JENNA SAMPSON Corporate Offices to Wedding Bells

How did Jenna Sampson, who worked in public relations and corporate marketing for one of North American’s leading First Nation communities, transition into owning her own wedding and events coordination business on Cape Breton Island? It all started with a side gig helping couples plan the perfect day and grew from there.

When Jenna made the decision to become a full-time entrepreneur, her experience, confidence and skill set gained from her time at CBU helped her not only transition into this new role but to grow and expand her already successful business.

Jenna graduated from CBU in 2010 with her BA in political science and continued her post-secondary education at Mt. St. Vincent University, gaining her Public Relations degree.

After returning to Cape Breton, Jenna soon found herself in the corporate offices in the First Nation community of Membertou in the role of Director of Marketing. Regarded as one of the leaders in Cape Breton in the field of marketing and communications, Jenna also had a passion and love for wedding planning. While looking for a career opportunity after graduation, Jenna established J. Marie Weddings and grew it steadily over six years.

“In the summer of 2019, I coordinated 15 weddings and worked full-time at Membertou, all while trying to be the best mom and wife I could be and keep up with my social life. It was, at that point, that I knew something had to give,” says Jenna. “I put six years of hard work into my business, and I knew one thing for sure; that my desire to plan weddings was stronger than my desire to work in marketing, so I made the decision to focus completely on J. Marie Weddings.”

Another reason Jenna knew that entrepreneurship was the right move for her came from her two years of study in the Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development (MBA in CED) program at CBU. There, she learned how CED not only drive some of our community's largest businesses, but she also learned how small businesses can thrive when using CED principles.

“The MBA CED program taught me how to think differently about business,” says Jenna. “CBU opened my eyes to unique business practices that I was unaware of and gave me the knowledge to implement them.”

Jenna knew that CBU would always be there for her through the continuation of her studies in the MBA program, as well as through support from her Alumni family, both here in Cape Breton and across the globe. That is why Jenna decided to give back with a monthly gift to CBU.

“I wanted to donate to CBU for the next generation of Cape Bretoners, says Jenna. “I want my son to be able to count on CBU for a great education just like I did – that is why I want to support CBU.”

When asked about what advice she can give to others who are considering a career change or major life decision, Jenna says, “It’s okay to change your mind. You can be something at one point in your life, and then decide that you want to be something else – and that’s okay. It can be scary, but once you understand your fear, you’ll find the courage to make the change.”