TSC Member Monday: August 2023

Meet Jillian Sobeck Whalen of Sobeck Studios

Hi! I’m Jillian Sobeck Whalen –Owner/Principal of Sobeck Studio. SS is a marketing firm focused on fractional CMO services, marketing agency services, and curated events on the East Coast. Sobeck Studio supports clients in construction and real estate who want to implement strong content marketing strategies that’ll lead to meaningful results and reach their top-line business objectives. We specialize in social media management, public relations, advertising and copywriting, and there is nothing better than the satisfaction of helping a client succeed.

More personally: I was born and raised in Greenville, SC, went to boarding school in Chattanooga, TN, and went to Clemson University, but now live in a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC with my husband Pat and son, Rory. Hard to believe it, but I’ve been in the DC region for 10 years now. Some of my happiest pastimes include playing tennis, entertaining and cooking, early morning and sunset walks with my little family, skiing (love Deer Valley!), or traveling to the beach in my two happy places, Martha’s Vineyard and Charleston. If I could live my life like every day was a Nancy Meyers movie, I’d be a happy lady!

https://www.sobeckstudio.com
@sobeckstudio

Why did you join TSC Membership?

I joined TSC because I want to learn as much as I possibly can from other inspiring women and business owners. I also wanted to be in a creative space where I could goal-set and brainstorm based off TSC conversations. I decided to attend the Summit in 2023 and I instantly felt surrounded by like-minded women who are all chasing after a dream, and I felt I “had met my kind of people.” After leaving the conference with many business cards, new contacts, and TONS of ideas (I think I took 25 pages of notes during the sessions), I decided to then become a member to join the weekly calls and to continue my education as a business owner looking to grow.

What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?

In Greenville, I adore Pink Bee (owned by another TSC member who I met at the Summit) and Monkees of the West End. Outside of Greenville, I love Dondolo based out of Dallas for dresses that make me feel my best and for adorable smocked outfits for my son. I love Mignonne Gavigan for my “power earrings” as I call them — aka: whenever I have a new business kickoff call or big pitch, I always wear her earrings as they make me super confident and like I can do anything. I also met Wells of Swells at The Southern C Summit and have been wearing the scarf I got at the Sip and Shop 24/7. I can’t wait to get another one soon!

Where do you go to get your inspiration now?

I find the most inspiration for my business and personal life by being outside — at a park, near the ocean or in the mountains. I live right next to a beautiful park and find the best business ideas come to me on my daily walks. No matter the season, I try to get outside daily for a walk, and I crave it now because it provides so much clarity for me on the daily.

What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?

I’ve had a few mentors, but my greatest mentor is my dad, who recently sold his 40+ old construction business. When I started my business, he told me you can choose to sink or you can swim, and that if you have the mindset to swim, you’ll always be successful. I also read Lydia Fenet’s first book a few years ago right when I started my new business two weeks before the Pandemic shutdown the world and she said “Network or Die” in her book and I took that advice to heart. I set up as many Zoom meetings as I could, did virtual happy hours, joined Podcasts, and I decided I would network and well, maybe not die, but I would sure as heck would as hard as possible to ensure my business took off during the beginning of the Pandemic — even if that meant I couldn’t network in-person.