Meet Jay

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I grew up in a rough neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. I recall a guidance counselor telling me I was going to be nothing in life, that I would either end up dead or in jail.

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?

As the founder of Jski Consulting, a veteran-owned digital marketing agency based in Long Island, I’ve combined my military background in signals communication and human intelligence with my passion for helping businesses thrive in the digital age. What makes our approach special is how we blend strategic thinking—informed by my intelligence studies background and MBA—with authentic, New York City-driven content creation.

What excites me most about our work is witnessing the transformation of small to medium-sized businesses as they embrace digital marketing. We’re not just another marketing agency; we’re strategic partners who employ a military-precision 4-step process: Assess, Plan, Execute, and Adapt + Deliver. This systematic approach ensures our clients receive tailored solutions that actually move the needle for their business.

Our service portfolio spans website design, social media management, SEO, branding, and email marketing, but what truly sets us apart is our commitment to empowering business owners. We don’t just deliver services; we educate and guide our clients through their digital transformation journey, so they are empowered to continue to build.

Photography and videography are an organic part of our business. Therefore, we are excited to dive back into offering photography and videography as stand-alone services!

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?

When I reflect on my path to founding Jski Consulting, three pivotal elements of my journey stand out, each teaching me invaluable lessons that I carry with me every day:

The Power of Disciplined Adaptability In the military, serving in signals communication and human intelligence, I learned that even the best-laid plans need room for adaptation. I remember my first major digital marketing campaign – it was meticulously planned, but halfway through, the market shifted. That military training kicked in: assess, adapt, overcome. Now, I teach our clients that same resilience. For those starting out, embrace structure, but don’t let it cage you. Start each day with a plan, but keep your mind open to pivot when opportunities or challenges arise.

The art of human connection, one of my most profound realizations, came while walking the streets of NYC with my Sony camera. I was capturing content for our photography portfolio when it hit me – the same principles that made me effective in military intelligence (understanding people, reading situations, building trust) were exactly what made our marketing campaigns successful. Technical skills matter, but understanding human psychology matters more. My advice? Start by truly listening to people’s stories. Whether you’re in marketing, art, or business, success comes from genuine human connection.

The Courage to Be a Perpetual Student The humbling moment that changed my perspective was when a young intern taught me a new approach to social media analytics. Despite my MBA and years of experience, I realized that in our rapidly evolving digital world, sometimes the best lessons come from unexpected sources. Now, I block out ‘learning hours’ in my calendar just like I schedule client meetings – it’s that important. For those beginning their journey, don’t let ego get in the way of education. Some of my best strategies came from being willing to say, ‘I don’t know, but I’m eager to learn.’

To those just starting out: your journey won’t look like anyone else’s, and that’s your superpower. Take these principles – disciplined adaptability, human connection, and continuous learning – and make them your own. Start small, but dream big. Document your journey, learn from your failures, and celebrate your wins, no matter how small.

Remember, success isn’t just about reaching the destination; it’s about who you become along the way. In my case, every challenge in building Jski Consulting has added a new layer to our story, making us better equipped to help others write theirs.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My mother created an environment that, while challenging, became the foundation of who I am today. Through the harshness of our circumstances, she unknowingly cultivated something powerful: a space where independence, creativity, and survival skills weren’t just taught – they were essential.

Looking back, this environment, though difficult, was actually preparing me for entrepreneurship in ways I couldn’t have imagined at the time. The mental toughness required to navigate those early years translated directly into the resilience needed to build Jski Consulting. When facing business challenges or helping clients through their digital transformations, I draw from that same well of creative problem-solving that I developed in my youth.

The survival skills I learned – mental, emotional, and physical – have become the cornerstone of my approach to business and life. They taught me to see opportunities where others might see obstacles, to find creative solutions with limited resources, and, most importantly, to maintain unwavering determination in the face of adversity.

Today, as I guide businesses through their digital marketing journeys, I realize that my mother’s greatest gift wasn’t just teaching me how to survive but showing me how to transform challenges into catalysts for growth. This perspective has become invaluable in helping our clients navigate their own transformations, proving that sometimes, our most challenging experiences become our greatest assets.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://j-ski.com
• Instagram: jskiconsulting

Image Credits

Shot by Jski Consulting