From Student to Speaker: Jayde I. Powell Breaks Down Creator Careers at Georgia State University

Atlanta, GA — Social strategist Jayde I. Powell returned to her alma mater, Georgia State University, for a guest lecture that brought her career full circle. Speaking to students with an interest in marketing, media, and digital communication, Jayde led a conversation on the evolution of influencer marketing and the expanding opportunities in the creator economy.

Years ago, when Jayde was a student at GSU, the field of social media marketing was barely a profession. Returning now as an industry leader offered a rare moment to reflect on how far both she and the field of work have come.

Jayde also shared insights from her own career and how she carved out a path in a field that was still emerging, the challenges she faced, and the lessons learned along the way. With the creator economy now valued in the billions and brands investing heavily in creator-driven content, she noted that creativity, integrity, and community are the differentiators that have helped maintain balance in her own career. 

“When I was sitting in these same classrooms in 2011, I was studying marketing and trying to convince professors that Twitter was a legitimate news source," Jayde shared. 

"There was no social media marketing major, no influencer marketing courses, and the creator economy didn’t exist—we were literally making it up as we went. Now these students are coming in with TikTok strategies and brand deck templates already in their portfolios. What I told them is this: the tools will keep changing, the platforms will come and go, but if you can tell a story that makes people feel seen and build a genuine community around your work, you'll always have a career. The work isn't just about going viral anymore—it's about solving real problems for real people. And honestly? That's what GSU taught me, even before we had a name for it."

For Jayde, stepping back onto the Georgia State University campus wasn’t just an opportunity to speak to the next generation of social media professionals; it also reaffirmed the power of following curiosity, even before the industry catches up.

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