A college dropout, Jennie Smythe had no backup plan — but she had one moment of clarity: she wasn’t going to follow the path others expected. She was going to build her own. By her early 40s, while grieving the loss of her father and newly diagnosed with breast cancer, she had built an award-winning digital marketing firm - Girlilla Marketing.
In this conversation, Jennie shares how she turned crisis into clarity, and what it really looks like to start over with nothing. If you feel behind, unqualified, or unsure of your next move, this episode is for you.
What You'll Learn:
✅ How to turn crisis and grief into clarity
✅ Why “no degree + no plan” becomes your edge
✅ What real leadership looks like through personal loss
✅ The mindset shift that makes building from scratch possible
✅ How to build a business rooted in values, not survival
Timestamps:
(00:00) – Intro
(03:40) – Cancer, grief, and dropping out
(07:29) – Choosing herself over expectations
(11:10) – Walking away from the conventional path
(14:42) – Why Jennie refuses to fake confidence
(19:08) – Building with purpose and integrity
(24:01) – Leading through grief
(27:35) – Starting her business with zero funding
(31:54) – Conversations that shaped her leadership
(36:42) – The truths of rebuilding from nothing
(42:13) – Identity shift: how to start over stronger
About Jennie Smythe:
Jennie Smythe is the founder and CEO of Girlilla Marketing, a Nashville-based digital marketing agency representing some of the biggest names in country music. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of entertainment, media, and strategy, Jennie has built a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in artist-first digital branding.
Before launching Girlilla, she held leadership roles at Warner Music Nashville, Universal Music Group, and AOL Music. Her work is known for blending deep empathy with sharp execution — helping artists and entrepreneurs build lasting, values-driven communities online.
Jennie is also a breast cancer survivor, advocate, and mentor to women navigating nontraditional leadership paths.
Check out Jennie Smythe:
https://www.girlillamarketing.com/about-jennie
https://www.instagram.com/girlillajennie
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniesmythe
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