This story is a series collaboration with Twendé, a TN accelerator program.
Jackie Marks is the owner of Creating Marks a Nashville-based video production company focused on intentional storytelling. Their goal is to use videography to uncover the untold by helping you get to the root of what makes your story unique. Learn more about Jackie and her entrepreneurial journey.
What was the catalyst for you to start your business?
All I had was a name. Initially, I wanted to share my faith-based journal entries via a podcast. But as the years went by I decided to veer more towards what I was already doing, which was video and TV production. I had a lot of experience in this area but didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. It wasn’t until 2021 that I said “I know I like documentaries, I know I like telling stories, and I do want to focus on sharing faith and encouragement.” I was also on my journey trying to find more information about my mom’s side of the family. It was just something I was always curious about. I didn’t have anyone elder-wise to speak to on my mom’s side of the family, but I saw the need to have it for my dad’s side because we did have elders. At the time, my great aunt was still living, and I figured why not take this opportunity to interview her and get her life stories including all of the elders in my family. So that’s how it began. I do feel this is what God put on my heart to do, and it came in time because I couldn’t have predicted my great aunt and uncle would pass away in the past year. Now, we have their stories for generations to hear and experience.
What made you want to participate in the Twendé program?
I just finished doing Corner to Corner, and that’s how I heard about Twendé. As a new alumni, they give you other business organizations and I knew I just needed to keep the momentum going. It took a lot of faith for me to do Corner to Corner, and I struggled with some imposter syndrome. I knew I stilled needed to be around like-minded people who wanted to start their businesses and still be in those spaces. So when I saw the Twendé program I went for it and got in.
Twendé means “Let’s go” in Kiswahili, so what’s been a word that has kept you going as an entrepreneur in Nashville?
Right now it is literally “I’ve come too far to go back now.”
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