Here’s Your Sign To Start That Thing

Featuring Bree Flemings, CEO & Co-Founder of Jem Social

Start it now, perfect it later. My Virgo nature (IYKYK) never really resonated with this practice. But with Stella, that’s exactly what I did. Much of the conversations, strategic refinement, KPI-setting, etc., came after its launch. I knew that if I waited to get everything exactly right, the day would probably never come.

When Bree Flemings started Jem Social, a gig-booking platform connecting creatives (influencers, photographers, videographers, musicians, and beyond) directly with work and networking opportunities, she was a former DJ with product development experience just trying to find her footing as a founder. Jem is now VC-backed and actively scaling, but in the beginning, Bree had an extensive list of things she wanted to accomplish but knew she couldn’t execute right away. When it came to writing down her needs: “It felt like it was me journaling,” Bree tells me. “I need help here. And I'm going to start here. This is what it will look like…”

Bree Flemings

Take a note out of the book of Bree(s). Striving for perfection can often be a barrier to progress.

At the same time, I think another major barrier—procrastination—is often not rooted in laziness, but in fear: If it remains just an idea in my head, with endless potential, I can’t fuck it up. That’s where accountability can be a big help. With one of my accountability partners, we’ve upped the ante to include a monetary forfeit. The latest action item on the table: Stella’s Instagram (the handle is _stellamedia in case you want to be an early follower) will be active by tomorrow afternoon. Otherwise, I owe someone money.

Stay In The Groove

Upcoming events for your calendar:

• AllBright Step Forward (March 7, London)

• Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit (March 5-9, Las Vegas)

• Create & Cultivate’s Future Summit (March 9, Austin)

• Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee (April 12, New York City)

• Black Women in Food Summit (April 25-26, Washington, DC)

• Blavity Fest (May 31-June 1, Atlanta)

• RomanceCon (September 5-6, Milwaukee)

Some job opportunities I’m seeing:

• Hulu is hiring a Social Media Moderator

• Applications are now being accepted for the 19th News Fellowship

• Ghetto Gastro is searching for a Show Host

• bread & Butter is hiring Digital Marketing Managers in a few locations

• Apartment Therapy is looking for a Cleaning & Organizing Editor

• The Lip Bar is hiring a Social Media Manager

• ARRAY is filling a Social Media & Outreach Coordinator role

• The International Women's Media Foundation is seeking a Communications Coordinator

• The Byrdie/InStyle teams are on the hunt for summer beauty & style interns

• Black Ballad seeks pitches from Black women, transwomen and non-binary people

• Blavity is looking fill spots for its Creator Collective Fellowship

• Google has a slew of opportunities within its Creative Lab

• Atlas Obscura is seeking a Community Editor

• Substack is bringing on a Creator Partnerships Manager

• The BLAC Internship Program is looking for advertising interns

• The Forbes 2025 HBCU Scholars Program is now accepting applications

• Semafor is looking for a Newsroom Fellow

If you’re looking for a soulful R&B bop, check out my girl Keturah’s new single, “Sweet Nothings.”

Reading Judy Blume’s novel Forever was a major coming-of-age experience for me (lol), so I’m buzzing that there’s an adaptation being brought to screens by none other than the amazing Mara Brock Akil.

What a joy and honor it was leading editorial for this multifaceted Black History Month campaign by EatOkra, centered on the legacy of okra.

Apparently Candace Owens has plans to launch a multi-platform women's media brand. Hmmmm…

Just finished: Season 3 of Harlem—and, like many, I’m very disappointed it was cancelled after only three seasons. Feels like a trend...