Strategy,
communications,
growth and leadership

I had the pleasure of working under Jess at the Australian Marine Conservation Society in her role as Campaign Communications Lead.

Jess is one of the most motivating and talented people I’ve had the opportunity to work with. She brings together a grounded, people-centred approach with sharp communications strategy.

She’s clear, thoughtful, and deeply aligned with purpose and values - an all round wonderful person to work with and learn from.

Jess offers a rare blend of kindness, capability and expertise, and I hope we have the chance to work together again in future.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Jess during our time at the Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Jess is a hardworking, values-driven and creative leader who approaches every challenge with integrity and a genuine desire to do what’s right. She consistently impressed me with her dedication to upholding the organisation's ethical values and keeping true to our brand voice.

Jess's communication skills and positive attitude mean that she is a joy to work with. Her generosity and willingness to lend a hand makes her an asset to any team - and I wholeheartedly recommend working with her.

I have had the privilege of working with Jessica as a business partner, co-founder and Head of Marketing at Project Everest Ventures.

Jessica is one of the most determined and passionate individuals I have ever met. She is driven by a deep desire to make a positive impact on the world, and she is not afraid to take on any challenge that comes her way. Jessica is also a highly skilled marketer with a keen understanding of what it takes to build a successful brand.

Under Jessica's leadership, the marketing team at Project Everest Ventures achieved remarkable results. She outpaced goals with 59% annual growth in FY19 while also securing revenue above objectives in the first year of operation. Jessica also realized 5% GMP enhancements annually despite significant operational challenges.

In addition to her marketing prowess, Jessica is also a gifted communicator. She has the ability to command a room and inspire others to take action. Jessica is a natural leader who is always willing to go the extra mile.

I have no doubt that Jessica would be a valuable asset to any organization. She is a highly skilled and experienced professional with a proven track record of success. I highly recommend her for any job she chose to apply for and set her mind to.

If you want the job done then Jess is the person for it. Having worked with her for 5 years I’ve given her KPIs which were challenging to say the least and she consistently hit them, even in the start-up environment we were operating in with limited resources and little support. She has a high emotional IQ and a lot of tenacity making her an asset in any role where she can make a massive impact. Jess is skilled at leveraging teams to deliver results. I would recommend her without hesitation to any team working to achieve great impact.

Last year I nominated Jess for Singularity University's Inspiring Women for International Women's Day, so I'll share an excerpt from that nomination: She is the definition of a woman that gets sh*t done. And gets it done damn well. Since the beginning, she has inspired countless members of our team and community with her leadership, wisdom, bang-on moral compass, and passion. Her standard response to any challenge is "just tell me what you want, and I'll get it" - and she does.

Over my time with Project Everest Ventures, I've worked in a number of different roles with a variety of working relationships to Jess, and regardless of the nature of those roles, the common denominator has been the same: Jess has been a source of both inspiration and support.

In the two months we spent together in Timor-Leste as part of our Global Impact Program, as Staff Support, Jess provided an unwavering level of guidance on everything from managing group dynamics to ensuring impact was being effectively achieved. She also did this without letting go of the true essence that is Jessica Stephanie Arvela - thank goodness she did, because that essence helped the rest of us push through even the most challenging situations.

Transitioning into a full-time role with the company, I've been lucky to work much closer with Jess in the Sales/Marketing team, experiencing her leadership and experience at the front, and her full support at my back. I've always felt that she's got her supportive cheerleader pom poms in her hands, whilst she's kicking down doors with her feet to enable the team around her to make magic happen. Managing multiple team members in this role, Jess seamlessly coordinates a range of technical abilities and experience levels, and the faith that she has in her team's capabilities is mirrored in our faith in her.

I can say certainly that I wouldn't be in the place I am today, both professionally and personally without the guidance and mentorship from Jess. She has this incredible ability to pick up on dynamics of individuals and groups, and because of this the feedback she gives is always tailored, and group discussions are managed in a way that ensures effective communication and discussion. What I have always admired about Jess is how she handles conversations with those she engages with through her work. She never undersells herself or the importance of what she does and holds strong to her values. With this, she also knows when to listen and how to understand the needs of others. I am so grateful I have had the opportunity to work alongside Jess and for her confidence and belief in my potential, prior to me even seeing it in myself.

If you asked me who has helped me grow the most, both personally and professionally, I would undoubtedly say Jess. I have worked with Jess since February 2017 in a number of positions and environments where she would always motivate me to be the best I can by challenging me and asking "why not?". I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity I have had to experience Jess' passion for personal development and can't emphasise enough how much I have learnt and grown as a person because of her. This, along with her uplifting personality, is a major asset to any team environment.

Jess is an inspiring and dedicated leader. I have been lucky enough to have worked in Timor-Leste for two months with Jess, as well as being trained and mentored by her in Australia through her various roles at PEV. Her sheer determination, strength and incredible ability to just get stuff done are just few of the reasons that myself and so many others admire and respect her as a leader. She has an incredible ability of recognising the talent in those around her, and enabling them to be the best version of themselves. Jess's genuine passion and pure drive make her an absolute machine when it comes to projects, marketing, sales or any other role she undertakes.

I had the pleasure of working with Jessica on the ground in India as a Team Leader, under the direction of Jessica as a Group Leader. She effectively managed over 80 Australia students in a new country for 1 month including training prior, and debriefing afterwards. Her responsibilities and expertise included group management, crisis management, leadership, project management, social impact work, promotion and marketing and fundraising.

An extremely dedicated, driven and decisive individual, Jessica puts 100% effort into her passions and she thrives off making a real impact. Being very personable and approachable, she is fantastic at working with others as well as leading them. It's very exciting to follow her progress and new business ventures and I wish her all the best!

I have had the pleasure of knowing Jessica for close to 6 years now. I that time i have known her to be a hard working, honest and affable person.

Whilst i have never worked directly with Jessica in Journalism, I have read some of her CNN reports and they are well written, well structured, and the language is appropriate for that of the report. I look forward to reading more of her reports in the coming week.

I have no problem in recommending her for any position.

I have worked with Jessica while employed as an AFL Regional Development Officer, and have known her personally for many years.

Jessica is an enthusiastic and hardworking individual who constantly strives to improve and take on more responsibility. She is able to take initiative to complete activities, and can work with little guidance.

Jessica’s strong verbal communication skills enable her to talk in front of large groups without hesitation. She has a positive demeanour and is able to interact naturally with children. She is also dedicated to promoting fitness and a healthy lifestyle.