Jenae Rogers

Honestly, I think a lot of it comes from living with CRPS, or chronic pain. I've had it since high school, and it's taught me a lot about resilience. When you're tired all the time, in pain, and just don't feel good, it can be really easy to stop trying.

When I was first diagnosed, that's exactly what I did. I was 19, I dropped out of college, I wasn't working, and I moved back in with my parents. I remember thinking, I'm in pain. I'm exhausted. Why even bother?

But eventually I realized that if I stayed in that mindset, nothing in my life was ever going to change. The pain wasn't going away, so I had to decide whether I was going to let it define my life or figure out how to move forward anyway.

I think that's where a lot of my determination comes from. Living with CRPS means that almost everything takes a little more effort, so I've learned to keep showing up even when things are hard (which is, obviously, difficult). Whether it's working full time, earning my master's degree, or chasing new opportunities, I've learned that I CAN do hard things—I just might have to do them differently (and maybe a bit slower) than everyone else.

It's also made me really intentional about what I spend my time and energy on. I don't take opportunities or relationships for granted, and I try to give my best to the things that matter most. When I look back at where I was ten years ago, I honestly don't think that version of me would've believed I'd be where I am today.

I think a lot of my success comes from refusing to let my circumstances decide what my future was going to look like.

The best career advice I've ever received came from my mom (I've always looked up to her, she's the best). She's been at the same job for almost 20 years, she's incredibly good at what she does, and (okay, I may be a little biased) but she's one of the hardest-working people I know.

One day she told me, "Jenae, you can't expect YOU from everyone else." And that has stuck with me for years. I'm a VERY organized, detail-oriented person, and I like things done a certain way. Early in my career, I would get frustrated when other people didn't approach things the same way I did, whether it was timelines, organization, communication, or just how they completed a project. I wasn't necessarily expecting perfection, but I was expecting people to think the way I think. What I've learned is that everyone works differently, and that's not a bad thing. Giving people grace has made me a better coworker, leader, and collaborator (and usually I am also given grace back, which I am very grateful for). Different people bring different strengths to the table, and just because someone approaches a task differently doesn't mean they're doing it wrong.

I see this all the time in social media. I've talked with so many other social media managers over the years, and no two people do this job exactly the same way. There isn't one perfect formula (despite what the internet, algorithms, or experts say). Everyone has their own process, their own creative style, and their own way of solving problems. I've learned a lot by recognizing that my way isn't the only way—it’s just my way. And I think that's made me a much better teammate and leader.

So, thank you Mom :)

I know it sounds a little cliché, but my biggest piece of advice is to just go for it. Don't let other people's opinions keep you from pursuing something you're excited about.

Social media is one of those careers where people love to say, "Oh, it's just social media. Anyone can do that." But once you're actually in the industry, you realize how much strategy goes into it. You're thinking about psychology, audience behavior, branding, messaging, analytics, timing, and so much more. There are so many moving pieces behind every post that most people never see. At the same time, it's one of the most fun and rewarding careers I can imagine. Every day you get to tell stories, build relationships, and help people connect with an organization in a meaningful way. Whether you're working in higher education, nonprofits, or for a national brand, you're helping shape how people experience that organization, and that's a pretty incredible responsibility.

I also think it's important to be patient, especially if you're just starting out. You may not land your dream job right away (most likely won't), and you'll probably wear a lot of different hats at first. That's okay. Every role teaches you something, and those experiences build on each other. So if social media is something you're passionate about, don't let anyone convince you it's "just social media." You aren't "just the social media girl." It's a real profession, it's constantly evolving, and there's so much opportunity to make an impact. If you love storytelling, creativity, strategy, and connecting with people, I think it's an amazing career.

I think one of the biggest challenges right now is resources, especially in higher education and nonprofit organizations. Most social media teams are really small. Sometimes it's one person, and that one person isn't just running social media. They're also taking photos, shooting video, designing graphics, writing copy, analyzing data, covering events, and helping with marketing projects. You end up wearing a lot of hats. Because of that, time is probably another one of our biggest challenges. There are always more stories than you have the time to tell. You could create content literally all day every day and still have ideas left over. Budget is definitely another challenge, whether it's paying for software, advertising, or having enough people on the team to keep up with everything.

I also think AI has created both a huge opportunity and a new challenge. It's an incredible tool, and yes, I use it almost every day to help brainstorm ideas, organize information, or speed up parts of my workflow. But at the same time, I think it's more important than ever to protect your organization's brand and make sure you're still creating authentic content. AI should support creativity, not replace it.

The good news is that those challenges also create opportunities (gotta have that positive outlook). When you don't have unlimited time or resources, you learn to be really intentional. You figure out what matters most, what stories are worth telling, and how to make the biggest impact with what you have. Looking back, some of my favorite content has come from those (lil bit stressful) moments. It's not always the most polished or expensive production, it's just real and authentic, and I think that's what people connect with the most.

I think more than anything, authenticity.

Whether it's in my personal life or at work, I just really value people being REAL. We live in a world where it's so easy to hide behind a screen, create a version of yourself that isn't real, or only show people the highlight reel. Social media has made that even easier, so I think authenticity matters now more than ever. Personally, I want the people in my life to know the real me, and I want to know the real them. I don't think you can build a meaningful friendship, marriage, family, or even a professional relationship if people aren't willing to be authentic. Not everyone is going to like you, and yes, that's okay (speaking to myself here). I'd rather people know the real me than like a version of me that doesn't actually exist.

That value carries over into my work, too. I think the best social media tells real stories about real people. It's easy to chase trends or create content just because you think it'll get views, but the content that sticks with people is usually the content that's honest. That's always been my goal, to tell stories that feel authentic to who we are as an organization. At the end of the day, I think people connect with people. Whether it's in your personal life or through a brand online, authenticity builds trust. And once you have trust, everything else becomes a little easier.