In this episode, Mark speaks with Carmen Jones, the Senior Director of Experiential of Essence. With over 20 years of experience, Carmen is responsible for the brands notable live and virtual events, including Essence Festival of Culture, Black Women in Hollywood, and Essence Fashion House to name a few. Learn what it takes to produce one of the nation’s largest festival, The Essence Festival of Culture. 

00:40      Started in banking &educational finance
1:39         Working in Wine & Spirits led to Events business
3:17          Launched own Event planning business
6:06          Lifestyle of consumer 360
8:12          Brand Persona
11:19       Understand the “Why” & “Who”
12:05       Process & timeline
13:13       Ideation Roadmap
15:48       Producing Essence Festival
23:40       Wish known before: Power of my Peers
25:41       Virtual Events
27:50       Operating during COVID
29:06      Support Black-owned Business
31:00     Advise to professionals
34:09     Essence Fest


Carmen Jones
Instagram @mscarmenj
linkedin.com/in/carmenrjones
https://www.essence.com/essence-festival-2022/
https://www.essence.com/

Mark Testa 
https://www.markstephenagency.com
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mark-stephen-design-&-production/
Instagram @markstephenea
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK13o22i4RxQvbAgwwlh9tQ?view_as=subscriber

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