We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jessica Gilliam. Check out our conversation below.
Jessica, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
That it’s possible (whatever “it” is) for everyone else BUT them. During deep conversations about what people really want out of life, there’s always a secret confession that surfaces: “Am I enough for that? Could I really do that?” And it’s typically wrapped in fear of failure.
Throughout my daily life, I meet women with dreams to do something bigger than themselves. It’s the “One Day” dream: “One day when the kids grow up; one day when I have time; one day when I’ve got the resources.”
As someone who loves going deep in conversation to draw out people’s hidden potential, I’ve discovered what’s really holding them back. I once heard someone compare the world’s unaccomplished dreams to greatness buried in cemeteries. That vision left an imprint on me- not the kind with headstones, but an invisible graveyard where unwritten books, unrealized ambitions, and buried potential go to die because fear convinced someone they weren’t enough.
Sitting on the other side of what happens when you allow yourself to dream the impossible, I want to see the generation behind me stop waiting for “one day” and start really living NOW.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jessica. I’m an avid dreamer, strategic executor, branding strategist, and business owner. I’m also a wife and mother, learning the art of balance between life and work, and going at a pace that prioritizes quality over quantity in this season. My company, Blackstone Digital, was founded to help businesses define their brand and develop a unique digital marketing strategy with resonant messaging that truly connects with their ideal customers.
I’m honored to serve two communities that are incredibly close to my heart. First, in medical aesthetics, where my professional roots run deep, I work with established businesses and solo practitioners who have this beautiful dream of going out on their own. Here’s what I’ve discovered: most don’t have clear brand identity or messaging. They’re pouring their hearts into doing “all the things” but not seeing the conversion they deserve. They genuinely love what they do and have this amazing client-first mentality, but they’re struggling to articulate their value to their online audience.
Second, through my faith community, I have the opportunity to work with passionate people- men and women with dreams of writing a book, launching a podcast, or starting a small business. They’re searching for someone they can trust to help them execute with excellence. Many of them have had disappointing experiences with previous marketers who promised big results for big bucks but left them with incomplete projects and twice the frustration. I get to be the one who brings success to what was previously an unsuccessful experience. We take what they’ve learned, rise together, and rebuild to finish their brand identity, website, social collateral, and content strategy.
Any time I can take someone’s vision and assist in bringing it to life, I know I’m operating exactly where I’m meant to be in branding and digital marketing.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
It’s hard to remember what my life was like before Jesus, but I do know that the brush strokes on my masterpiece of life were mostly dark. I grew up knowing about Jesus, wandering in and out of circles in church, school, and college. It doesn’t take long before the external noises of life become increasingly louder and the still, small voice of God grows quieter and quieter.
While I was trained in Bible knowledge, it wasn’t until 2020 that I threw up my hands in total surrender to the Lord. I wanted him to have His way in my life, because I had done everything I thought I wanted to do. I had tried everything I thought I wanted to try. I was completely crushed under the weight of dissatisfaction. The things I once thought I loved, I didn’t love anymore. The friendships I thought were real were just industry connections and nothing more. I wanted to live a thriving life with my family, and that meant giving the reins of my life back to Jesus. I asked him to give me a new dream for my life.
I have said this before, but I never in a million years thought I would ever own a business. I never thought I’d have so much freedom to work with who I want, when I want, and to balance all of it with getting to be a wife and mother, and friend.
Going into COVID, I had become dependent on alcohol and anti-depressants to medicate years of avoiding the call on my life, to medicate believing that I wasn’t worthy of doing great things or helping others in a greater capacity. When shelter in place took effect, it was like the Lord was drawing me into a metaphorical chrysalis. The old me had to die so the new me could emerge. I threw out the meds, gave up drinking, and started to deal with myself. During that time, the Lord healed all of the wounds that life had inflicted on me. I stopped running. I started dreaming. And every time I thought I dreamed big enough, he challenged me to think bigger because I can do all things through Christ, because he strengthens me to do great things.
Now, my calling is to help others, especially those in my community of faith, see that the Lord can and wants to do the same for them. It is the most humbling and at the same time, the greatest honor I have to help others realize their dreams and go for the gold in life. I have even started a podcast called The Hope Pandemic to help ignite hope in those who are facing dead ends and seemingly hopeless situations.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In branding, I stress the importance of connection via authenticity. There’s a book I love by Mark Schaefer called Marketing Rebellion that maintains the most human brand wins.
One of the major education components I teach business owners when defining their brand essence is tone of voice and essence: showing up authentically and talking to the customer about the customer, not you. Obviously, I can’t preach what I don’t practice, and I am human. I bring all aspects of my humanity to add richness to the work I do for others. While I don’t dive into the nitty-gritty of my past personal journey, I don’t hide my mistakes or pretend to be someone I’m not. Whether you see me in the office, in business, at church, or in the community, you will get the same Jessica, not a version of me that has been dialed in to whatever the situation calls for.
If I can do something for you, I’ll tell you I can do it. If I can’t, you can be certain I’ll tell you in advance. If you’re a business owner and you’re struggling in life, I’m going to stop work to talk about you so that you know you’re seen, understood, and not alone. If you’ll let me, I’m going to pray for you if you’re hurting or wrestling with a big decision. I’m going to tell you the truth in the most respectful way possible, even if it’s not what you want to hear. I’m going to inspire you and challenge you. Because I see the greater potential and possibility within you, you just need someone to help you rise to the greater you that exists in the future.
I’m going to show up as the authentic me so that I can help you, because my past pains are your present and future gains. I have won and I have learned. I have seen all of the ways not to do “it,” and I’m going to work with integrity to ensure you benefit from my learning. Authenticity is my superpower, and I can help others step into their own authenticity through confidence and empowerment.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
That it’s about building a successful business. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of what Blackstone Digital has become and the clients we’ve served. But if that’s all people remember, they’ve missed the point entirely. My professional legacy isn’t about the brands I’ve helped build or the strategies I’ve executed. It’s about the vision I possess and the dreams I helped resurrect. It’s about the women and men who stopped waiting for “one day” and started living NOW. It’s about the solo practitioners who finally found their voice and the faith community members who turned their visions into reality.
I want to be remembered as someone who saw potential buried under fear and doubt, and refused to let it stay there. Someone who used her own pain as power to help others do the same. Someone who showed up authentically as the same Jessica, whether you met me in the office, at church, or anywhere in between.
If my professional legacy is anything, I hope it’s that I helped people realize it IS possible for them too. That I was part of their story of transformation, not just their business success. That when they thought about taking a leap of faith, they remembered someone who believed in them before they believed in themselves.
The business will end someday. But the lives changed, the dreams realized, and the courage sparked… that’s what lasts. That’s the professional legacy I’m actually building.
Contact Info:
- Website: blackstonedigital.net, thehopepandemic.com
- Instagram: @_jessica_gilliam @thehopepandemicpodcast
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-gilliam-m-s-471219a0/
Image Credits
Amber Tice Photography
