Moms to Know by Julie Tingley
One of the best things we can show our children is how persistence and endurance help us succeed as adults. This has been the life and legacy of my friend, Jamie Brown, who is not only a shining example to her own boys, but to all of us here in Tampa Bay.
photo credit: JR Studio
When she abandoned the security of a Fortune 500 corporate role to pursue life as a business owner, she persisted. When she executed large events with hundreds of details to organize and manage, she persevered. When she decided to partner with two colleagues to introduce novel products in a highly regulated industry, she endured. And when it came to balancing her entrepreneurial efforts with a joyful presence at home, she succeeded.
JAMIE BROWN | Soshal Events // Rose Blazers What is your story and how do Soshal Events and Rose Blazers represent you as a woman and mother? Honestly, being a mother is my greatest joy in the world and nothing can represent me more than my wonderful kids. My sons (11, 6 and 3) are a huge motivation when it comes to my success. I started Soshal Events in 2016 because of my appreciation for planning events and witnessing the joy on my clients faces during their special occasion. For me, event planning is like putting together a puzzle, in the end, all the pieces come together, creating memorable moments. In terms of Rose Blazers, my CBD company, I started this wonderful organization with a few friends with the goal of providing great CBD products to working moms. We want working moms to feel okay about using our products and to know that they are safe. We thrive on providing education to our clients, so they truly understand all the great health benefits that come with using our CBD products. Being a business owner, a woman and a mom represents a great deal of who I am. I possess the strength and the education, and the experience needed to operate and run multiple businesses.
What inspired you to pursue entrepreneur life? The biggest challenge was leaving PepsiCo after 10 years because I had a normal routine. I knew my business goals; I knew my clients and I knew my job. The problem was, I did not want to play the games in corporate America anymore. I knew my worth and that I was ultimately the only person that could control my destiny. My husband is an entrepreneur and retired from the US Air Force. He encouraged me to leave the corporate world because he understood my talents and what I had to offer. With his great support, we as a family were able to take the leap of faith for me to become a full-time entrepreneur.
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TampaBayParenting.com SEPTEMBER 2021
Why a CBD health and beauty line? What was missing in the market and how do you make Rose Blazers stand out? When we started Rose Blazers in 2020, we felt like there was a need for CBD line to help support moms with a pure natural substance that has great health benefits. We wanted moms to feel comfortable, at ease and confident with using our CBD products and to not feel like they were doing something morally wrong. Rose Blazers stands out because of the quality of our products. Some of the benefits include relieving anxiety, stress or pain.
What is the bigger vision for the future of Soshal Events? The way events are planned now have an additional layer. For instance, factoring whether the guest must be vaccinated or not, and whether it will be a requirement to wear a mask or not. These are now questions clients must consider and answer before events are planned. We have a lot planned for 2022. We will be having a craft beer and wing festival the first quarter of the year and we will be launching our nonprofit, Soshal Cares. The mission of Soshal Cares is to provide individuals and small business leaders with hospitality acumen that will retain customers and increase the sustainability of their business.
What are the things you wish someone told you before you started two companies? From whom do you draw inspiration and support now, as a more seasoned entrepreneur? You’ll never have a day off again! No, just kidding. But the biggest thing I honestly wish someone would have told me is to take one day at a time. This seems simple, right? But in the world of entrepreneurship, my mind is always racing faster than I can put things in place. I must constantly remind myself to slow down. For my inspiration, I pray, a lot. I do not have all the answers, but I know God did not bring me this far to leave me. My family is a huge inspiration to me because I do not want to let them down. I want my husband and sons to be proud. My parents are my biggest cheerleaders as they help support me in every aspect of my life.
What are you most passionate about as a business owner and a mother? I am passionate about showing my sons that they too can be successful business owners. I am a role model for my sons, demonstrating how to operate successful companies that one day will be passed down to them.
What is your favorite thing to do with your family in Tampa Bay? One of my favorite things to do with my family is visiting a local theme park like Busch Gardens or spending time out on our boat. My middle son, Carter, is a huge football fan and loves the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Therefore, we also enjoy watching Sunday football.
