Veronica Jancuk
Veronica Jancuk
Creative Manager / Producer / Project Manager / Marketing Generalist / Stylist / Cofounder of ADOR
Pennsylvania
www.veronicajancuk.com
www.adorstudios.com
instagram @veronicawastaken
instagram @ador_studios
pinterest
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a (“slashie”/multi-hyphenate/hybrid) Creative Manager/Project Manager at my core as well as a Marketing Generalist and Freelance Stylist. ”
I'm equally left and right-brained and love nothing more than to marry my Type A organizational skills with my need for creativity. I'm passionate about helping designers, developers, brand, and marketing teams get their best sh!t done in a collaborative and effective way. I manage creative operations and lead projects from initial briefing to completion/launch day/beyond, with direct responsibility for the day-to-day management of tasks, processes, and workflows. I'm quick to see inefficiency and conceptualize new solutions, I live somewhere between strategic and tactical, and I always have creative input.
I’ve overseen and produced digital experiences, rebrands, social media, email marketing campaigns, product design and development, packaging design, and product photography/videography (both virtual and traditional) but I've also been hands-on with creative direction, content curation and creation, styling, product photography, designing websites, setting up digital ads, and copywriting for websites, emails, social media, and product descriptions.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I was eager to get into the workforce early so I spent my teen years serving and bartending which I think gave me a good foundation for dealing with people and different personalities. I also had a short stint working retail before taking a job when I was 19 working at the Pennsylvania State Capitol where I stayed for several years and helping to manage multi-million dollar energy projects. Aside from the bureaucracy, I think that job helped me mature a little more, learn a lot (including from some mistakes), and meet some really great people who motivated me and promoted me. It was also my first introduction to program and project management.
Being a creative at heart, I knew that a long-term career with state government was not in the cards for me. I decided to make a move across the state to Pittsburgh where I took a job with a start-up company. I loved this experience as the team and company were small and evolving. I became a jane-of-all-trades and got experience in a lot of different areas. I enjoyed the proximity to the founders and knowing that my feedback was being heard and considered instead of feeling like I was just a cog in a wheel. Through this experience, I also learned that I love working for small companies/start-ups because processes aren't yet fully developed and I like being able to help contribute to this and find out what works as the company grows.
While I loved working for the start-up, I wanted to gain more experience in the marketing and advertising industry and have more involvement in creative projects so I took a job at a mid-size agency as an Interactive Project Manager. Getting this agency experience was really valuable and when I moved across the state again to Philadelphia, I took another job as a Digital Project Manager with a smaller marketing and design agency. This was also my first experience working remotely and managing a distributed team which I fell in love with. Through this position, I ended up splitting my time and working in-house for one of our clients as their Marketing + Brand Manager. Like the start-up, this ended up allowing me to wear a lot of different hats but was very e-commerce focused which was the start of me pivoting into managing creative vs. technical projects, working on more e-commerce focused clients and projects, and exploring my personal passions with styling and photography. I’ve recently spent time as a contract Creative Manager + Producer at a fully distributed e-commerce furniture company and working on freelance CGI styling projects.
How do you stand out in your field?
I think being a generalist as well as having a split Type A/Type B personality helps me stand out. Some PMs can just be task masters and aren’t getting involved in the creative side of things but I always have input there and I think having an eye for design helps. My broad experience also allows me to be really hands-on. I may be project managing but if you need me to jump in and write copy, work on social media, or provide creative direction, I can do that.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
I'm picking up some freelance projects while I look for a good fit in my next full-time role (unless freelancing goes extremely well!).
Currently, I'm working with a photography studio providing art direction and set design/prop styling CGI images for a large lighting brand.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
Aside from constantly evolving, I would describe my style as wabi-sabi… it’s a little bit minimalist with a touch of whimsical and quirk. I love neutrals, post-modern design, and mixing vintage in where I can. My Pinterest provides a good idea of my stream of consciousness at any given time.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I’d like to focus on managing more creative projects as I phase out technical ones/projects that are solely web-design focused. I’d love to be able to produce and style photoshoots and would like to continue picking up more freelance prop styling and creative/art direction work on CGI projects.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Aside from our collective issues around the pandemic, I would say recruiters and navigating taxes as a freelancer/contractor. I also sometimes find it frustrating trying to explain the essence of being a “slashie” and that I fit in multiple boxes - people naturally want to try to shove you into one.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Make healthy meals for me!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I wish I had followed my gut when I was younger and gone to school to pursue a creative career (at the time I was set on interior design). Coming from a small town, my parents had encouraged me to go to school for nursing (it didn’t last long) and had I known I was going to end up with student loan debt either way, I would’ve gotten a head start on exploring creative opportunities.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
Nitty gritty taxes for freelancers/contract workers vs. business owners and self-employment.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Right now, I’m looking for full-time work (preferably remote but I’m willing to travel when it’s safe again) in Creative Project Management/Creative Operations/Marketing Management and/or freelance styling projects.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client/job/collaboration isn’t concentrated in any one area but I have an interest in working with agencies, home, lifestyle, beauty, wellness, or cannabis brands/clients. Having a positive social and/or environmental impact/focus would be a cherry on top.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
I prefer to be contacted through email initially/through my website or LinkedIn. I’d love to know how they found me, their budget, scope, and why they feel like I may be a good fit. A good GIF doesn’t hurt either ;)
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Play/experiment with new hobbies/mediums!
This member profile was originally published in February 2021.