BOSS Member Spotlight: Jada Samuels
What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? I founded Jada Juice when I was 17 years old. At the time, I was a junior in high school, and the world was experiencing the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic. I had zero prior entrepreneurial experience, so starting a business was new territory for me. In the process of launching Jada Juice, I faced internal pressure and self-doubt. I struggled with navigating where to start and maintaining faith during this time of not knowing what was to come.
What inspired you to break into your industry? Growing up as a basketball athlete, health and wellness have always been a priority for me. However, a pivotal point in this journey for me was when I saw through my family members the negative effects a poor diet can have on our overall health. My family has lost members due to diet-related illness, but it really hit home when my mom began to face her struggles. My mom struggled frequently with high blood pressure, as a result, this led me to do my own research on natural remedies to heal our bodies. I came across the benefits of incorporating fruits and vegetables into our diets and began making smoothies for my entire family. After becoming more conscious of what we were putting into our bodies, I began to see progress in my mom's health overall. I wanted to share this same knowledge with my community, and that is where the vision of Jada Juice came to life.
How do you balance your personal and professional life, or have you found a balance? Launching a business as a teenager and continuing to manage it throughout my college years has truly been a blessing; the journey hasn’t been easy. Finding balance between my academics, my personal life, and my business has been, and still is, an ongoing journey. I have learned along the way that being a business owner not only comes with having to make sacrifices, but it also means learning to give yourself grace. I’ve learned to make my faith the foundation of my business and my personal life. I’ve learned to create manageable daily tasks for myself to keep myself grounded and ensure I’m handling all of my responsibilities. In college, there were a lot of times I had to miss out on gatherings with friends and extracurricular activities to get homework done and also pour into my business. Now, as a postgraduate, I am learning how to pour not only into my business, but into myself. Oftentimes, we focus so much on the businesses that we forget to pour into ourselves. Although I haven’t mastered what balance truly looks like, I am more cognizant of what is required of me, and I am continuously seeing growth throughout each season I undergo.
What is an inspirational quote that you live by? “You don’t have to be great to try, but you do have to try to be great”. This quote reassures me that you don’t have to have everything to execute; start with what you have, and take a leap of faith.
Who were influential people or mentors who helped or encouraged you? The most influential person throughout my journey thus far has been my mom. Throughout my entire journey, she has been there every step of the way. She has been there through every celebratory moment and every doubtful moment to give me the support that I need to keep going. When I first started Jada Juice, I was unsure of where to start and lacked confidence in myself to run a successful business. My mom helped me every step of the way, from creating the Jada Juice logo to blending smoothies for hours in our kitchen. Without my mom, Jada Juice wouldn’t be where it is today.
What are your "must-haves" to keep your career or business strong?
Some of my must-haves are my team/mentors, my faith, my calendars/to-do lists, and the gym. All of these pour into me and help keep me going throughout my days.
What is your definition of a BOSS? A boss is always on top of their goals and priorities. They don’t allow outside noise and distractions to knock them off their pivot. Their work ethic is not fueled by cash flow, but instead by purpose, passion, and impact. They never settle, are always 10 steps ahead of the game, and are always looking for areas to improve and become more knowledgeable.
Please describe yourself in two words. Wellness Visionary
Learn more about Jada:
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