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Jessica’s journey to strategic communications
Jessica Thomas, a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, had a unique journey to her current position as a language coordinator. She grew up in Liberia, then moved to Maryland where she went to high school in Baltimore. In Baltimore, after high school, she went to college for an associate’s degree in Communication and Media studies, before transferring to UMN to get a bachelor's degree in strategic communications.
Being someone who had a unique journey to discovering what I want to major in, myself, I was curious about what Jessica’s decision-making process for her major was like. From the moment she got to college, she knew she wanted to study something “more broad”, but also wanted to tend to her passion for communications. Strategic communications fit that criteria, and also helped her realize what strengths in communications she had. Jessica mentioned taking a few journalism classes and realized that it wasn’t something she “was really passionate about”. She expressed her appreciation to the strategic communications degree design for being flexible, allowing students to choose a lot of their own courses, ultimately allowing them to, in a way, design their own major. “It just kind of gives you an understanding on all of the different roles”, she expressed, “and that's why I liked it”.
From Minnesota to Spain
During her time at UMN, Jessica studied abroad in Barcelona. She “fell in love with Europe” and knew that, post-graduation, she wanted to return.
“When I went there, I made some connections, and I kept in touch with some of the coordinators there,” Jessica told me. “One of them was the one that recommended me to the program I’m currently in”.
When I asked about the program she’s in, her answer surprised me. Jessica works as a Language Coordinator in Spain, where she helps students use English and coordinate “different cultural programs”. I was unsure how this related to what I’m currently studying in the strategic communications major because my curriculum’s focus is developing our creative and strategic skills, in the field of advertising and public relations.
Oh, the places you can go with a strategic communications degree
I was curious about what coursework material from college Jessica found herself applying in her position. She replied, somewhat to my humor, with “Honestly…not really”. She said that the requirements for her position weren’t necessarily specific skills, such as being proficient in Adobe or having media planning experience, but rather having an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or higher degree and being fluent in English. It was the connections she had made during her study-abroad experience, she was able to get this role.
Interestingly, the skills Jessica developed through coursework did land her another role. She was offered the position of an entry level communications associate with Xcel Energy. While she felt fortunate to get this job, she had the feeling that she wasn’t ready to settle down into a corporate position. She was craving going abroad and working in accordance with two of her values, personal growth and career growth. This, and her affinity for the Spanish government and culture that formed during her time studying abroad, drove her to turn down the job with Xcel. Next thing she knew, she was on a flight to Spain, with a little bit of anxiety and a whole lot of excitement for her role as a Communications Assistant.
Although this role was unexpected, the major’s principle focus on balancing creative and strategic abilities still peeks through. When I asked Jessica about the ways that she balances these two aspects of a communicator in her role, she said that it leans a bit more on the creative side. When it comes to working with students on their use of English, she has the creative agency to decide how she wants to “go about it”. She has the opportunity to help her school, as a whole, by developing engaging and effective programs and activities that help the students. She has the creative freedom to produce any style, theme, mode, etc. of programs and activities that she thinks would suit the students best. She’s grateful that the school she works at gives her the creative liberty to do so.
Recommended reads for creatives
By this point in the interview, my piqued curiosity was peaking and I felt totally inspired, yet a little overwhelmed by possibilities and opportunities. These feelings are a blessing, as opposed to feelings of impending doom some college students feel in regards to what jobs their degree will actually land them. I felt that my worries about my degree in strategic communications being unfulfilling, or not making the kind of positive impact I strive to make, were being washed away.
I’m interested to find out which materials people who successfully maintain the balances of creative and strategic, professional and personal growth, career success and personal fulfillment consume. I asked Jessica if there were any books or other materials she read that inspired her, or helped her develop her impressive ability to maintain the balances mentioned above. Fortunately, being someone whose passion is communication, she’s big on reading and had a few book recommendations.
For those of us who strive to be successful in a way that’s meaningful to ourselves, “The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success”, by Deepak Chopra, is one that Jessica recommends. This book is especially helpful for people who have a lot going on, since it’s a short, but impactful, self-help book that you can squeeze into that tiny bit of space left in your bag.
For us people who have considered ourselves creatives, but are struggling to tap back into our creative development, “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron, could be a good fit. It’s another self-help book that’s meant to get you back into your creative development, and guide you along your journey over the course of 12 weeks.
