Jesse Derris: A Masterclass in PR & Brand Building

Jesse Derris is the founder and CEO of Derris, a brand consultancy with offices in New York and London. He is also the founder and managing member of Amity Supply, which invests in and supports early-stage consumer brands, and an advisor-in-residence to the Columbia University Entrepreneurship Program.

He is an investor and advisor to over 120 emerging brands, including Everlane, Glossier, Harry’s, Hims, Oscar, and Warby Parker. Jesse started his career in politics, working on various campaigns as a spokesman, and is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is married to Jordana Kier, the founder of LOLA, a women’s reproductive health brand.

This Episode’s Heavy-hitter’s:

Jesse says his key to success at a young age was not being afraid of failing. Although he worked on some really high-profile PR campaigns, he was able to understand that he was smart enough to deserve his place in the room and stood out by speaking his mind.

Jesse was the press secretary and spokesman for the Transit Union when it went on strike at age 25, which saw him in the middle of a nationwide news story for almost a full week.

One of the most important lessons Jesse learned early in his career came shortly after working on the John Kerry campaign. His boss and mentor, Ken Sunshine told him he could be a nice person and still be successful.

Jesse recalls the early days of Warby Parker, where they launched one of the first massively successful DTC brands of the time, and remembers he didn’t initially think it would work. He builds by talking about how they were adaptive and had the right people in the building to make the correct changes, which ultimately led to the success of the business.

We get into the value that each of our spouses has had in our careers as entrepreneurs, and Jesse talks about the importance of intentionality when picking a life partner that shares the same values.

To learn more about Jesse, please check out: https://www.derris.com/

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