Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazmine N. Hodgson.
Jazmine, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2018, I created The Serving Girl Company to provide staff training and development to restaurants. At the time, I was working as a server at H&F Burger in Ponce City Market, and although I loved working in the hospitality and restaurant industry, I knew I wanted to do more. On my days off, I started checking out different restaurants in the city, and I quickly fell in love with the food scene. I religiously went to brunch, taking pictures and connecting with other foodies through social media. In 2019, I transitioned from blogging to managing social media, marketing, and a hosting events for a fine dining French restaurant in West Midtown called AIX & Tin Tin. Today, The Serving Girl Company is on a mission to connect food & dining enthusiasts to emerging lifestyles and hospitality experiences through our philosophy, Eat. Drink. Dine. Enjoy! It has been a journey of self-discovery and a lot of hard work. I’m excited to be in Orlando to continue growing my brand and doing what I love!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart, and being a business owner can be a 24/7 job. Along the way, I’ve experienced a lot of moments of stress and worry. There were many nos and questioning if I was on the right path. The pandemic cast a dark cloud over the hospitality and restaurant industry, and trying to stay afloat affected my mental health and wellness. It was a rough time because I was gaining momentum for my brand, and then everything stopped. I’m thankful I was able to pivot into a new direction.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about The Serving Girl Company, LLC?
The Serving Girl Company is a lifestyle brand and creative media company inspired by people, food, and cultures, specializing in lifestyles and hospitality experiences. We advocate for black representation in hospitality and work with businesses and brands to increase their visibility, manage their reputation, and curate authentic social experiences. We offer media and marketing services, curate events and experience, as well, as image and brand consulting. We also have a staff training and development program called For The Love of Hospitality that provides education & coaching to restaurants, lounges and bars! Connect with us @theservinggir.co.
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I have not always been a risk-taker, but I believe sometimes you have to go for it! Moving to Orlando was a risk. After five years in Atlanta, I cultivated a network and community of amazing supporters, so leaving my life in Atlanta to build something new is not something I thought I would do. Despite that, I knew it was time for me to move forward and continue pursuing my dreams. If there’s something you want to do, do it, things will always work out in your favor!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theservinggirlco.com
- Instagram: @theservinggirl
- Twitter: @theservinggirl
Image Credits
IrinaChepkoPhoto
EatingWithErica
Askwame.com
