From Stage to Strategy: Jenn Quader's Journey from Musical Theater to PR Powerhouse

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Jenn Quader of Smart Agency on PR Strategy, AI and Lessons from Musical Theater

Jenn Quader is President and CEO of Smart Agency, a PR and marketing firm with a strong presence in commercial real estate and finance, and a former musical theater performer. In this episode of Your Brand Amplified, she tells Anika Jackson how performing on cruise ships prepared her for public relations, how PR has moved from fax machines to AI, and why human creativity still sets strategy. Her core view: AI is a powerful tool, but it needs a skilled person directing it.

How did musical theater prepare Jenn Quader for PR?

After high school, Jenn Quader worked as a singer and dancer on cruise ships. Performing taught her to read audiences and adapt quickly to changing conditions, skills she now uses with clients and brand narratives. Her first PR role was at Hill+Knowlton, where she worked on accounts including Michelin and attended events such as the Clio Awards. She has continued her music alongside PR and recently worked on a vocal jazz album, Love in All Its Forms. She sees storytelling and emotional connection as the common thread between music and PR.

How does Jenn Quader see AI in public relations?

Quader has watched PR move from faxed press releases to online systems and now AI. She compares AI to a race car: it is powerful, but it still needs a skilled driver. In her view, AI can automate tasks and speed up processes, while original thinking and human judgment remain at the center of brand positioning.

What does Smart Agency focus on?

Smart Agency offers PR, web design, email design, social media management and related services. Under Quader, the agency has adapted to the needs of the commercial real estate and finance sectors by combining traditional PR with digital strategy. She stresses understanding the target audience and tracking industry trends, especially for website development and branding.

Quader acquired the agency and has led it through economic downturns and industry shifts, downsizing when needed and expanding when opportunities came. Looking ahead, she is focused on hybrid communication strategies, stronger internal and external communication, and brand refreshes. She also planned a podcast called Resiliency on adaptability, innovation and growth.

Key takeaways

• Performance skills such as reading an audience and adapting quickly transfer directly to PR.
• Quader compares AI to a race car that still needs a skilled driver to deliver strategy.
• Combining traditional PR with digital strategy helped Smart Agency serve commercial real estate and finance clients.
• Resilient agencies adjust their size and services as the market changes.

Listen to Anika Jackson's full conversation with Jenn Quader on Your Brand Amplified.