5 Minutes With Jessica Garcia, Co-Founder & TCU Alumni

We sat down with KYLE CAVAN’s very own Jessica Garcia. She is our Director of Business Development and an alumni of Texas Christian University (TCU) class of 2013. As she coordinates with our team all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, she is also running a full-time side hustle — a digital marketing and design studio, Untapped Marketing Co, that she started on her own. While both her experience and knowledge in the digital sphere is astounding, she is so down to earth and that’s one of the many reasons why we admire her!

How did your time at TCU influence your life and where you are today?

I actually grew up in Northern California and had never really heard of TCU until my senior year of high school when applying for colleges. My high school counselor recommended TCU to me, and when I went to visit I instantly fell in love. I went to TCU knowing absolutely no one, which was very challenging at first. It forced me to put myself out there, join a sorority, get more involved on campus, and during that time I truly fell in love with all that TCU is. Not only that, but I also found who I was as a person and got an "idea" of what I actually wanted to do in life.

I majored in Advertising & Public Relations from the Schieffer School of Journalism which is very adamant about their students getting real-world internship experience. I interned at two different ad agencies for two summers and quickly realized that was not what I wanted to do. I then went on to intern at the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles for their brand partnerships team. It was my favorite internship I had, but I also realized quickly that I did not want to live in LA and how underpaid women in the music industry are. While I learned a lot academically through incredible professors, I think I learned even more from the real world experiences TCU required of us to graduate. When I graduated from TCU, I received an offer from CBS Media in Dallas which is a top 5 media market. I can confidently say I would not have received that offer without all I learned at TCU.

Any advice for incoming TCU freshmen?

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, because that is when the best things happen! Get involved, join a club — there is so much opportunity on TCU campus if you take it. Take advantage of the small class sizes and get to know your professors. They are happy to help and want you to succeed! TCU truly was the best four years of my life, so take advantage of every second.

Take advantage of the small class sizes and get to know your professors. They are happy to help and want you to succeed!

Can you talk about your business, Untapped Marketing Co? Is there anyone who inspired you to be an entrepreneur?

I started this as a side venture after I quit my job at CBS and moved to Atlanta in 2016. I really was in a funk of what I wanted to do with my career, and did not want to continue in media sales. My Dad is an entrepreneur and started his own landscaping & construction business when he was 20. He has always pushed me to be an entrepreneur and be my "own boss." My dad is actually the one who gave me the idea for Untapped Marketing Co, because as a small family run business he did not have a big marketing budget or even know where to start when it came to a new website. I knew I could really help smaller businesses with their websites, online marketing, & graphic design; and that's where Untapped Marketing Co evolved.  These were all skills I learned at TCU and through my time working at CBS that I was able to apply. I am working full time for KYLE CAVAN now, but still have a few small clients whose websites I manage. It is something I will probably always do on the side to make some extra money!

When did you join the KYLE CAVAN team and why?

The founder of KYLE CAVAN, Kyle Garcia, actually happens to be my sister-in-law. I joined the team in 2017 when Kyle approached me about help in overseeing their Business Development since sales has been my background for the past five years. Kyle told me about her vision for this company, and I instantly knew this was something I would be passionate about. I never bought a class ring at TCU, but really always wished I had something classic and stylish to remember my time by. I love that Kyle Cavan cares so much about creating a community of women and jewelry that people can wear for a lifetime. It has been amazing being able to do something I love, and I'm so excited to see what the future holds for us at KYLE CAVAN! We are truly creating something incredible here.

I love that Kyle Cavan cares so much about creating a community of women and jewelry that people can wear for a lifetime.

What’s your favorite KYLE CAVAN piece and how do you like to style it?

Wow, that's hard! I love our architecture collections because they are so unique, but I think my absolute favorite is the Crest Collection. There is something so classic and timeless about a gold crest. You can layer it with other pieces, and dress it up or down. It is a piece of jewelry that truly will never go out of style!