Bananas | AnnA| Jumsie
I’ve always been a fan of nicknames. The idea of choosing your own pseudonym, one that defines a characteristic you hold, or memory you were a part of. Sometimes a nickname is simply just a string of sounds that in some bizarre totally unique way- means something to you. To me, nicknames/pet names/ whatever you want to call ‘em- are little monuments to things that make all of us human.
Banana has been a nickname of mine since birth. My mom came up with a variety of derivations (don’t all moms?) like Banan, Nana, etc. The funny thing is, I remember hating that nickname as a child. No like deeply hating it. Something about the sound of it just didn’t vibe with my young self. It wasn’t until I was 13 or so that my family (well my brother) created a new nickname for me- Jumsie. Originating from the fearless manner in which I tend to explore and try new things in unconventional ways. Whether it‘s a pillow fort that takes over my sibling’s bedrooms, developing the spiciest beer known(at the time, perfecting a mood-boosting chocolate chip cookie recipe, throwing sunken-ship-themed pottery, or writing some pretty whack slam poetry- Jumsie describes this chick perfectly.
To those who use it (only super-close friends/family), they know the owner is…
nurturing yet wild, fun but efficient, well-versed in etiquette but with a fierce distaste to societal norms.
It wasn’t until I began to accept myself for the woman I truly am, that I began to use “Banana” as my nickname again. After pouring myself into Food Science and the Craft Beer industry I was tired- not in a good way. Sexism attended every Brewing interview I had, and when it came to Food Science-based roles I was always itching for creative expression. Going through those chapters of my life, was soul-crushing at times. I was constantly at odds with pursuing what excites me and what brings home the bread… I could never have gotten to where I am now without my husband, John. That ever-faithful independent giant (okay well 6’5” is still tall) urged me to find my path one step at a time. So I left my ulcer-inducing job in Food Safety and Quality Assurance and joined a small e-commerce start-up as an Operations Manager. I met women from all walks of life, helped refugees find a vocation that they knew and loved-it was rewarding work. When I moved on to work with a catering company as their Office and Brand Manager, I began to fall in love with building brands- everything was fabulous...and then came Covid.
So many people lost their jobs, including me, but I had a taste of branding-I couldn’t sit still. I took a Document Design role with a government contractor- and realized…
if I wanted to be happy I needed to invest in myself fully. I had to go to the Brandcenter.
The application process was honestly so fun- and it was just the beginning. I applied to the Creative Brand Manager track and compulsively checked my email every ten minutes until a week after submission when Caley Cantrell called me. She told me she saw herself in me, an unconventional strategist. Turns out, she was right. I fell head-over-heels in love with Strategy/Planning and all its facets- it was like the role was made for me. From building evocative creative briefs, to organizing data into a story, and the thrill of presenting- I love doing it all -but with a bit o’ flair.
As a true believer in the beauty of breaking rules, entering the Brandcenter was like a shot of adrenaline to the heart.
Tests? Forget them (I was rarely a good test-taker). Mind-numbingly boring homework? Never had it. Restrictions on presentation style? Gonzo. The more I learn and experiment with methods shared in class, the more I realize that the real beauty of advertising is the journey. Every visionary, at one point or another, has to accept that their craft is never solely one thing but an amalgamation of crafts. Such is the way of the modern ad lad (told you I liked nicknames). There is never only one route to success, nor is there one perspective to a solution. Therein lies every variety of fun this Banana could ever ask for. The only thing that could make it better is perpetuating this joyful passion for the rest of my life.