Coming from the inner city streets of Newark, New Jersey, Madison Jaye has quietly emerged as one of media’s brightest stars. Having interviewed some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry and working on shows including The Steve Harvey Morning Show, The Funkmaster Flex Show on Hot 97, and now Digital Producer on “The Quiet Storm with Lenny Green on WBLS.
The oldest of five children, Jaye learned early the meaning of sacrifice, hard work, perseverance, and faith. Experiencing the harsh realities of being parentless and homeless has helped build the unshakable foundation that Jaye and her brand stand on today. Â
BlackEnterprise.com had the chance to catch up with the rising media star to discuss her career, managing multiple media outlets, and building a strong brand. Â
BlackEnterprise.com: When did you realize media was the career path you are passionate about, and how were you able to throw yourself all in without looking back?
Jaye: Honestly, I’ve always known and I like to believe that our purpose is embedded in us since childhood or even birth. If we look back over our lives we can all see the traits within us as we continue to grow. For instance, I have always been very talkative and very nurturing. In fact, my grandmother used to have a song just for me called You talk too much, and every time I would go on and on, she would just start singing that song. I’ve always been passionate about this line of work, it just took time for me to find myself in order to unlock it. Media has always been embedded in me; this is what I was sent to do.Â
How are you able to successfully manage the different media outlets that make up the Madison Jaye Brand?Â
Sometimes I have to ask myself the same question, but there is one word that answers this. Organization. I keep everything extremely organized, and I always look for ways to be more organized because there’s always room for improvement. I balance out my priorities and learn to manage each part of my brand excessively without doing too much or not enough.
Another important key is to have a great team. You are a reflection of the people you surround yourself with, so personally, I only surround myself with geniuses. We take knowledge and skills from each other, but we also give and nurture one another. Everyone you meet has something to teach–whether it be good or bad– they’re teaching you the ways of the world. The people around you should be nurturing your mind and helping you evolve. Your team should be filled up with geniuses who can help expand your vision. I am honored to work with everyone who is a part of the Madison Jaye Brand.Â
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Who are the Jaye Dolls, and in what way(s) are they an important aspect to your brand? Â
JayeDolls, I always love this question. Lately the kingdom, as they like to call themselves, has expanded to the JayeRoyals. Originally my online supporters were mostly women, and I wanted all of my supporters to understand they were the greatest contributors to the growth of my brand. I soon combined “Jaye†to the word “dollâ€, and eventually I expanded to the “gents†and “royals†because I believe everyone is royalty.They are the Madison Jaye Brand, so they deserve to be a part of it.Â
I love my dolls, gents, and royals as well as the awesome JayeKingdom who are all over the world! They inspire me and help me grow in so many ways. Someone once asked me why do I refer to my JayeRoyals as kings and queens and I responded by saying that what we speak into existence and what I see in all of them is royalty so that’s actually where the name stems from.Â
You have begun to reinvent yourself and the Madison Jaye Brand. What does this brand reinvention look like and what can we expect from the new Madison Jaye?
I wouldn’t call it a reinvention, I would call it an expansion! What I want for people to understand is that this is their blog and media platform. It’s a way of connecting the world to get any portion of information that you may desire. If you want to look good, if you want to feel good, if you want celebrity news, if you want technology information, sports, or relationship columns the content is available for consumption. I have writers contributing from all over the world, so whatever you were looking for you can go to MadisonJaye.com to see it.
I started with just celebrity news, but I realize by only sticking with that small portion of the brand, I was limiting myself and my viewers, so I decided to incorporate diverse concepts that different people would be interested in. I want everyone to feel like this is their personal blog, so I had to expand further than just celebrity interviews. What you can expect from MadisonJaye.com in the near future is growth. We have several writers from South Africa, some in the UK, and are now working on some in Scotland.
What are three pieces of advice you have  for millennial women interested in a career in media? Â
Three pieces of advice I would give to millennial women interested in a career in media are:
- No doesn’t mean no, it just means not now. The no’s are there to strengthen your spirit and build character. Just because someone says no it doesn’t necessarily mean no, it could just mean that it’s not your time yet. But that doesn’t mean give up, you have to push past the no and the disappointments and keep going.
- Build your own base, connect with your audience, and most importantly be your organic self. Being your true self is what people will gravitate to. People can spot a phony. Just be you and work with your unique personality, because we all have amazing characteristics within ourselves Dig deep. Figure out what you are good at and nurture that.
- Listen to my free audiobook called Gaining Wealth. The purpose of the FREE audiobook is for you to gain wealth, spiritually, mentally, financially, and emotionally. Whether we know it or not, we are all on a quest to seek a higher purpose and our higher selves. The audiobook will give you all the tools you will ever need to manifest wealth in every way imaginable. You will unlock the diverse attributes hidden within yourself to help you attract the positive energy of the universe that work in your favor to gain prosperity.