Jess OLDHAM

What was your very first job?  

Bagging groceries at a local grocery store and teaching kids to figure skate.

Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.  

I am a Design Director at Converse.  I get to work with an incredible team of marketers, creatives and producers and together we create concepts and tell stories that eventually engage our consumers at retail and digital on a global scale.     

How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?  

The first time I experienced professional photography was on a family trip to Washington D.C during a visit to the Holocaust Museum.  That experience with photojournalism was the start of a life-long obsession with photography and specifically, documentary work.  I can’t draw, so photography has always been my favorite form of self-expression.  Creativity means everything to me; I couldn’t imagine not using my right brain on a daily basis.  Also, I recently heard a quote by Rich Roll, “pursue what's in your heart and the universe will conspire to support you.”  I think every twist and turn in my career has been guided by this belief, and that it’s great advice.

In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?  

Currently I’m spending more time working with graphic design vs. photography, and that is inspiring me more than ever.  I think it’s important to always revisit the icons of art and photography, and push yourself to experience new mediums.  It helps keep you fresh and you never know where you might stumble upon a new idea or creative spark.  I love fashion, and fashion photography especially – there is limitless inspiration there.  90’s supermodel era was my favorite.  Yoga helps too.

If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be?

I think any situation where there is healthy collaboration, where the team bands together and fights through the emotions to get to a sticky idea – that to me is the ultimate win, and a true measure of success for me as a leader.  Those are the days I love my job the most.