Amplifying Your Voice and Your Mission: an interview with Helen Jonsen, founder of Helen Jonsen Media

Helen is the founder and chief storyteller at Helen Jonsen Media, offering media coaching and impact communications. She is on a mission to help the world be a better place. As a professional communicator, she has had a kaleidoscope career in media with decades of experience as a journalist, media coach, speaker, voice-over talent, writer, media relations pro, and strategist. Helen brings this depth of knowledge to leaders and organizations advocating for good.Helen shared that from a young age she knew she wanted to be a journalist. She was a storyteller, who loved telling as well as listening to stories. She remembers growing up and being surrounded by news, whether it was the radio station her mom listened to, the newspaper her parents read cover-to-cover, or the six o'clock news with Walter Cronkite they watched together before dinner.Helen witnessed the seismic shifts that took place in the media landscape, from the clacking of typewriters to the click of digital media. She navigated these shifts by persistently learning about the new evolving technologies, and adapting as necessary to the changes. Today, she coaches individuals and organizations  to become stronger speakers, presenters, interviewees and advocates, and to to use media to amplify their message.“I think what I enjoy most is the combination of talking, teaching, putting the words together, but also strengthening the position of other people, amplifying what they do and showing their missions so that we're building something good together.  I like to sit in a room and hear about someone's backstory or about a mission and what it drives, and then I want to hear the stories that make that work, because it's the stories, the authentic, real stories, that resonate with other people.” - Helen JonsenSome takeaways:- Always be learning. Helen was a journalist. She and her husband, a television cameraman, ran a video production business for corporations, nonprofits, and international news organizations who needed news coverage in America. As the media business changed with the growth of the internet, Helen knew that she had to keep learning whatever technology was around her. She needed to be aware of how the equipment the business used was changing, and what the changes meant to her and her husband, their business, and their clients.- When your industry is changing, consider other things you could do professionally with your skills. Helen lived through the big layoffs that took place in digital media, which led her to consider using all her skills toward mission-driven work. As a result, she used her skills of writing, curiosity, willingness to learn and relationship building  as well as her strategic and executive skills to work in the public sector providing communication.- Know that the language you use can empower or disempower you. Helen works with clients and their stakeholders on basic communication skills, from how they answer the phone, to how they represent themselves in networking situations, to how they introduce colleagues and how they introduce themselves. All these interactions have an impact on how others perceive you, as well as on how you perceive yourself and your connection to the organization’s mission.About the guest: Helen Jonsen is the founder and chief storyteller at Helen Jonsen Media – offering media coaching and impact communications to organizations, leaders, and advocates on a mission to do good. Her kaleidoscope career includes being head of public affairs communication for the NYC Economic Development Corp. and the Westchester County District Attorney. As a journalist, she held editorial roles at local, national, and international television networks and major publishers including Forbes and Bonnier. Helen has been published in many outlets and authored or contributed to several books. She is a public speaker on topics revolving around advocacy, communication skills, and life’s challenges. Helen is a mom of four grown children, an American with an Aussie connection, a New Yorker, and a Hudson Valley resident.Website: helenjonsen.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenjonsenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelenJonsenHJMedia/ Interested in booking a free consultation? Schedule a call.Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook : Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.