Meet Jovana Vukanic

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

Hi Jovana, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic comes from my family. Both of my parents are first-generation Serbian Americans. All four of my grandparents immigrated from Yugoslavia to the United States between 1957 and 1965. Each was born and raised in rural villages we call “selos,” and the highest level of education they completed ranged from middle school to high school. None of my grandparents spoke English upon immigrating.

On my maternal side, my grandfather Miodrag learned English and business at an uncle’s convenience store in Indianapolis, Indiana. After safely returning from the Vietnam War, he married Dusanka and became the first business owner in the family by opening a semi-truck mechanic shop in Brookfield, Illinois. My grandmother Dusanka had a life-long career with United Airlines as a member of the cabin cleaning crew. On my paternal side, my grandmother Sonja learned English while working in car and locomotive factories for General Motors. She also had several odd jobs, including overnight janitorial work and nannying. My grandfather Petar was an electrician.

My grandparents worked incredibly hard to give their children the best life possible. They each had recognized the limitations of living in the old country and made the most of the opportunities available to American citizens. For my dad’s parents, the most important achievement for their sons was earning a college degree. My dad was the first member of the Vukanic family to graduate from college. So, it was a big deal for Sonja when all five of her grandchildren, myself included, graduated college.

Listening to all the stories my grandparents have told me about establishing a life in America and witnessing how my mom and dad made the most of the opportunities presented has shaped me into the hard worker I am today. Although she did not have the chance to complete college, my mom worked for 14 years in property management and the banking industry. Then, she was a stay-at-home mom, raising me and my younger brother. She taught us how to speak (Serbian was my first language), read and write. When we were in middle school, she began to work again in the classroom as a paraprofessional and teacher’s assistant.

My dad started his career as a microbiologist and earned his master’s degree in regulatory affairs, allowing him to work in the pharmaceutical industry. He worked his way up through corporate America and provided everything for our family, from any toy we wanted to a yearly beach vacation.

My parents shaped who I am today and passed down the best of themselves to me and my brother. I must thank them for my strong work ethic, self-discipline and determination.

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 first job out of college was as an account coordinator at a hospitality-focused public relations agency. One piece of advice for those interested in a marketing communications career is to work for an agency once. It’s incredibly fast-paced and competitive, and you can’t help but learn so much in a short amount of time. I realized that working at that speed and intensity was not for me, and I have found a calling with my current in-house marcomms team at Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Ice Cream. We are a microcreamery specializing in Naughty (alcohol-infused), Nice (grass-grazed milk) and Vegan (coconut milk and cream) ice cream flavors. We have eight ice cream parlors in St. Louis and offer nationwide shipping.

I was a die-hard Clementine’s customer before I ever had a job in the company on my radar. When I told my friends and family I would be working at Clementine’s, everyone commented on how it was a match made in heaven. I have always had a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate, and it was the best opportunity I could have hoped for. I will always be grateful to our CEO, Tamara Keefe, for giving me the chance to join Clementine’s as it transitions from a small “start-up” to the full-fledged company we are becoming. I love our product and have a special connection with the brand. I am honored to be the brand’s voice as we become a national phenomenon.

The project taking up most of my time these days is our September campaign, “Back to Old School.” In it, we are bringing back four original ice cream flavors from the grand opening of the first parlor in 2015, along with a vinyl record with ice cream-themed songs by local St. Louis musicians!

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?

Listen, listen, listen. Finding active listeners is difficult. Everyone wants to answer their questions, jump to conclusions, or hear themselves blab. It is so refreshing when one truly listens to what you are saying and interacts with your comments beyond the surface level. Being an active listener will make you a valuable peer in your professional and personal relationships.

Write well. Your favorite people to work with will be those who communicate clearly and consistently. My tips:
Assign tasks with clear objectives.
Ask questions plainly.
Highlight important facts and figures for consideration.
Update team members on new information and reinforce critical information.
Ask for clarification as needed.

Don’t take it personally. It can be difficult to separate yourself from your work, especially regarding creative projects. Remember that everyone has opinions and preferences, and feedback on your work is not feedback on you as a person. Give others the benefit of the doubt because they believe they are making the best decision for the project’s success. (Keep your favorite version of your creative projects in your portfolio even if it’s not the completed result, so you can keep hold of the work you were proud of).

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I get overwhelmed easily. It’s unavoidable when you are a perfectionist and put pressure on yourself for every little task. What I’ve found helps me most is this:
Write down your to-do list on paper. Having a notebook dedicated to your to-do list that you can hold in your hands and review when needed is so helpful. I avoid electronic lists because they get lost, and your computer is a minefield of distractions. You can think more clearly and efficiently when notifications aren’t popping up every 2 minutes.
Time block. Schedule a time in your calendar when you can work for 50 minutes without distractions or interruptions. Productivity experts claim that our focus is most substantial for the first 50 minutes and drops off afterward. Block out those 50-minute intervals throughout the day and take breaks in between to refresh.
Bask in the sun. Going outside and taking a moment to breathe in the sunlight works wonders for me. I envision myself as a wilted flower in need of the sun, and when I get my fill, I am a tall, blooming, colorful daisy. Sometimes, a breath of fresh air and a step outside of your professional world is just what your flower needs.

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vavuks