I’m true to my word, I motivate and inspire others on their journey, and I’m continually striving to evolve myself to be an inspirational leader.
Why do you believe honoring achievement is important?
I feel that honoring achievement is important, as it recognizes those who are going above and beyond in our community. Honoring achievement serves multiple purposes, which can overall inspire others and bring recognition and validation to the person being honored. Typically, those being honored have accomplished various things that make them a well-rounded leader in their industry.
Honoring achievement brings people together and can foster relationships and promote a positive attitude and environment for those who are involved. The result and impact of honoring individuals for their achievements can also enhance and strengthen the self-esteem and confidence of the person(s) being honored.
Those who are being honored within the business community and perhaps in their industry niche can bring back recognition and validation to their internal team, and the effects of that honor can bring a sense of pride and inspiration to their staff and team!
What insights have you gained in your career that would inspire others?
The single most important thing I have learned throughout my career is that “your reputation is all you have.” At the end of the day, the way you treat people, the impressions you make, your commitment to the community and overall contribution to those around you will be what defines you. By maintaining your reputation, you will build trust and enhance the relationships in your career.
A strong reputation can directly impact your success by gaining trust and credibility for those you interact with, both internally and externally. I have seen this play out in many ways throughout my career, such as low turnover of staff, clients and people providing referrals, all to create a consistent stream of business opportunities and growth.
Being cognizant of your reputation and holding to your word demonstrates to those around you that you are ethical and reliable. Showing consistency in your actions and executing your commitments will eventually translate to your business having a competitive advantage
What can we do — now — to make a difference for young people/women in Arizona?
I feel that we need to lift up and inspire youth in Arizona as we navigate new and different times. The young people are the future, and we need to build up their confidence and make them feel empowered. There are several ways we can support them, to position them to make a difference on their journey. I would provide them with various tools, such as quality education, financial literacy, career readiness and skill development.
I also feel that we need to provide a diverse environment that embraces arts and culture, community engagement, networking, and mentorship. All these experiences will allow them to become well-rounded and see the world and community from different perspectives. We should also provide the young people of Arizona with experiences that expose them to real-life business situations. This type of opportunity will challenge them to explore and navigate how they would handle it if they were in a leadership role confronted with making the decisions.
There is much work to be done and it will result in benefits that ripple from individuals to their families and to the entire community.
In A Few Words
- What was the last course, certification or training you took to improve yourself professionally? Scottsdale Leadership
- What would you say is a single characteristic OTHERS might attribute to you that defines your success? Focused
- What is the one thing you feel you could work on professionally to be a greater success? Balance
- What is the one professional skill you have that has gotten you where you are today? Commitment
- What is the single greatest issue facing Arizona today? The phenomenal growth and opportunity we are experiencing. We can all thrive in the growth of the state.
About Me
Jennifer Kaplan founded Evolve PR & Marketing in 2010, driven by the goal of connecting with her clients to understand and meet their needs. She brings years of startup experience, dating back to 2005, when she co-founded PRIME 3. A Phoenix native, Kaplan prides herself on knowing the dynamics of the Valley and the deep-rooted relationships she has established. She has received numerous awards that include the Inaugural Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Alumni of the Year (2022), ASU’s Sun Devil 100 honoring top entrepreneurs (2016-2023), and 2022 recipient of the ASU College of Liberal Arts Leaders Program.
Jennifer Kaplan is founder and CEO at Evolve PR and Marketing.
