If you ask Jenna Valadez what fuels her, she’ll light up talking about stories, curiosity, and helping others find their stride. As she steps into new leadership chapters at Just Drive Media, her journey is not just about career pivots - it’s about community, courage, and a relentless drive to connect.

Interview by Ali Winkle

AW: Hey Jenna, thanks for sitting down with me today! First, the important stuff - how was your summer?

JV: Pretty good! It was busy but not in any wild way - I’ve been working on a “free little library” project with my partner, Michael, and juggling some family visits. I love getting to show off Sacramento when out-of-town relatives drop by. Sacramento’s a cool city, even if people sometimes miss that at first glance.

AW: Tell us more about the free library.

JV: It's a fun project where my partner and I decided to build a free little library in our front yard and provide books for the local community. Reading is a major passion of mine, so I jumped at the opportunity to spread the love of books in my community. We were blown away at the initial reception of the library — over a dozen community members have already stopped by in the first week!

AW: I love that, what a cool project! And congrats on all you’re taking on with the new team - your role has expanded quite a bit. What’s the journey been like as you’ve stepped into more of a leadership role?

JV: It’s been a learning curve! Integrating people, managing different working styles, and making sure everyone’s supported has been a big (but rewarding) challenge. I thrive on helping others find their stride, especially newer team members. Spotting what kind of management style someone needs - like playing coach for some, cheerleader for others - has become a focus for me. I’ve had to get better about delegation (still a work in progress!) and finding space for what each person really wants to lean into.

AW: How did you originally get into PR?

JV: I think I was constantly changing my mind as a kid, but my favorite story is from middle school. My school was a NASA Explorer School, and I got to fly out to the Kennedy Space Center after winning a science project contest. You’d think that moment would inspire a dream of being an astronaut or scientist, but when an actual astronaut asked us about our dreams, while others said things like ‘doctor’ or ‘marine biologist,’ I told him, “I want to own a cupcake shop!” I was completely obsessed with Cupcake Wars at the time. It always makes me laugh, looking back at how eclectic my interests were - from fashion designer, to marine biologist, to, yes, cupcake entrepreneur.

By high school, I discovered a love of writing and joined the school newspaper in college, which led me to study communications. I thought I might become a journalist, but after an internship at a local paper, I realized I wanted to tell stories in a different way. PR let me combine that storytelling with my curiosity for how things work. My early PR days included working with consumer brands, but I was especially drawn to clients whose technology was actually changing lives. One company, Cool Effect, helped people offset their carbon footprints from flying - it felt so powerful to communicate how everyday choices can impact the planet. Another client, Perfect Day, used fermentation and science to craft animal-free dairy protein that was molecularly identical to the real thing. Being able to dig into the science, learn directly from brilliant founders, and explain these breakthroughs to the world - that’s where my love for both storytelling and science really clicked. That’s how I knew I’d found my place.

AW: What are some accomplishments that make you proud - personally or professionally?

JV: I live for those moments when you help an early-stage founder finally nail their story. Translating the jumble of ideas in their head into something the world can understand - there’s so much gratitude when it clicks. Seeing our work help clients like AreaHub land in Fast Company, or Coactive make Forbes’ AI 50 list - those are real highlights. But I also love boosting people in my personal life, like helping my brother on his music journey or launching my neighborhood library. At the core, I just want to be present, empathetic, and part of a community - whether at work, at home, or in my city.

AW: That really reflects Just Drive Media’s values. Is there one company value that resonates most with you?

JV: Courage! It takes courage to stay soft and open-minded in a world that can be tough - especially in PR, where there are always roadblocks. But if you can stay empathetic and flexible, you find better, braver solutions. Choosing to see setbacks as learning opportunities and always taking the time to rethink and reframe - that takes courage, too! All our values matter, but for me, courage is what lets you actually live out the others.

AW: What advice would you give someone just starting out in comms or PR?

JV: Embrace change - and AI. The tools you use are always evolving, so get comfortable with that. AI is going to be like “proficient in Microsoft Office” was when I graduated - don’t fear it, use it to enhance your creativity.

Consume a lot of news, but give yourself boundaries - be aware, but don’t “doomscroll.”

Try different industries early, and stay curious - everyone I know in PR has pivoted a few times before finding their place. Adaptability is everything. It’s both a trait and a skill you build over time.

The PR world feels big, but it’s actually quite small - so nurture your relationships, don’t be afraid to reach out for coffee or help, and always share your book recs! (Read more, please.)

AW: Speaking of - which book does everyone need to read?

JV: The Legendborn series by Tracy Deonn. It’s an incredible fantasy story that weaves together Black history, Arthurian legend, and magic, told from a truly unique perspective. One of my favorites - everyone should pick it up!

AW: Last question: if your 60-year-old self wrote a letter to you now, what would it say?

JV: “Slow down and enjoy the little moments.” There’s this trend I love - videos captioned “almost forgot that this was the whole point” - just friends laughing, sunshine, dinner with loved ones. I spent my 20s chasing big milestones, but now I see how much it matters to savor the daily joys. My “future self” would remind me - don’t let those moments slip by unnoticed.

AW: That’s beautiful - and so needed these days. Thank you, Jenna, for sharing your journey, wisdom, and contagious warmth with us.