Who:
Jessica Harris
Role:
Senior Advocacy Manager
Location:
Cape Town aka The Mother City, SA – I live in a little village in Surrey street – in fact, all the streets are named after towns in England, so I have a little link with my colleagues in the UK!
Time with InEvidence:
I am a boomeranger… I was with inEvidence for eight years in the early 00’s – whilst living in the UK. When I moved back to SA I was very sad to say goodbye, but with the amazing advances in tech and remote working being normalised… I joined again nearly four years ago.
Favourite shoot:
It has to be the VMware by Broadcom, Colours of Hope project. After the 2023 VMware Expo in Barcelona in 2023, we claimed 100s of square metres of very colourful fabric which had dressed displays at the event, shipped it back to Cape Town, and then worked with a small team of local craftspeople and educators to repurpose it across four primary schools as wall murals, furniture upholstery, book bags and pencil cases. It was the most rewarding project, and the shoot was a joy. The ripple effect has touched so many lives – from the hundreds of children who received new school supplies, to the teachers who care for them and the volunteers who saw firsthand the power of collaboration and kindness.
Biggest challenge:
See above! The most rewarding was also the most challenging. It was no mean feat getting all that fabric taken down, packed up and shipped. Quite the logistical challenge! But I have to say – everyone involved was up for it and helped make it happen. There were green lights all the way. The whole endeavour really brought out the best in people.
Key learnings:
When you break out of the corporate mould, take a chance, and do something for good and for the love of it – you can really create something extraordinary.
How have you seen customer advocacy change over the years:
In 2005, The Challenge, The Solution and The Outcomes were a stock standard way of ‘telling a story’… and it was almost always a written piece.
With the advent of social media, the way in which information is shared, and importantly ‘required’ by decision makers, has had a seismic shift. We’ve had to rethink the way in which we interview, in which we create, and the way in which we can bring delight to our clients, whilst still telling a story that matters and shows the definite change ‘post solution implementation’.
The shift from the usual subheads is exciting. Moving to remodel templates too, for example, Opportunity and Action and still telling a strong story is exciting and our clients are enjoying breaking the mould with us!
What makes inEvidence a great agency:
People talk about great teams – making great agencies. inEvidence isn’t a team. It is a family. There is genuine compassion and support from colleagues – and there is a sense of calm when you know that your team has your back. Not only that – we are exceptionally proud of the work we produce.
What do you do in your downtime:
My busiest hobby is framing – I love art, but am no artist so take great pleasure in selecting the various mount boards and frames so that the frame can become the ‘eye-lashes’ to the art. My favourite hobby is being in my garden and talking to my plants – yes – I do talk to them – and they are ‘mostly’ very happy and obliging to give of the best.
Last binge-watch:
Lincoln Lawyer – I can’t believe how swiftly a series comes to an end when it is so damn good.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
Eager, compassionate, sunny.
Jess leads on several of inEvidence’s accounts – both new and established – and thrives on nurturing close relationships with clients to help understand and anticipate their needs. By taking on board clients’ wishes, imagining their visions, and liaising with our creatives, Jess ensures customer success stories are told in a way that is compelling, relatable, and impactful.
