Check out this resumé … Jennifer Kelton is an entrepreneur, social media innovator and dating advisor. As the founder and CEO of BadOnlineDates.com, and as creator, director and producer of Bad Date TV and the Internet dating game show, "Dating in Disguise," Jennifer helps people learn, laugh and connect based on their shared bad dating experiences. She also is the author of "Don't Use My Sweater Like a Towel," a candid dating guide based on her own dating experiences. Oh, and also add founder and CEO of Green Knights Entertainment, a Transmedia company, to her growing list of achievements. Jennifer will tell you below that she spends the majority of her days updating her blogs and social media accounts, in meetings and responding to emails, but she also enjoys travel (She was recently in Africa!), snowboarding and taking photos. And best yet, she believes life has been her greatest teacher, and if you're passionate then you can make anything happen.
Be willing to take a hit; then pull your boot straps up and get over the pity party fast!
How did you discover your current job?
I wrote a book called "Don’t Use My Sweater Like a Towel," and the idea to create the site came from everyone telling me their bad date stories. That was in 2006 -- it was not discussed like it is today.
What is your typical day like? What types of things do you do in your job?
My day begins at the crack of dawn. Even before hitting the pavement for my a.m. run I am removing spammers and scammers from the BadOnlineDates.com site, checking emails in five different accounts, three voicemail accounts, two Facebook accounts and three Twitter accounts to get my brain wrapped around the day's scope.
As I set my own hours, some days I have back-to-back meetings both in person and on the phone. I have been known, if I don't run, to still be in my bathrobe until 3 or 4 in the afternoon with bed hair and a still-unwashed face ...
Other days, like today, I know I have a lot to do, and I will keep my day free of meetings (until a networking event in the evening), so that I can focus on the current tasks (both top-level and the low hanging fruit) that need to be finished.
I call the BadOnlineDates LLC and Green Knights Entertainment "The Crying Baby," as with a tech biz and now with the launch of the Transmedia company, there is constant change, and as the woman and vision there is never a day that something/many things do not need to be tweaked, changed and updated or new ideas put into a action plan.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most challenging?
Making people laugh and cutting through the static of the dating space online. It has gotten very crowded.
What is the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?
I work most weekends. Hey, I’m working on this now, and it’s Sunday!
What is one lesson you've learned in your job that sticks with you?
Never give up if you are passionate. Be willing to take a hit; then pull your boot straps up and get over the pity party fast!
What do you feel is the biggest challenge for women today, particularly females in your industry?
There is still a bias for women in some situations, such as working with male programmers. Once I outsourced a project to India as a woman, and when I gave the lead developer directions it was as if he did not hear me. I decided to bring in a man to act on behalf of me to communicate, and all of a sudden what I was asking for happened. Also, I'm pitching projects for network TV, and I have been hit on a lot by men in power -- a.k.a. the 'casting couch.'
Who are your role models?
I have a BIG girl crush on Diane Sawyer and Maya Angelou.
What are some of the rules you live by?
As the CEO and founder of BadOnlineDates.com, I live my life by the business philosophy that as long as you are organized, on time and honest, you will be fine in the end. I also believe that business goes in this order: 1. Paperwork 2. Politics and 3. Cash (unless you are a prostitute or drug dealer).
What advice do you have for girls who want to be in your industry?
Don’t take anything personally!
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
As the CEO and founder of Green Knights Entertainment. It’s a Transmedia company. I plan to produce and create not just in-house projects, but projects for others, too.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
No regrets!