“Stack your wins,” Jessica Henrichs from Colle McVoy

Meet Jessica Henrichs, Chief Executive Officer from Colle McVoy, a full-service creative agency, where she has transformed its operating model to meet the next era of brand building. She has recast team and capability structures to achieve efficiency gains and integrated B Corp’s social and environmental rigor into the agency's business plan. And her efforts have enabled the business to run at a higher frequency and efficiency rate. Jessica is passionate and curious, and she loves to ask questions as she helps brands reconnect with their roots while sparking business transformation and growth. 

Jessica joined Morgan James, Content Marketing Specialist at SiriusXM Media, to be a part of a special, upcoming season of the Pass the Mic Podcast called Mentor Me. In her interview, they discussed the beauty of growth and change, the biggest lessons Jessica has learned along the way, and the triumphs in taking a chance on yourself.

Listen to Jessica’s full interview below, then check out some highlights from the conversation. 

Believe in yourself.

Highlight: “So much happens in a day, a week, a year, and success amnesia is real. I know I can face what's in front of me because of what I've run through before. And I think it's important to stack your wins, big and small, to really hold onto the muscle memory of what's come before, because it's what can also give you that confidence boost that you can tackle what comes next... So much of it all just lives in our heads, and believing in yourself is both a journey and also a choice.” - Jessica Henrichs

Take that risk. 

Highlight: “The only way to learn what you can actually accomplish is by going for it. When you wait for permission for someone else to throw doors open, it can be stifling. I've had moments in my career where I've jumped into action, wondering if I would still be employed because of it. I've said the hard things. I've pushed for things without the certainty of knowing how well it would all be received. And honestly, I cannot recall a risk that I regret. So I think that there's freedom in knowing that you can go for it and you can take that risk. And, if nothing else, it will be a great learning.” - Jessica Henrichs

Fake it ‘til you make it.

Highlight: “You have to fake it ‘til you make it to get to that point of confidence. I'm a big believer in that because people don't know what they're capable of. And sometimes you do have to go through those motions to build those little blocks of confidence that you can stack on top of each other so that you can move with more confidence that it doesn't feel like faking it anymore.” - Jessica Henrichs

Check in on yourself.

Highlight: “Take comfort in knowing that you're in good company. Oftentimes, being overwhelmed, that sense of overwhelm really stirs from a place of deep passion and caring… It's human nature to doubt, and to compare, and to feel disappointed in ourselves when we can't do it all at the same time. So, I would encourage anyone to take a deep breath, check in on yourself, try to discern where the alarm and the energy is coming from, and then seek a sounding board.” - Jessica Henrichs

Have a thought partner. 

Highlight: “I’m a verbal processor; I’ve found that internalizing can really cloud clarity. Don’t be an island. Have a thought partner. Even better, have a network of them. Even five minutes of talking something out with someone you trust can illuminate a path forward. It can often sharpen and bolster that clarity and confidence in an instinct you’ve had all along.” - Jessica Henrichs

Be vulnerable and empathetic.  

Highlight: “Modeling vulnerability and empathy is so important. I think you get to a point in your career where you're confident in what you're doing. And sometimes it can seem as though you've got it all figured out, and you're perfect. And I've seen other leaders and thought, ‘Oh, I'll never be able to do it like that.’ And I know that when you come off polished in that way, it can start to create that expectation that you are perfect or that you do have it all figured out. And I think it's really important to chip away at that perception because we are all learning new things, and we are all struggling with things personally and professionally.” - Jessica Henrichs

Jessica is no stranger to hard work and taking risks. Her advice on believing in yourself, learning from others, and persevering through every challenge you’re faced with is a great way to kickstart your journey to leadership. For more inspirational conversations like Jessica’s, check out the Pass the Mic page.

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