Jennifer R. Hudson
Founder & President
ThinkBeyond Public Relations
Jennifer is on a mission to change the world one PR pro at a time. As a strategic communications advocate, trainer, mentor, consultant and speaker, her superpower is helping PR leaders step boldly into their role as the trusted advisor every organization needs.
During her 25-year career in corporate communications, Jennifer has always sought to broaden the role of public relations. She leads trainings and workshops on core values, vision, and mission; strategic communications planning; and corporate messaging.
Jennifer is a certified mentor and coach with The Venture Mentoring Team, Radical Partners and 1909 Accelerator, which support entrepreneurs and social impact leaders. She is past president of PRSA Greater Fort Lauderdale and a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Jennifer has also been a member, board director, or committee member with various nonprofits and professional associations in South Florida.
Fluent in Spanish, she has worked throughout Latin America and lived in Spain, England and Mexico. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Austin College in Sherman, Texas and a master’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from the University of North Texas. She is also accredited in public relations (APR).
5 Things I Wish I Knew……
✶ It's okay to bug the women leaders around you.
I worked with amazing women business leaders in my 20s. I was in awe of their professionalism, strength and focus! And even though they were wonderful with me and took me under their wing in powerful ways I didn't even realize at the time, I was low-key kind of scared of them. Haha! I wish I'd gotten over myself and asked them more about their journey.
✶ Everything counts.
The good, the bad, the wonderful, the tragic - it's all preparing you in ways you'll never imagine until you get there. The lightbulb will go off: "Ah! That's why I experienced that!" Soak it all in, learn and grow. There's something amazing ahead and you'll be perfectly prepared for it because of what you're going through right now.
✶ My expertise has value. Charge accordingly!
I once heard @danielleleslie say "Whatever you think you're worth, you're right." I had to disentangle myself from lopsided thinking to charge the fees I know strategic work is worth. It required me to dig deeper to understand the value clients were deriving from engaging with me.
✶ Listen to your intuition. No, really - Listen!
Years of negotiating with that still, small voice inside caused me a lot of grief: business partnerships I knew i should not have entered into; clients I knew wouldn't bring me joy, but opted to worked with anyway. These days I don't negotiate with intuition. I let it win.
✶ Support your community.
I'm so inspired by the innovative and passionate start-up founders and nonprofit leaders in my community. I may be coaching them around strategic communications and core values, but they teach me just as much or more.