Jess Ekstrom was only a junior in college when she founded a company that is helping children fight cancer across the country. She shares how her brand is making a difference in children’s lives & changing the world one headband at a time.
This is a special Dedication episode to, Serm Chongchua, my dad, who passed away due to prostate cancer and to “Coach C”, from Torrey Pines High School, who also died from a form of cancer, and to all those whose lives have been taken by cancer, to those currently struggling with cancer, and those who’ve been blessed and won the cancer battle. As you listen, keep in mind the young children who are fighting cancer…September is pediatric cancer awareness month…My dream and wish is that we may we one day no longer have to fight cancer.
They didn’t want to hide what they were going through.
Jess Ekstrom founded her company, Headbands of Hope, as a junior in college in 2012. For every headband sold, a headband is given to a child with cancer. The company has been featured on the TODAY Show, Vanity Fair, Seventeen, Lucky Magazine and more. But more importantly, they’ve donated headbands to every children’s hospital in the United States. Jess is also a professional speaker and author of The Freshman Fabulous: The Girl’s Guide to College.
Think Like A Journalist Quote
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Success Quote
“I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all just living.” –Richard Branson
Career Highlight
Hear Jess tell an emotional story about how a headband impacted a child and the family.
When It Didn’t Work
Jess took her brand into a partnership with a store. Hear what happened and why this particular partnership didn’t work and what she does to keep herself inspired.
Changing The World With Your Brand
Ask yourself, “Am I passionate about this work?”
How do you know it’s the right idea? Jess says, she knew her organization was the right thing to do because, “I couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
Jess recommends working with professors and mentors. “Being a college student really helped answer all those questions and build a really strong foundation for what Headbands of Hope is today.”
She says joining online communities helped her successfully grow.
One of things, Jess says helped her the most is realizing, “Don’t ever wait for the perfect time.”
She encourages all brands to build key relationships.
One of her most successful social media tools is Instagram. Jess says the social media platform has been a huge success in connecting her brand with bloggers.
“Pictures tell our story,” says Jess because the photos “humanize our cause” and share a story of what happens next.
Multimedia Resource
Book
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Contact
Mentioned In This Episode
TBJA 035 Katie Kerr: Helping Businesses Do Good For The World
TBJA 023 Sue B. Zimmerman: Instagram Tips For Insta-Success
Welcome To Happiness Trailer
Thanks For Listening
I know that you have many choices when it comes to listening to podcasts. So, I want to say THANK YOU for choosing The Brand Journalism Advantage.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page.
Also, I would love a review…it just takes a minute to share your opinion and rating for the The Brand Journalism Advantage podcast on iTunes. Your review means a lot to me and helps others find my show. The reviews also help with ranking of this show and they reviews are always read by me.
Please remember to subscribe to The Brand Journalism Advantage on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live!
