Ten years ago, Jessica Spencer was on a six-hour trip to Atlanta. Like many road trip warriors, she decided to pass the time with a podcast.
That was the first time Jessica heard the Passive Income Podcast, a show that still airs weekly with Pat Flynn on the mic. She was taken by Pat's approach to customer-centric marketing. What Jessica didn't know as her car drifted leisurely down the Georgia highway was where the podcast would take her.
Nine years later, she found SPI's All-Access Pass community and her path as an entrepreneur was never the same again.
An advocate of artificial intelligence (AI)
A self-described “total computer geek,” Jessica was an early adopter of artificial intelligence and quickly realized that AI technologies could fundamentally change the way we work, live, and do business.
It all started with an IBM Watson certification through Coursera, where Jessica developed a model to recognize different dog breeds and created her own chatbot. “That opened so many doors,” she says. Soon she was exploring the possibilities of AI to author written content, write custom code for websites, and more.
But the real breakthrough came when she and her husband, a sixth-grade teacher, began discussing what AI could do for people like him. That conversation was the starting point for a course on using ChatGPT for teachers.
“AI is a very exciting topic right now,” says Jessica. “There are many ways it can improve our lives.”
Jessica's goals as an AI advocate are ambitious, to say the least. “I want to help thousands improve their lives by learning how to use AI and other technologies in authentic and aligned ways,” she says. On a more personal level, Jessica's goals include creating transparency in the world of political investing and raising awareness about the adoption system, a cause she is very passionate about.
Speaking of which, Jessica manages it all as a mom of five. When asked how she does it, she laughs and says, “I try to make sure I take my ADHD medication.” She continues, “My husband, Noah, is absolutely amazing and supports me in my journey as an entrepreneur. I work on setting expectations with the kids and being strict with my boundaries. One thing I've recently started doing is setting aside time in my calendar for activities with the kids. Noah and I have also started making date nights a more regular occurrence. It's easy to get lost in the daily whirlwind of tasks, and it's really important to be mindful of what I'm spending my time on to make sure it's holistically aligned with my priorities.”
After leaving a career in business—most recently as a marketing director for a large healthcare IT company—Jessica knew she needed a supportive community. Somewhere she could find inspiration, get answers to questions, network with other entrepreneurs, and learn important skills as she continued to grow her brand. That place was All-Access Pass, SPI's learning community based on community-driven courses.
Soon she was part of an inspiring community that she could access anytime, anywhere. As she continued to grow her LLC Penguin Connective, she decided to move to the SPI Pro community – a membership aimed at established entrepreneurs.
“Being part of something where everyone is pushing each other but there's a high level of support – you see what's possible,” she says. “With that comes responsibility and that's really motivating.”
Jessica cites the high level of engagement on SPI Pro as one of the key factors in her growth. In SPI's communities, she's found a place where she can go not just for validation or a quick response, but where she can actually engage and dig deeper into topics through message threads, mastermind calls, and more. “People are genuinely interested in each other's lives, rather than just liking something for visibility,” she says.
She was able to make personal connections with other members and explore new opportunities for collaboration. “There is a deeper connection than what I have found in other places before,” she emphasizes.
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Fighting imposter syndrome
Jessica doesn't hesitate to emphasize how much the community has helped her feel supported. But the most important change she's experienced is in her mindset. “When I started out as an entrepreneur, I thought I could just keep going… I had an MBA, a background in marketing, and almost 20 years of experience in the corporate world,” she says. “What I didn't expect was the work I'd have to do on my mindset. Imposter syndrome is a real plague.”
Through one-on-one conversations with other members, Jessica has found more direction and clarity on her path, helping her identify next steps and discover deeper tasks ahead. In addition, her experience has given her a healthier perspective on the entrepreneurial journey; she now views “failure” as an opportunity to learn and grow.
A podcast, a community and a beautiful future
During some one-on-one conversations Jessica had with other members, she realized she wanted to do something she hadn't thought about before – start a podcast. Although she describes herself as an introvert, the community made her realize she needed to share these fascinating conversations about AI with a larger audience. As part of a community full of podcasters and entrepreneurs, she was in the perfect position to do so – many community members became guests on the show and AI Genie was born.
Now Jessica is building a community for others who want to use AI to make a meaningful impact on the world. AI Explorers was founded with the mission to “demystify AI, to open your eyes to a world of possibilities beyond the beaten path of content creation.” She credits SPI's Community Business Blueprint course as the key to her community's success. “I think as entrepreneurs, sometimes we feel like we're just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks,” she says. “Through this course in particular, I definitely felt like I had found a way to lay the foundation and create a really solid structure.”
When Jessica thinks about what's next, the word “reach” comes to mind. She's currently creating a course on AI for musicians and another on AI for entrepreneurs.
“I want to travel the world with my family and create great memories while building a more secure future for ourselves on our own terms,” she emphasizes.
With the support of a strong community, she is on the right track.
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