Give it up for our last, but certainly not least, 2022 member of the month, Jenna Giesow! Jenna is the co-owner and CEO of VAST Media. She was one of the top 10 seniors her year at OSU and a competitive runner post-grad. Speaking of OSU, Jenna is the biggest college football fan in the space; you can bet on it. Now, she’s on her next trip around the sun leading VAST Media and expecting another sweet baby. She really does it all!
VAST Media is a full-service Media & Marketing Company that specializes in video production, real estate photography + videography, branding + graphic design, and digital marketing solutions. VAST serves locally in the greater Tulsa area and expands nationally to assist various marketing needs. It all began as an idea and desire in 2018 and has since exploded into a one-stop-shop! VAST exists to help build your brand and help you stand out among the rest.
P.S. The Root uses VAST for our photography and content needs, too. They’re the best!
What do you do? Tell us a little bit about your company.
I’m the Co-Owner & CEO of VAST Media. VAST Media is a family-owned and operated full-service Media & Marketing Company specializing in video production, commercial photography, real estate marketing services, digital marketing services, and branding & design. Whether you’re an individual, business, or Realtor— we have something for you to build your brand and help you stand out among the rest.
What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of?
Last year, we had the opportunity to work with the show House Hunters on HGTV. They were filming an episode of the show here in Tulsa, and they were referred to us for the aerial footage of the homes featured on the show and city spotlight footage around Tulsa. It was a dream come true for us to see our work air on a national television network and showcase the beauty of our city on a national stage.
What’s something that has surprised you about your chosen career path?
Everything about what I do now has surprised me. I originally began my career in the classroom teaching high school English. Then, I stepped into a corporate role as an executive assistant, which then led me into the field of marketing. It was during that time that I worked in marketing that my husband came to me and said he was going to start a business in the media & production industry. I supported him 110%, but I really had no idea of how involved I would later one day be years down the road. If you would have told me 10 years ago that this is where I would be—and not just me, but my entire family—I would have had a hard time believing that. Nonetheless, I’m really thankful for the journey and opportunity we’ve been given to do great work, serve businesses & Realtors, and have some fun while we’re at it.
What strategies do you use to make big decisions?
I’m both a realist and a strategist to the core, which I believe makes for a really great recipe for a business owner. There is no problem or decision too big for me. We’ve encountered several monumental business decisions—some tough and some exciting—that I’ve always approached with both acceptance of what it is and a scheme and/or strategy to move onward to what’s next.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a journalist. I grew up watching the news, Larry King Live, Regis & Kathy, and also obsessing over newspapers & magazines. I read everything I could get my hands on; this combined with my love for writing made for a love for pop culture, nonfiction, and keeping current on news in the world.
What is the plot of your favorite movie or book?
Asking an English major what the plot of their favorite book is a brave question… how much time do you have? 🙂 I will always be a fan of both classic literature and nonfiction, but one of my favorite books that continues to stand the test of time in my mind is Tuesdays with Morrie. Based on a true story, the book tells the story of a man named Mitch, a sports journalist, who gets news that his favorite college professor and mentor becomes very ill. Mitch, regretting his loss of touch and time with his mentor throughout the past several years, travels to see him in his last days. Mitch then spends Morrie’s last days by his side, interviewing him on life’s greatest lessons and questions. Morrie, a man who has experienced so much life, then shares wisdom after wisdom about living, loving, serving, and dying in this world and what truly matters in the end.
What trend do you hope makes a comeback?
There is no other feeling like walking into FYE (let’s bring it back), purchasing a CD, and opening up the jacket to discover a poster and/or song lyrics to every track. Fingers crossed that trend makes a comeback, and I can fill up a CD binder again for my car.
What is one of your favorite things about being a member of The Root Coworking?
One of my favorite things about being a member of The Root Coworking is the community. I’ve met so many amazing & beautiful people since planting our business at The Root, and I couldn’t imagine our team growing anywhere else.
