Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Drew Hawkins.
Hi Jessie Drew, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey into social media marketing has been a mix of passion, experience, and a drive to help businesses grow. I was born and raised in Jacksonville but spent 10 years living in Hong Kong, where I ran my own business and led a community of women. That experience taught me the power of storytelling, connection, and branding—something that naturally led me to social media marketing.
When I moved back to Jacksonville, I started managing social media for businesses, realizing how many struggled to maintain a strong online presence. That’s when I founded Gwei Media, a social media marketing and strategy company dedicated to helping businesses not only grow their audience but also build meaningful engagement with their communities. Over time, I’ve expanded my team and refined my approach, always staying focused on my clients’ unique voices and goals.
Today, I work with a variety of clients across different industries, from nonprofits to real estate and local businesses, helping them use social media as a tool for real growth. I love what I do because it combines creativity, strategy, and relationship-building—and I’m always excited to see where the next opportunity takes me!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Running a business on your own is never easy—it’s been a journey filled with ups and downs. It’s taken a long time to get to where I am today, and even now, it’s still scary at times. Every day, I’m working to make sure my business continues to grow and thrive and that my employees are taken care of.
One of the biggest challenges was moving back to Jacksonville after spending 10 years in Hong Kong. My network was there, not here, so I had to start from scratch—putting myself out there, reintroducing myself to people, and networking constantly. It’s been a lot of work rebuilding connections and making sure people know who I am and what I do. But through all of that, I’ve learned the power of persistence, showing up, and staying confident in the value I bring. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business, Gwei Media, is all about helping brands harness the power of social media to connect with their audience in a meaningful way. Social media is such an incredible tool because it puts you right in front of your audience—you can talk to them directly, learn from them in real-time, and build relationships that go beyond just selling a product or service. It’s an opportunity to engage, listen, and adapt based on what resonates with people, which is why having a strong strategy is so important.
What sets Gwei Media apart is how deeply we invest in understanding each business we work with. We don’t just create content—we take the time to learn about our clients, their goals, their challenges, and what truly makes them unique. Their success is our success, and we genuinely care about making an impact. I love seeing my clients happy with both the work and the results, and I think that passion is what makes us different.
I’m incredibly proud of the amazing clients we work with. From nonprofits making a difference to local businesses growing their brands, we’re lucky to partner with so many inspiring organizations. At the end of the day, this isn’t just business for me—I truly love what I do, and I’m honored to help my clients thrive.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
The first thing that comes to mind is all my family holidays. I was lucky enough to grow up with my family all in town and all from Jacksonville, so we had big get-togethers for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and more. Those celebrations were always filled with so much fun and good food too. Having everyone together and making memories was something really special. Looking back, I realize how lucky I was to have that kind of close-knit family experience, and it’s something I’ll always cherish.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gweimedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socialgwei
