And this isn’t our first rodeo. This isn’t even the first time I’ve interviewed her. (You’ll have to tune in to get that tea ☕️.)

A few words to paint the picture: Google marketing. YouTube creator strategist. Wharton School grad. Entrepreneur. Lifestyle influencer. Author. Bathrobe expert. And an absolute trailblazer in the creator economy and microinfluencer space.

Yeah. Exactly.

Here’s a personal tidbit: I’d been wanting to build my personal brand for a while, and stumbled across her Office Hours. Drop-in sessions where you bring your questions around content, visibility, personal branding, and decision-making, and walk away with real, direct, honest guidance. I signed up, we had an incredible conversation, I implemented everything she taught me in 60 minutes flat, and I’ve been growing on Instagram and TikTok ever since.

Listen to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

What I love most about Alexis is that she genuinely wants to see you win. No guessing, no wondering if people actually care. With her, the answer is obvious. She’s built her entire platform around “ambitious material girls.” Women who aren’t just interested in a better life, but are actively building one around wellness, entrepreneurship, creativity, and intentional living.

In this episode, we get into:

• Authority in the creator economy

• Mindset shifts that move the needle, online and offline

• The ugly side of influencing nobody talks about

• Ambitious women and the ceilings they keep breaking

• How to attract real opportunities through your content

• Building a sustainable creative career on your own terms

If you’re ready to strengthen your personal brand, use social media to actually build the life you’ve been dreaming of, and level up as an ambitious woman, this one is for you.

“You will surpass so many people if you’re consistent, and doing social from a place of community love, and not chasing virality.” - Alexis Barber

Keep up with Alexis: her Instagram, her TikTok, her Substack, her website.

Follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok and follow Gen @g.ennifer and @genniferwithag

Stick around. I’ll see you in the next one. 🫶🏾

💎Gen

That’s exactly how I felt when I met today’s guest, Leah Chin.

Leah and I met years ago while working at a creative agency where we consistently brainstormed (and executed) big ideas and built content for major brands. I can strongly say if you’re looking for someone with a creative eye and a vibey POV, she’s all that (and then some).

Did I mention she’s personally worked with brands like Ami Cole and Ember Niche? Right, the resume is STACKED.

What makes Leah’s story powerful is that she didn’t just talk about wanting change: she made it.

Originally on a path toward the medical field, Leah pivoted into a full-time career in social media and content creation. That kind of career change is not small. It requires clarity, courage, and a willingness to let go of the version of yourself you once thought you had to become. Our conversation went so deep that at one point, I asked Leah, “Is this a therapy session?” Maybe!

🎙️ Listen to the podcast on Spotify

In this episode, we get into:

• what it really takes to pivot careers

• her transition from the medical industry to a creative field

• balancing a full-time job with your own creative pursuits

• building a career in social (she now manages social over at CFG - a global influencer marketing agency)

• developing sustainable wellness routines

• staying authentic both online and IRL

If you’re navigating a career shift, questioning your path, or trying to build a creative life without burning out, I encourage you to tap in.

“When it comes to creating, I think that I give myself grace, which allows for there to be balance.” - Leah Chin

Keep up with Leah: her IG, her TikTok, her wellness page. She’s a masterclass in building an authentic online presence that actually connects.

Stick around. I’ll see you in the next one. 🫶🏾

💎 Gen

I have a confession to make: I’m a closeted extrovert.

I move through life in a pretty unassuming way: smiling, warm, and friendly. I don’t dominate rooms. And I certainly don’t need the spotlight.

But underneath that?

I want to talk. And I mean YAP.

Not about the weather. Or whatever surface-level conversation is floating around.

I want to ask:

• How are you, really?

• Did you overcome that thing you were struggling with?

• What would your perfect day look like?

• What are you in the midst of building?

• What are you afraid to say out loud?

For a long time, I thought I was just nosy. And don’t get me wrong, I am!

But I also love the art of conversation.

Which brings me to another confession. AKA: the sentence I’ve dressed up time and time again in a safer language. I’ve called it “marketing”, “content”, “communications”, “brand strategy”, and even “media.” I’ve even gone on to lead content and strategy work with top brands like Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon Beauty, and HBO Max, thinking that was my only purpose.

But when I strip all that away, bare bones, it comes down to this:

I want to make a living out of talking to people. There, I said it.

Not small talk. Not networking. Real conversation.

