Jhana Guzman-Scholder - JDM Impressions

Working remotely, like we do at JDM, doesn’t mean being disconnected from colleagues. As part of our culture-building initiative, and to introduce the digital marketing world to our awesome team members, we regularly peel back the curtain on the lives of JDMers. This week, we’ll get to know SEO Specialist, Jhana Guzman-Scholder!

Name: Jhana Guzman-Scholder
Position: SEO Specialist
Location: Syracuse, NY

When did you begin working at JDM?
April 18th, 2022

How did you know JDM was the right fit for you?
The emphasis on work/life balance is what sealed the deal for me. In previous positions, I’ve had to work on weekends or be available to answer emails after hours/on holidays which made it hard to wind down and free up my mind at night or on weekends. At JDM, I’m encouraged to take PTO or break up my day with a quick walk or grabbing coffee. 

What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Mid-day. I usually take my dog on his afternoon walk and just having that 15 minutes of movement, sun, and a happy dog helps me refocus. 

What’s the most gratifying part of working with your clients?
I really enjoy learning about startups and entrepreneur journeys, so it’s really cool to me to when a founder is on a call and I can hear about their goals, pain points, etc directly from them.

In a remote company, how do you stay connected with your team?
By having a dedicated Slack channel to sharing non-work articles/tips like recipes or celebrity gossip. The Vanderpump Rules “Scandoval” has been a big topic among the Bravoholics at JDM. 

What three words would you use to describe the JDM culture?
Collaborative, genuine, and transparent.

What's something you love about JDM?
I love my coworkers!  Even though we all come from different places and backgrounds, I feel as though we all share similar qualities that makes it really easy to work with eachother. 

Can you recall a time when JDM challenged you, and how we supported you through that time?
During my onboarding, a lot of the training included learning new processes and ways to share/present information. Every single member of the team was more than willing to take the time to schedule Zoom calls to go over questions I had or to walk me through something step-by-step. I’ve never experienced that with another digital marketing job, so it was another thing that made me go “Oh yeah, I definitely made the right decision joining JDM.”

What’s the best thing you’ve done with your unlimited PTO?
I have not used my Unlimited PTO for anything cool yet but just knowing I have the option (instead of waiting to accrue PTO time!)  will make it much easier and less stressful for me to plan trips in the future.

What's something you love about the marketing industry?
I love how fast trends come and go. It seems like just like you’re getting used to something, there’s something else that has become the next big thing. 

What do you think has been the most interesting change in the marketing industry or in your channel this year?
The ChatGPT craze. It’s definitely cool but I don’t think it will ever fully replace human writers.

What digital marketing platform, technology, or skill do you see gaining the most traction in the next 1-2 years, and why?
Anything that delivers information quickly and in a short format. Instant gratification has somewhat become the norm and most people don’t have the time or want to spend it looking for answers or entertainment. I think it’s part of the reason TikTok is so popular, because it’s so easy to swipe away to something else the very second you’re bored or not interested.

What are the names and ages of your kids (or furbabies)?
Monte James. He’s a Jack Russell Mix, he turns 5 in April (an Aries just like mom!) and we will be celebrating our 5th Happy Gotcha Day in August. Adopting him was 1000% the best decision I’ve ever made. 

What’s a project that you’ve worked on that you’ve really enjoyed?
I really enjoy any tasks that involve any UX/UI aspects. Even when I’m browsing on certain sites in my free time, I’ll catch myself thinking about certain features I could suggest for a client or ways to make it better.