The book Jessica spoke most passionately about was “The Alchemist”, a well-known fiction novel. “It's a really great book that just talks about [a] personal legend and your personal hero… in a metaphorical way, but you can resonate with it, because so much of life is about going [out] to achieve your treasure” she said when I asked her what the novel was about. “The journey to get there requires a lot… and you’re gonna hit a lot of bumps on the way, but you have to keep going,” she expressed, “because at the end of the day, if you try, you’ll get there”.
Advice for students (strategic communications majors, and others)
By this point, I was feeling not just inspired, but motivated, to keep working towards my career goals. Before we had to end the meeting, I asked Jessica one more question: “Do you have any tips to help me prepare for post-grad life?”
“Set your expectation[s]. And also, be open-minded.” What she meant by this was to set my own expectations for myself, regardless of what culturally or societally is expected of me, and to hold myself accountable for where I land when trying to meet those expectations. In regards to graduation, she said “It is just one step”, and that I–all of us graduates–”have to take it one day at a time”.
Her advice to graduates is to not be too hard on themselves.
“Because you did the most important step, earned your degree, made it to the finish line, and as you get out, you're gonna have moments of feeling sad, and you're gonna have the moment where your expectation is not met,” she said, “but you have to hold yourself accountable to keep trying until you get [what you want].”
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To: tanya.sichynsky@nytimes.com
Subject: PITCH: New Carnivore Diet Restaurant Opening
From: joh21447@umn.edu
Sent Thursday, Feb. 12, 7:30am
Hello, Tanya.
The first-ever carnivore restaurant, created by a well-known TikTok chef, will open in May. This restaurant will serve only poultry, meat, eggs and butter, and will operate in the spot of an old Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Since you cover particularly unique food and dining trends, I thought this news would interest your readers.
My name is Natilee and I’m a PR specialist at NatsNewsNetwork, an organization whose focus is getting small businesses and creators in the loop.
Sincerely,
Natilee
NEWS from
NatsNewsNetwork
111 11th St SE
Minneapolis, MN
Natilee Johnson
(444)-777-8888
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TIKTOK CHEF TO OPEN FIRST “CARNIVORE DIET” RESTAURANT IN MAY IN MINNEAPOLIS
MINNEAPOLIS – Viral TikTok chef, Mark Marx, said his restaurant’s soft-launch in May will highlight a variety of meat, fish, eggs and butters.
Mark Marx became a TikTok creator in 2022. His content at the time was all about trying healthy recipes and a common theme throughout all videos was his admiration of meat. Marx recounts how his account grew slowly, having only 30 thousand followers on TikTok before 2024.
Summer of 2024, when the “carnivore diet” became popularized in the U.S. by Dr. Shawn Baker, Marx decided to make the viral carnivore diet recipe consisting of steak, two eggs cooked sunny side up, a tablespoon of butter and half of an avocado.
“That was the moment I knew that I found my happy medium between food that makes me feel healthy and food that makes me feel happy,” Marx said. He ate the carnivore diet, which consists of only meat, poultry, eggs and minuscule amounts of dairy and plants, for the rest of the summer. He posted his daily meals on TikTok, along with his physical results. By the end of 2024, he reached 1 million followers.
“I was like, woah, this is working for me,” Marx said.
It wasn’t until the summer of the following year, 2025, that Marx realized his passion for cooking and the carnivore diet could open up a new avenue of revenue for him. He met with a couple of restaurant owners he knew – including Richard Ricks, the well-loved owner of D’Amelior Bistro, at 1212 16th S Ave. – to ask for advice before developing his business plan. Marx purchased the space where Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse was on 14th Avenue. He and his friends had fun demo-ing the place themselves.
“Last month, we wrapped up the renovations and we’re close to having our staff fully trained for opening,” said Marx. “The chefs we hired are feeling ready to serve up some good meats.”The soft launch date is May 1 and the official opening date is May 24, the same day Marx discovered the carnivore diet two years ago. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., making it ideal for lunch and dinner.
“We just placed an order for a bunch of meat, eggs and butter,” Marx said. “We’re stoked to get cooking.”
NatsNewsNetwork is a PR organization that has been servicing independent creators and small businesses since 2017. Our mission is to connect with journalists, publishers, and other news media specialists to get our clients’ messages in news cycles and publications. We prioritize transparent communication and value representing sincere clients.