We recently connected with Stephanie Jacques and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Stephanie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I would say I learned what work ethic is from my parents. They helped to shape mine over the years and I am forever grateful. They have worked hard their entire life to be able to provide the life my brother and I grew up with. My dad worked as a Chief Engineer (Aerospace) and my mom was a Vice President, Member Investment. Both were phenomenal in their careers and very well respected. They put a lot of time and energy into their careers, working long hours, traveling, etc, but always finding time for family. They were very much a “work hard, play harder” type of parent, where their time off was spent with the family having fun, building/working on projects around the house, teaching or learning new skills (car maintenance, basketball and volleyball skills and techniques, etc), road trips and vacations.
They instilled in us what a hard work ethic is at a very young age, whether it be in school, chores, sports or a job. They taught us that work ethic is not only pushing yourself to be better but also the people around you (whether in a team sport or a leadership role). As I was going through college, my work ethic corresponded with ways to challenge myself. If I could push myself harder, I could challenge myself to double major. When I realized it was doable and I still had room in my schedule, I worked harder to see if I could add on a minor as well and I did. I graduated with a double major (Film Production, Health and Human Physiology) and a minor (Psychology) in 4 years.
When I got to the work force, I didn’t want to the be the person in the room who knew the least, so I strived to learn as much as I could as quickly as I could. I wanted to learn and absorb anything and everything that could help me advance in my career. I listened more than I talked, asked questions when I didn’t know the answer, and I worked as hard and as long as I could (even if it meant working while others left early or took a break). Having a hard work ethic is something I take pride in and it has provided me with opportunities and promotions I never knew existed.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My career has been extensive from being an EMT and 911 Dispatcher (during the pandemic as the TV/Music came to a halt) to working in the TV & Music Production industry (pre and post pandemic) which includes owning my own production company. After the pandemic, I wanted to shift my focus back to the Entertainment industry. There is nothing like being involved in the live music scene or working on tv shows that air on platforms everywhere.
Currently, I work full time as a Production Coordinator and Staff Accountant for a production company and part time for IATSE Local 7 as a camera operator, rigger, lighting and A/V tech for Red Rocks Amphitheater. When I have free time, I freelance for my own production company, Jacqued Up Productions where I have contracted out for music festivals and various film projects. My passion is in the Film & Music Production industry. It has always fascinated me since I was a little kid. I love the work so much, that it rarely feels like work.
When it comes to Jacqued Up Productions, the company’s main focus has been on the music industry – mostly camera work, loading in and out for festivals, editing, etc. I am starting to dive into Concert Photography and Videography as that has always been a passion and will hopefully expand into that realm more in the coming months/years. I have several friends who are on tours and whenever they come through Denver, I get the chance to play around with cameras and film/photograph the artists they work with.
For updates, I recommend checking out the company website: www.jacquedupproductions.com
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
There are far more than three qualities or skills that were impactful for me, but these are my top three.
1. Know your discipline. I don’t mean this in a sense of “know what you want to do in life.” I mean, learn the craft, the ins-and-outs of the career or job you want. If you really want to be in a certain position, research and learn all that you can. Find someone to shadow, join groups that are of interest, learn the equipment/software, find a mentor, and network, network, network. There is so much information in the world and most of it is at our fingertips, but we often times forget that people are invaluable. They have walked the path you are walking now and have insights that you may never find in a book or on the internet, as it was a firsthand experience they went through.
2. Be adaptable. Things can change quickly – whether it’s technology or the weather. Be open to the challenge of learning new things, finding an out-of-the-box solution, or being able to change directions as needed. Adaptability is also acknowledging when you don’t know something and being able to ask questions and find ways to always keep learning. There are things you won’t know that you don’t know and that’s ok too. Learning on the job is acceptable and encouraged in most places.
3. Work Ethic – in keeping with the theme – work ethic is everything. A lazy work ethic is the quickest way to be out the door. A hard work ethic will you get you far in life. It will open doors in ways you never thought possible. Don’t be afraid to say “yes” to an opportunity as it can lead to a far better path than you expected, but don’t be afraid to say “no” either, especially if it’s not a good fit. Be honest with your intentions and goals and work hard towards them.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge I am facing is wanting to really take Jacqued Up Productions to a bigger scale. I don’t want to give away too much information yet, so that is a challenge in itself, being selective with who I confide in. I’m not trying to be cryptic, just protective of my goal.
This idea has been a “slow” work in progress for a couple years as I’ve been researching the market, figuring out if this type of business would be a success or failure in the Denver [or even] Colorado market, and trying to create a suitable business plan to present to financial investors.
If or when it becomes a reality – it’s still several years down the road as it is not something that will be built overnight.
In terms of trying to overcome this challenge, it’s been a lot of research, learning, and networking. It has involved talking to individuals who are in higher leadership roles or who have started their own companies (not necessarily in the same industry) and made them into successful companies of comparable size. It has also included reading books or watching videos on how others have started companies from the ground up and from virtually nothing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jacquedupproductions.com
- Instagram: @outjacqued; @jacquedupproductions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacquedUpProductions/
Image Credits
Katie Levine, Julian Harig, Tasha Rose
