Beyond the Desk featuring Jordan Barker
We're back with another 'Beyond the Desk by dentsu X,' where we dive into the lives, passions, and talents that make our agency so special.
In this interview, we sit down with Jordan Barker, manager of client services at dentsu X US. Jordan discusses her experiences, including her transition from striving for perfection to emphasising continuous improvement. Additionally, she sheds light on her talent for cultivating enthusiasm and fostering team engagement. Read more in our interview below:
Q> What is one skill they do not teach you in school that you use every day?
Jordan> School never covered handling constantly changing project tasks. In real life there is no fixed syllabus. At the start of my career, I struggled with that. But now, my daily routine—coffee first—revolves around meetings and making a fresh list each day. From big projects to daily tasks, it keeps me on track and makes sure nothing slips through the cracks. There are always going to be those ad hoc requests that pop up and land on the top of my list, completely changing the course of my day. However, I've also learned that when things like that happen, communicating with the team and the client on everything we have going on helps ensure that we're prioritising work correctly and that we're all on the same page. The best part of my day is crossing everything off my list!
Q> What was your first job? And what is the most important skill or lesson you learned at that job?
Jordan> My first job, during high school, was at a golf club where I worked outdoors. I greeted visitors approaching the club for various activities like dinner or golf. The most crucial skill I gained there was effective communication. Initially I was shy and reserved, but this job taught me the importance of breaking out of my shell and communicating confidently. It's about more than just talking; it's about conveying ideas effectively. This experience instilled in me the confidence to present solutions and address questions, a skill I use today to provide valuable insights and assistance to my team and clients.
Q> What is something you wish you knew before entering the corporate or media world or both?
Jordan> Growing up, I thought I had to be perfect to succeed, even though people said otherwise. It stressed me out a lot. But that changed when I made a big mistake at my first job after college. I expected a huge fallout, but my boss didn't freak out. She just showed me how to fix it and prevent it from happening again. That's when I realised it's not about being perfect; it's about learning from slip-ups. Now, I focus on doing things right while improving, not aiming for perfection. I try to bring my A-game every day.
Q> What is something unique about you, your background or your role that you bring to the dentsu X community?
Jordan> Something unique about me is that I bring my enthusiasm every day. On each account I've been on, I try to help and support my team because I know working together is the best way to succeed, and excitement is contagious. I also feel like it makes people more engaged because we are more excited to be solving problems together instead of feeling discouraged when something is difficult. I also prioritise knowing what motivates the people around me and really knowing them and how they work.
