Jessica Johnson
Jessica Johnson is a senior content strategist in New York City with over a decade of experience amplifying storylines for companies within the art, education, health, science, and technology sectors. Her professional philosophy centers on continuous learning, adaptability, and steady, incremental progress—principles that guide her work in helping brands grow strategically while keeping content meaningful and human. Currently, she leads content marketing efforts at CTAM (Cable Telecommunications Association for Marketers), a trade association uniting leaders in media, entertainment and technology to enrich consumers’ connected experiences.
• Youngstown State University - B.A. in Journalism
• American University - M.A. in Strategic Communications
• APEX Award for Publication Excellence
What do you attribute your success to?
It feels unnatural to talk about "my success" or attribute it to any one thing. Like anyone, I am where I am because of a million different little things and experiences, combined with the sheer force of forward momentum and finding the right opportunities at the right time.
I'm from a super small town, I was the first woman in my family to go to college and I never really felt like I had some direct path to follow. I just knew I liked to read and write. Even now, I'm still making it up as I go along! But I've been lucky to meet some stellar people who help me take the next step when I least expect it. Early in my career, I was working as an assistant to Annamaria Steward, then the Dean of Students at UDC School of Law (and the president of the DC Bar at the time). I got the job through a friend and was just trying to survive living in what felt like a big city for the first time. She was this incredibly successful, poised woman who genuinely wanted to know what I wanted out of the position, and she gave me opportunities beyond the original job description that turned it into our own mash-up of communications, writing, editing, marketing, and event planning, while also building my confidence and guiding me toward graduate school at American University. She helped me take myself and my future more seriously.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay curious, never stop learning. The people I respect the most all seem to have this in common.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be open to opportunities that don’t seem like a direct path to your ultimate goal. And make sure to question the motivation behind that goal. There's so much noise out there defined as success, but the quiet steps along the way actually mean more in retrospect. Every experience can be shaped into a learning opportunity and a stepping stone, and your ability to observe, connect ideas, and make something your own is at the heart of strategy and creativity.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Creative ecosystems are obviously evolving at a scary pace thanks to AI, which presents major challenges for maintaining growth and interest. At the same time, it creates opportunities to adapt strategies, stay informed, and explore more authentic ways to reach audiences. A human perspective will always be valuable to those who have the decency to prioritize it, and I have hope that it will remain a priority with the caveat we work together to use the "good" parts of AI effectively and humanely, and leave the rest behind.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Curiosity, authenticity, and a constructive amount of civil disagreement.