along with the successes.
We all are under the “and they lived happily ever after” fairytale that causes people to prematurely give up on marriages, dreams, and on themselves rather than staying the course and reaping the benefits of faith and action put into practice consistently.
I honed my skills in Chicago and came to Houston to be near family building my brand from the ground up essentially since I was starting over in a new market. The two main struggles I had that I think many professionals, especially entrepreneurs, can relate to were time and value. Time is a factor because when you love what you do, it isn’t a 9-5 job, it’s a 24/7/365 role.
Your clients become an extension of yourself, and you want to see them succeed, so you go the extra mile. Luckily, there are some great clients out there who understand the process and appreciate your effort to lend results, but setting boundaries to make time to balance work with family, rest, and self is important too.
Value is another struggle because it takes confidence in your abilities to be able to assert your value and stick to it. So many people discount their work both literally and figuratively due to fear, but sometimes you have to have the courage to walk away to allow your path to align with those who see your worth. This advice applies to both business and personal relationships.
Being able to build a portfolio of work that I’m proud of, coordinate media for Emmy winning celebrities, achieve national and local high-level media for clients big and small, and watch my business and my clients’ brands grow has given me the legs to stand up for myself in this industry. The rest is all about great communication, reciprocal trust, and allowing the journey to unfold.
Difficulties and painful learning lessons will arise, but I tell my clients that greatness always happens when you hold fast to the vision of success and then get out of your own way. And no, it will NOT be a smooth road, but it will be worth it!
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m an integrated marketing communications strategist who specializes in luxury, lifestyle and conscious brands. On the PR side, I’m known as a celebrity publicist due to a host of high-profile clients and events, but I love to work with emerging brands as well as established ones. The power of PR and marketing, though they are different, is that they both serve to share your brand with the world.
I am proud that I’ve been able to secure media placements for every single one of my clients. I have also put my journalism degree to good practice ghostwriting and editing several books, including one for boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s ex and for a childhood cancer survivor and NFL player.
I’m most proud of my commitment to conscious brands. Every client, event, and account I’ve lent my time and talents to — whether an A-list celebrity or start-up company — has a mission of service to the greater good of society at its core. Since philanthropy is one of my core values, staying aligned with this part of my work has made the early mornings and late nights absolutely worth it.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am a Chicago girl in many ways since that’s where I was raised and honed my “hustle” aka drive for success, but Houston is where my heart is. My family is here, it’s the fourth largest city in the nation, and it’s the breeding ground for some of the most talented people in existence.
I love the cost of living, the ample parking and overall space, and the family-friendly culture. Now if someone can come to get this heat and humidity out of here, all would be well! 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarnij.com
- Email: sarni@sarnij.com
- Instagram: @alignmesarni
- Facebook: @sarni.jaye
- Twitter: @alignmesarni
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarnij/
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
