We work with great creative professionals who embody a variety of skill sets, age, culture, tastes, and education levels. This sparks the highest level of creativity and learning for us and also helps us help them!
My story started when I was 9. I was creating curriculum and teaching friends because I saw the need.
I was 9 when I first created a full classroom of 6 students in my grandmother’s Oakland neighborhood, because I wanted them to learn what I’d learned from the private school I was attending in San Francisco. The motivation was empathy—not boastfulness—I wanted everyone to win! Ballet, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, academics…I was determined to teach it all.
Then at age 11, I moved on to working at the flea market with my uncle and alongside him, I learned to sell my own creations. From mud, to plants, to bracelets and cookies, everything had a price tag. And it was my uncle Mike who taught me that being on time, setting a fair price for products, and talking to people to build connection were a few of the most important qualities you could hold as a business person.
I found my Spelman and San Francisco State College career to be similar. As the first in my family to go to college, I decided to get involved in clubs like BSU, volunteer my time at the Aids Foundation and local Title I elementary schools, start a tutoring company, and create the first thesis of it’s kind for my major. I learned that I had to stop looking at everyone else’s path (now known as imposter syndrome) and create my own. And it was more fun that way!!
Then I was on my way. I landed a management job in customer service for a bank where I managed 2 divisions, worked for an AI start up that created internal “chat bots” for corporations, took a job in Marketing at what is now AMAZON and moved to LA to work in Non Profit and Fashion. How’s that for variety in your 20’s ?!?! 😂
As I was trying to figure out my next move, I landed the job of my dreams or so I thought. Within 6 months I was let go because “they didn’t think it would work out.” So what is a wife and mom to do? Start a business. This is when Chica Intelligente was born!
My career did a bunch of twists and turns but kept me and my colleagues busy. I worked with Red Bull Media House to FabFitFun, Ford, Keurig, Mirror Digital, Onedome, The Crème Shop, Marlena Stell, ABC Mouse, Logitech, Soul Beach Music Festival, Microsoft, WSI, eBay, Sugar Gamers, Zara, a Dentist, an upcoming fashion brand, a construction app, a non profit teen program, skincare studio, a musician….and the list goes on. I’ve collaborated on some amazing projects with some inspiring groups of people in a mix of capacities. All of it gave me the foundation I have in Communications, PR, Digital Marketing, Social Media, and Project Management.
I love what I do. I hope I can work with you to create something great!
Thank you for stopping through. Hope to work with you soon!
Katrina L. Jefferson
Founder, Chief Creative Officer