Meet Jessie Mead

We were lucky to catch up with Jessie Mead recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jessie, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

This is such a powerful question, especially in today’s society. Being the only one in the room can feel isolating at times, but it can also be that chance to stand out in ways that others might not be able to (or might be able to do in different ways). It gives you a chance to build confidence in your unique perspective and having courage to embrace it. You have to own your identity, recognize the value in what you bring the table, and communicate in a way that shows others your perspective is valid. I think being a woman business owner in a world full of business owners has very much been a challenge – a challenge to prove my worth and show that I have something unique to offer.

My background consists of moving around the world through childhood, collecting a variety of degrees and educations, being immersed in various cultures, and then discovering what my passions were throughout the process. It took years of project work before deciding I wanted to start my own company, knowing the challenges it would bring as a woman business owner. I’ve found the most effective way to continue growing my business is to really form a relationship with my clients – making clients feel at east, trust me in how I’m driving the process, and know that they have a voice in the journey (THEIR journey) we’re moving forward with. This, by far, I feel is what has driven me, regardless of my looks or my past. And adding a level of creativity on top of the relationship is something I pride myself in and has allowed me to continue to be successful. I feel as long as I stick to my values and my visions, I can continue to stand out in a world full of owners.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am both a photographer and a software architect with a passion for capturing the world through a lens and building the tools that help shape the future. Photography allows me to explore my creative side—whether it’s capturing a candid moment, a unique personality, or telling a visual story that resonates with people. For me, photography is about evoking emotions, making people feel confident in themselves, and showing a different perspective.

On the flip side, my work as a software architect allows me to think analytically and solve problems in a digital space – while still being creative in the solutions I build. I develop systems that can make business processes more intuitive, efficient, and accessible. Whether it’s solutioning a Salesforce journey or it’s training a team on a financial software, I love combining both worlds to innovate and improve the experiences I offer.

What’s Exciting:

The most exciting part of what I do is the intersection of art and technology. It’s where creativity meets logic, and the possibilities are endless. I’ve been working on a few new projects that merge these two worlds, such as taking a handful of software products and architecting how these can function together as a streamlined business architecture. I love that business executives trust me in my knowledge, creativity, and commitment to their business success!

Looking Forward:

In the future, I’m hoping to continue pushing the boundaries between art and tech. I’m especially interested in continuing to expand my knowledgebase into additional products beyond Salesforce and Certinia, and I’m always on the lookout for new collaborations with other creatives and technical consultants.

The ultimate goal? To keep evolving, learning, and creating work that challenges the status quo and invites others to see the world in a new way—whether through a photograph, a business process, or a new software.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I would say the three qualities most impactful in my development are:

Adaptability and Creativity – Being able to adapt to new situations and learn from continued experiences is extremely important. I’ve learned that staying curious has helped me build on my knowledgebase, as has learning from each client relationship and their individual journey. Building from experience while embracing continued learning has been a game changer.

Emotional Intelligence – Understanding people’s emotions, motivations, and perspectives is critical, especially in dynamic environments. Whether interacting with users, teammates, or even systems, empathy has helped me engage more effectively and has opened up channels of communication that would never be possible with a purely transactional engagement. LISTEN to people!

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving – The ability to analyze situations, break down complex problems, and identify creative solutions is invaluable. With so much information readily available, sifting through it to get to the core issues has been one of the most impactful skills in helping me navigate challenges.

For those early in their journey, prioritize continuous learning, lean into emotional intelligence and relationships, and always approach problems with a mindset of curiosity. These qualities will help you build strong foundations that can withstand the inevitable challenges of your journey!

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

There are a handful of things I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

1. Break out tasks into a list by Priority – I’m the queen of lists. I will highlight lists on the side of my desktop in the order of priority I need to get things done. If my list is extra long, I will highlight the top 5 critical tasks that need done today. And each day I will reassess what the top 5 tasks are. This helps me stay focused on a subset of tasks.
2. Prioritize – As mentioned above, I’ll highlight what needs done first. But make sure you handle your highest priority tasks first!
3. One thing at a time – You are human, you can only do so much. Just focus on one task at a time.
4. Take a break – Don’t forget to take breaks!! Maybe you work through the first two tasks and it took a couple hours – go get something to eat (because I definitely forget to eat when I’m overwhelmed), go for a walk, talk a walk around the house, go do the dishes or something else. Just take a break!

When you feel overwhelmed, I strongly suggest just making a list and taking a breath. We are the hardest on ourselves but we can only handle so much in a single day. One thing at a time!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cloudjourneygroup.com
• Instagram: ajourneyjunkie
• Linkedin: jessicameadmba

Image Credits

Journey Junkies