Her Story
About Jahmela
Jahmela Smith is a dynamic sports and entertainment partnerships leader specializing in fan engagement, sponsorship activation, and revenue-driven live experiences. With a strong foundation in sports marketing and media, she brings a results-oriented approach to helping brands grow audience loyalty, elevate brand presence, and execute high-impact experiential campaigns. Her expertise spans partnership marketing, premium hospitality, event operations, and cross-functional leadership, allowing her to seamlessly bridge strategy and execution in fast-paced, high-visibility environments.
As Founder of JSmith Marketing & Media, Smith leads the development of integrated marketing and partnership strategies for clients across sports and entertainment. She has driven measurable results through multi-channel campaigns, audience segmentation, and data-informed decision-making, supporting both revenue growth and long-term brand positioning. Her experience also includes executing large-scale live events and sponsorship activations, working with national brands such as Ford Motor Company, and coordinating talent-facing operations alongside artists including Fantasia, Babyface, and Musiq Soulchild. Across her roles, she has consistently delivered premium experiences while managing stakeholders, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
Earlier in her career, Smith spent several years in social services, where she led operations and partnership initiatives supporting families in transitional housing. This work shaped her leadership style and deepened her commitment to community impact, which continues to inform her approach to brand and audience engagement. She holds a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing and Media from Full Sail University. A member of GRAMMY U, Smith remains closely connected to emerging trends in entertainment, culture, and partnership strategy, positioning her as a forward-thinking leader in the evolving sports and entertainment landscape.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jahmela
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't monitor anyone's progress. Your progress is solely your own. Keep a positive mindset, always looking ahead. People say don't look back, but you should, because it allows you to learn from those mistakes and pivot and grow. Denials are not always what they seem. Sometimes they're a blessing in disguise, because they kind of force you to do research and determine if that opportunity was really for you. Whatever is meant for you will always truly be there for you. Those opportunities can't be taken, and it's never too late. In our house, we say everything is either a blessing or a lesson, or both. You have to figure out which one it is and learn how to pivot from that. You can't get a rainbow without some rain, so you kind of have to expect the good with the bad.
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