We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jūratė Brown a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jūratė, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I think growing up where I did made imposter syndrome feel… irrelevant.
I was born and raised in Lithuania, the first country to declare independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. I was 15 when Soviet tanks rolled in to crush that decision. My parents took me to protest. We joined thousands of others forming human walls around TV stations to stop the Soviets from taking control of our voice. I saw ordinary people, including myself – stand up to an empire. That experience shaped something deep in me: the understanding that independence, identity, and freedom are things you fight for.
So when I moved to the U.S. with a suitcase, a debt, little English, and no safety net, I didn’t feel like an imposter. I felt like someone who had already stood in the fire and survived. I didn’t need to feel like I belonged, I just needed to build something that did.
Today, I run a women-owned jewelry brand built on that same spirit, strength, resilience, and the freedom to express who you are. My hope is that every piece I create reminds someone of their own power.
And if imposter syndrome ever whispers, I remind myself: I’ve already faced tanks.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I run JLA-Jūratė, a women-owned, small-batch jewelry brand made for women who do it all and want their style to say something. We create trend-forward pieces with purpose, using recycled metals, low-waste production, and offering replating services so your favorite pieces can keep shining instead of ending up in a landfill.
Right now, we’re having a blast creating charm sets, mixing in pearls, and incorporating hand-carved elements that feel personal, playful, and full of meaning. We’re naming pieces in fun, unexpected ways because jewelry should feel like joy, not pressure.
Everything we make is designed to move with you. Stackable, giftable, unforgettable. The kind of jewelry that keeps up with your life and your values.
If you like to mix metals, break rules, and wear your story, welcome to JLA.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Grit
There’s no replacement for grit. You’re going to hear a lot of no’s. You’ll hit walls. You’ll make mistakes. Keep showing up anyway. Grit isn’t glamorous, but it’s everything.
2. Curiosity
I never stopped learning and I still don’t. I taught myself metalsmithing, how to run a business, how to adapt. You don’t need to know it all at once. Just stay curious and keep experimenting.
3. Taste
You can learn skills, but taste is what makes your work stand out. Train your eye. Know what’s current, but trust your instincts. Style is part gut, part obsession, and part editing.
Advice
Don’t wait to be ready. Just start. Learn as you go. Ask questions. Ask better ones. And don’t be afraid to be scrappy. Some of your best ideas will come from limitations.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
Right now, my biggest challenge isn’t just about running a business. It’s about being an immigrant in America at a time when so much feels broken, and figuring out how to hold that truth while running a brand in an industry that often avoids talking about it.
I came to this country with hope and grit and built something from nothing. But lately, I’ve been carrying a lot, watching how immigrants are treated, how voices like mine get pushed aside, and how easy it is for people to stay silent. It’s painful. And staying silent? That’s never been who I am.
In my personal life, I’ve been outspoken. I’ve posted. I’ve protested. I’ve had the hard conversations. But figuring out how to express that same fire through my brand, in a space that prizes aesthetics over reality, that’s the challenge I’m sitting with right now.
So I’m starting small. I’m channeling that emotion into what I create. I’m making charm sets that carry meaning, using words and symbols that reflect resilience, joy, and connection. I’m designing pieces that speak even when I haven’t posted a caption. It’s not loud activism, but it’s honest, and it’s mine.
And I’m still figuring it out. But one thing I know for sure: I will never build quietly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jlajewels.com
- Instagram: @JLAjewels
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