Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Yu.
Jay, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
If I had to describe myself, I am a human Swiss Army Knife, a jack-of-all-trades with a passion for technology, social marketing for good, building community, creativity and storytelling.
Growing up, I was always surrounded by technology, entertainment, and people. I took my first computer class when I was in second grade, and it was an after-school program (yup, I was a total tech geek and knew it’d haunt me later in life). Remember when The Oregon Trail was on a floppy disk and it would make those noises when you popped the disk into the Macintosh? Those were the good ‘ol days, and that particular moment was the time I fell in love with technology and knew I wanted to start my career in that industry.
Flash forward to 2008, after graduating with my bachelor’s in business from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, I worked at a start-up specializing in nutraceuticals. You’re probably wondering, what is that? Basically, the company developed an energy supplement aimed towards athletes, fitness enthusiasts, on-the-go professionals, truck drivers, anyone really that needed a healthy boost of energy, and a healthier alternative to coffee and 5-Hour Energy.
Believing in this product and pairing that with my love for technology, entertainment and people, I started micro-blogging and sharing the company’s story on social media (back when Myspace and Live Journal were the places to hang out) and long story short, it proved to be a success. We received a multitude of sales orders to the point the product was sold on e-commerce sites and stores, including Amazon, Bodybuilding.com, Rite Aid, and Smoothie King. With this experience and success under my belt, this led me to my next career move as an entrepreneur.
After the success from the start-up, my business partner and I opened a boutique digital media and social media marketing shop. Through our connections, experience, and unique business strategy, we achieved a diverse portfolio ranging from local B2B and B2C clients to major political candidates and initiatives to influence public opinion. Our business really supported the growth of my craft and it was rewarding; helping people, showing more of my creativity, and instilling change. As many entrepreneurs know, running a business requires a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but with my attitude, work ethic, I wanted to pursue more. With our connections to Atlanta and contract work I took on, I received my next career opportunity.
When you’re young, ambitious, and open to change, you should go for it! Especially in your 20s. Never settle and that’s what I did. When I received a job offer from a local digital marketing agency in 2013, I stepped down from our shop, packed a U-Haul with my best friend and drove straight from Virginia to Atlanta and never looked back. Working at the agency gave me more experience than I could ever imagine. While I learned a lot, worked with a great roster of clients, I quickly felt the burnout and questioned at times, “Is this really what I want to do?”
As folks may know who experienced the “agency life” and when clients come and go, I was laid off and it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Fortunately, I am the type of person to grab the bull by the horns and if you put it out there in the universe, you will receive it. I did what any ordinary person would do; updated LinkedIn revamped the résumé, and talked with recruiters. For me, though, that wasn’t enough. I made an effort to meet with as many people as I could to support the search for my dream job. In today’s competitive job market, it’s truly about connections and really pursuing your passions.
Thankful for my college fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, my fraternity brother connected me with our alumni network in Atlanta and long story short, through the power of connections and relentless follow-up, in the summer of 2016, I landed my dream job working for North American Properties, a commercial real estate company in Midtown Atlanta. Since then, I’ve been able to grow personally and professionally, work with so many great people and organizations, give back to our community, and add “ExperienceMaker™” to my résumé.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wouldn’t be life it was always a smooth road. When you’re an entrepreneur, you experience a roller coaster of struggles and emotions. During my time at the social media shop, I had my fair share of epic fails including loss, rejection, harsh criticism, and there was even a time I was involved in a screaming match. Going through those tough times and experiencing those struggles ultimately led to empowerment.
To me, it’s not just about acknowledging and learning from mistakes, failures, and struggles but to embrace them. Turn the negatives into positives. Yes, this happened but this was the catalyst for me to develop a thicker skin, to be more receptive to criticism, to be keep driving, and to never give up.
I compare the struggles I experienced to running. I love to run in races that are off the beaten path; running on uneven pavement, dirt roads, obstacles, and running through peaks and valleys, those are the struggles but eventually, you overcome them and cross the finish line and you’re ready for the next race.
Please tell us more about your work. What do you guys do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I am the Digital Media Strategist and Community Manager at North American Properties (NAP). At the property level at Colony Square, I am responsible for managing our digital assets and programs as well as managing our social media identities, website, and email communications. My role has also allowed me to spread my wings to support all of our departments and our other mixed-use projects.
Our company’s purpose is developing a better world and our company prides itself on its people and community. It’s been rewarding to work with a world-class team of ExperienceMakers™ (yes, trademarked and all by NAP) in developing award-winning mixed-use communities in Atlanta including Atlantic Station, Avalon and currently, the reimagination of Colony Square in Midtown.
Even though we are in the commercial real estate industry and there’s a perception that we just build buildings, we actually are in the hospitality industry and we believe it’s what happens inside and what happens in between the buildings that matter the most and that’s where the magic happens. Between this and our people, that’s what sets ourselves apart from others.
I am very grateful for NAP and our Leadership Team for giving me the opportunity and autonomy to shine the spotlight on my creativity and passions. It really sparks joy to demonstrate hospitality, build community, and elevate our guests’ experiences through all of the investments we’ve made in marketing, social media, and digital technologies. At the end of the day it’s about people, community, and developing a better world. I am excited about what’s ahead especially what we are doing at the reimagined Colony Square.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
To be honest, my proudest moment of my career is awaiting. 2020 will be banner year for our team as we get ready to announce and celebrate more openings, amenities, and the start of a new tradition at Colony Square and Midtown, our inaugural holiday tree lighting experience. So stay tuned…
Contact Info:
- Address: Colony Square
1175 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 780
Atlanta, GA 30361 - Website: www.colonysquare.com
- Email: hello@colonysquare.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/colonysquraeatl
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/colonysquraeatl
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/colonysquareatl
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