Humble Beginnings (a.k.a. The Oprah Bathtub Era)

Like many children who played pretend, I used to sit in the bathtub and imagine I was Oprah. Bubbles everywhere. A Bratz doll beside me (because she needed a bath too, and I was far too iconic for a rubber ducky). An imaginary cue card in my hand. And here’s the catch: I wasn’t pretending to be the celebrity. I was the one asking the questions TO the celebrities. I was guiding the narrative and, as a 6-year-old with a 30-minute deadline in the bath, trying my hardest to get the story. And somewhere along the way, life kept nudging me back toward that role.

The Signs I Ignored (For Years)

Mentors told me I should be a reporter. My managers wrote in recommendation letters that I had “a knack for conversation” and was “very good at marketing myself” (still undecided if that was shade).

In college, I was asked to speak on stages. At work, I’m asked to read copy in client presentations because of “how good my voice sounds.” I’ve been invited to panels since my early twenties (here’s one I spoke at for Grown Magazine last year, and here’s one where I’m speaking at my alma mater next month). It felt like everyone could see something in me that I couldn’t yet see for myself. It can be dangerous when the world starts telling you who you are. Or, you can take it as a wake-up call.

Right before graduating from college, I was accepted into a program called MAIP (the Multicultural Advertising Intern Program). In one of our first exercises, we were told we needed to figure out our “why” or we wouldn’t survive the industry. Here’s what I came up with:

“Spark conversations. Challenge ideas. Tell stories that will have an impact.”

No ChatGPT. No Claude. Just a 20-year-old with conviction.

I didn’t realize I was writing the blueprint for my future.

So… Why Are You Here? Is This Just Another Substack?

Absolutely not. Gems with Gen is my safe space, and your discovery hub for fresh ideas and inspiring stories.

This is where I spotlight hidden gems: bold creators, everyday innovators, and cultural architects who are building something meaningful and deserve more visibility. But more than that? It’s documentation. Remember when I confessed I wanted to make a living out of talking to people? I wasn’t joking. It’s me building the thing I’ve always circled around but never fully claimed.

In this Substack, and on my podcast, I explore:

• The highs and lows behind building something meaningful.

• The confidence it takes to bet on yourself.

• The identity shifts that come with growth.

• The money conversations people are afraid to have.

• The lessons people are often too afraid to post.

• How to take your next steps
  

Some stories will inspire you. Others will shock. But there will always be a gem to take with you.

Why Substack?

Because audio isn’t always enough, I’ll go deeper here.

You’ll get:

• To be introduced to go-getters who are building businesses and brands, and are excited to share the lessons they’ve learned with you

• Conversations about media, culture, and creative ambition

• A behind-the-scenes look at how I’m building the show

• Resource breakdowns (a collection of stories, articles, and cultural moments you should be tapped into)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re circling something bigger than your current life. If you know you have more in you, but can’t quite name it yet. If you’re building quietly and want to see what it looks like when someone builds out loud:

You’re in the right place.

Stick around for more. I’ll see you in the next one. 🫶🏾

In this episode, Gen sits down with model Paris Gardner for a raw, soulful conversation about identity, transformation, and self-worth. From growing up in the south to redefining success on her terms, Paris opens up about the power of supportive figures, shedding expectations, the comfort and desire for change, and what success means to her.

Whether you're curious about breaking into the modeling industry or you're standing at your own crossroads, Paris’s story will inspire you to bet on yourself and never look back.

Resources For The Gems <3

• Follow Paris on Instagram @paris_gardner_

• Check out the magazine Paris mentioned @missionmagazine

• Follow Gems with Gen on Instagram @gemswithgenpod

In this episode, ⁠Gennifer⁠ is mapping out her personal "Ins and Outs" for the summer. She’s saying goodbye to things like doom scrolling, people-pleasing, and shrinking herself to make others comfortable. In their place? Boundaries, bold moves, 8 hours of sleep, and maybe—just maybe—a summer class. (Don’t hold her to that last one.)

Tune in as she gets honest, aspirational, and a little unserious about creating a summer that feels good. If you’re ready to have your best summer yet, start here. <3 For more gems, follow the pod on @⁠gemswithgenpod⁠, and Gennifer @⁠g.ennifer⁠ on Instagram.

For more gems, follow the pod @gemswithgenpod, and Gennifer @g.ennifer on Instagram.