This week on our “Feature Friday” we’re highlighting fellow mom and small business owner, Anna Jones. Anna is the founder of Your Ajency, a global marketing agency located in Chicago. Come find out more about Anna and her amazing journey!

Tell us a bit about yourself before you became a mom, and also how you changed when you had kids.

So before I become a mom I was an ambitious retailer working for some of the biggest British retailers and leading their flagship stores (including Marks & Spencer and Topshop). I was driven and wanted to run a fashion retailer one day. I lived in London, my favorite city in the world, and met my now-husband through work. We got married in beautiful Sommerset and the day we returned from our honeymoon his company asked if he would take on a role in India. Yes, the day we got back from our honeymoon, also the day I took over as the operations director at Topshop, my dream job! But actually, we had nothing to lose and I have always loved travel, having studied languages at university and my dad also working abroad so we got to go. So for us it was an easy decision and being from the UK, I loved the thought of living somewhere hot! So we went to Delhi and stayed for 2.5 years. We traveled all over Asia, had the time of our lives, and made lifelong friends who are now all over the world, which is fun. Such an amazing country! It is definitely somewhere you either love or hate. I had to give up my job to move there. I tried to get a job locally when I arrived, and I was offered the head of retail in India for a well-known shoe brand but the offer of $20k a year a 6-day week, it wasn't worth it. So together with a good American friend, we grew a supportive community of expats through events, the Gurgaon Connection. We did fun socials, huge markets with local artisans, and raised valuable funds for local charities. This community grew from 50 to over 2000 in less than 2 years, and we supported a lot of local businesses. I loved it! It was a lifeline for people arriving, and we developed lots of resources to help people make the transition to life in Delhi. That is where my love of community went to a whole new level. I have always loved connecting with people and this was what this platform was all about. I wanted children and finally became pregnant. Harry, my eldest was born in India in March 2012. So I took on my best role yet, being a mom and moved back to the UK to be closer to family.

How would you describe what you do and what inspired you?

I am Anna Jones, a strategic marketing expert who uses my commercial retail experience of running London flagships, marketing knowledge and global perspective to connect my clients to the right people to support them grow. I am the founder of Your AJency, a global strategic marketing agency based in Chicago which I started in 2020. Your AJency works with ambitious female-founded small businesses run by brave disruptors and innovators. We specialize in strategic storytelling (marketing) that supports these businesses’ growth goals and connects them to a community of loyal supporters and future clients.

Our clients are hand-selected based on their ambition, drive, and uniqueness. These passionate leaders are ready to accelerate their growth but need the expertise to make that happen. We believe every business has a secret sauce and an audience they haven't reached yet. Once we understand the magic, we apply ours.

In 2021, every single one of Your AJency's clients grew both in revenue as well as social presence. They have all got closer to creating the brand they want! Something I am extremely proud of. I was inspired to start this for a number of reasons. Both my parents had their own businesses and so I have always been surrounded by entrepreneurs and knew that was something I wanted to do. But I also have to credit a good friend here, who supported me to take the plunge. I have to admit when I arrived in America, I had a marketing agency back in the UK but it was very tied to the local area and so I was still doing some limited work back there. I also found culturally that women here were much better at shouting about what they were doing and their successes. I felt a little intimidated. It was a bit of a cultural shock that I wasn't expecting. So I took a step back as I settled the kids in at nursery and school, as this was the first international move we had done with kids. But during this time, I built a network of like-minded women. Once I had that support and the best cheerleader in my friend Gillian, I took the plunge. She had designed Wildwood Studio in Roscoe Village and knew Sarah was ready to take on help. So we decided on the name, registered and I got started. The other big thing is, I also just love working with ambitious women and recognize the importance of not just having a support network at home but also as a business owner this is just as important. We become part of their team and champion them, we take their goals as our own and make them happen. It has been the best decision I have made. 

What has been a highlight of your business/project? What’s been a highlight of being a mom?

This is a tricky one! In terms of my business highlights, it really is seeing how I have built a community of supportive females in a relatively short space of time and the amazing and inspirational people I have met along the way. I don't feel I am doing this alone. But also seeing some of my clients dreams come true, launching new revenue streams including curating a wellness store, an events business and a more profitable service proposition along with some amazing rebrands. Being a part of that and supporting them to make it happen, is the best feeling. 

I love how adaptable my family are and they make me proud all the time. Coming to America has brought us closer together as we have much more time together. I love the close relationship my kids have and how they are both prepared to take on the new adventures and challenges we throw at them, like moving countries. We truly are a family that loves to explore the world together, and I can't wait to take them on many more adventures. 

How do you take time to focus on yourself while balancing parenting?

I am not always the best at doing this but have gotten better a bit better, not always sure my husband would agree, as I have taken on more work. When you have your own business, it almost feels like you have two babies. Just like bringing up your children, growing a business takes a lot of resilience, perseverance, and love /passion. It most definitely isn't easy. But the rewards are worth it. I am definitely still learning. I tend to work late a couple of nights a week but also try and do a couple of things for myself when the kids are at school. Weekends are filled with sports and family fun. I didn't work for a few years when I went back to the UK after India and spent my time being with Harry, which was amazing, and I reflect on it and know how lucky I was. But I knew I wanted to one day have my own business. I have always wanted to have more flexibility, so I didn't miss out on being there for my kids including their concerts, sports, etc., but I love to work with people as I love the connection and energy and inspiration I get from other female entrepreneurs. The flexibility is great but at the same time as you grow there is only you and it can take over your life if you let it. So balance is something that I'm learning as I go along. 

I do love eating out with my husband and friends, whenever we can. So whether with friends or on our own, we try and do this when possible especially in Chicago as there are so many places to try. Our list keeps getting longer. I struggle with the juggle when I don't exercise. Since living in America, I have become an Orange Theory addict! So I do that at 6am at least 3 times a week and also enjoy running whenever I get the time. This is great thinking time and zoning out time for me. Then squeezing in hair and beauty stuff is always lovely, but it doesn't happen that often. The good thing is my daughter loves it too, so sometimes I use this as mom and daughter bonding time. 

What tips would you give to other moms to feel successful or empowered?

Do what works for you and your family. It is very easy to compare with others and that can make you feel like you are never winning. Every family has different goals and priorities, so they aren't going to do the same as you, and remember things like social media tend to show the best parts of your life, not the reality! The other most important thing is to build a support network around you. It can be lonely, and you will need other females around you. Some of my closest friends today are those that I made through my kids. In the early days I did some fun music classes and gym classes, that is where I got to know fellow moms with kids of a similar age and they were a lifeline. Then through school, I have since made some great friends.

How can people learn more about you & what you do?

The best way to get to know me better is through my business page @yourajency and my website www.yourajency.com   

Please reach out as I love to connect with fellow females both socially and professionally. Building my business online is as much about building a community of support as a business.