Meet Justine Clarke

We were lucky to catch up with Justine Clarke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Justine , 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?

Standing in Itakura, Japan, and again in the electric heart of Akihabara, Tokyo’s buzzing tech district, I was surrounded by neon signs, unfamiliar characters, and curious stares. I barely spoke the language, but I knew something to my core: what it feels like to be the only one in the room like you.

There’s a silence that gathers in those moments. Not the kind that comes with solitude, but the kind that comes when you’re unseen. That month in Japan wasn’t just travel. It was a mirror. I realized I didn’t need to fit in to move forward. Sometimes, presence is enough. Listening is enough. And building systems whether mental, emotional, and practical became my way of navigating unfamiliar terrain.

That wasn’t the beginning of my story, but it was a turning point.

I’m Justine Clarke, Jamaican-born product strategist and co-founder of WeCreate, a boutique automation and AI strategy studio. Soon, I’ll be co-hosting Product Sibs, a podcast with my brother Jeffrey Clarke. We’re both in product, and we’ll be unpacking the real behind-the-scenes of tech, strategy, and legacy building as siblings who live and breathe this work.

Before the business cards and bold ideas, I was a girl from Kingston with a deep sense of purpose. Immigrating to the U.S. brought both culture shock and conviction. My values do not wait for permission. They show up, even when the room wasn’t built with me in mind.

That conviction carried me from community spaces to corporate corridors, from startup grinds to Fortune 100 strategy rooms. Still, the “first” or “only” feeling lingers. I was the first Black girl at my school to start a chess and debate club. Years later, I became one of the first Black women recognized by the Indianapolis Business Journal for contributions in business. There was no script. No blueprint. So I built around the gaps using tech, tools, and community.

I’ll admit it. I’m a little obsessed with Trello, Notion, and automation platforms. Not because they are trendy, but because they helped me survive. They helped me navigate burnout and grow beyond it.

As a first-gen Black woman and immigrant, I have known the pressure to never fail. But I am learning how to lay that weight down. I am learning to iterate through both the wins and the lessons.

WeCreate was born from that need. The need for clarity, for systems, and for high-capacity leaders who have been holding too much for too long. We help founders and visionaries reclaim their time and scale with integrity. My goal is simple. Support the brilliance that already exists with systems that allow us to breathe.

While systems are my strength, mentorship is my mission. I show up for those I call emerging butterflies. Brilliant, underestimated individuals rediscovering their voice after shrinking themselves to fit into rooms that never held space for their full selves. I mentor through ADPList, host community gatherings, and create space for honest, unfiltered conversations. I don’t share my story to impress. I share it so others feel safe enough to pick up the pen and start writing theirs.

Speaking of pens, I am also a spoken word artist. Poetry is one of the tools I use to carry this mission forward. Earlier this year, I returned to Jamaica to pour into the next wave of Queen Esthers. Young women ready to lead and eager to wear their crowns with brilliance. They reminded me that our work is not only to open doors, but to hold them open for others to walk through.

That same spirit lives in Product Sibs. No gatekeeping. No gloss. Just two siblings sharing what we’ve learned about building and thriving in tech, business, and life.

So thank you to Bold Journey for giving me space to share. And if you’re reading this, feeling like the only one in the room, please know you are not alone. You have been listening differently. Leading differently. That is your edge.

I didn’t just survive being the only one in the room. I learned to lead through it. I anchor in clarity. I build systems and tech solutions that sustain me (hello GenAI). And I no longer wait for the room to catch up before showing up fully.

Here’s my invitation to YOU:
Take up space scared.
Take it up uncertain.
Take it up before you feel ready.
Just don’t wait for permission.

My story is still unfolding. But my mission is clear.
Build systems, tools, and spaces where more of us can thrive. Not by breaking ourselves to fit in, but by expanding like butterflies emerging from cocoons into exactly who we are meant to be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Justine Clarke, product person and co-founder at WeCreate, where we help founders and leaders use AI and automation to work smarter not harder and grow with integrity and purpose. Most energizing for me in this work is helping others build systems that aren’t just getting results but also sustaining their well-being and growth.

Beyond strategy, mentoring is at the core of my mission. I’m motivated to help underrepresented leaders or “emerging butterflies,” as I refer to them regain their strength and be present. I also use my voice as a poet and spoken word artist, integrating art and intention to ignite connection and transformation.

I’m preparing to launch and co-host Product Sibs, a podcast with my brother on breaking down the unfiltered, uncut tales of building careers in product & tech.

If you need real-world advice, authentic mentorship, and a community that’s both heart and hustle, that’s what I’m all about.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities have been most impactful in my journey:

Resilience – The ability to keep going when I feel unseen or out of place. There will be moments when you’re the only one in the room, but showing up consistently builds strength and presence.

Systems Thinking – Learning to build tools, habits, and structures that support your work and wellbeing, so you’re not just reacting but proactively shaping your environment.

Storytelling – This has been my bridge. Whether through spoken word, product decks, or mentorship, I’ve used storytelling to humanize the work I do and connect across cultures, org charts, teams & timezones.

My advice for those early in their journey:

Lean into challenges as growth opportunities, resilience grows with practice and adds to YOUR story.
Start small with systems, whether it’s a daily practice, a tool, or a simple process automation and build from there.
Don’t wait to be perfect before you speak up. There is power in your authenticity.

Keep showing up for yourself. Celebrate the wins, learn from the flops, and above all remember, you don’t have to do this thing alone.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely. I’m always open to building with people who care about creating systems and spaces where underestimated voices can thrive.

I’m especially looking to connect with:

– Founders and operators ready to scale without losing their personal touch

– Faith-led creatives and consultants who blend strategy with purpose

– Community builders and educators creating spaces that uplift and empower

– Product folks, tech leaders & fellow AI enthusiasts who believe in mentorship, sponsorship and legacy

If you’re into meaningful work, thoughtful execution, and using tech to serve people, reach out on LinkedIn and let us
conect.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jclarkes.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussic/
• Other: Business Website: https://wecreatehub.com/

Image Credits

Mya Moneé Carr