By Team ItsGoa
Jade D’Sa is a name synonymous with blogging, entrepreneurship, and success. Hailing from the beautiful state of Goa, Jade has made a name for herself as a digital marketing expert, influencer, and blogger. In this article, we take a closer look at the journey of Jade D’Sa, from her childhood ambitions to her current successes, and the message she has for Goan youngsters.
Jade D’Sa grew up in Saligao, a quaint village in North Goa. After completing her graduation she moved to Mumbai to pursue her MBA in Marketing. Jade spent the next seven years working in national-level ad agencies, gaining valuable experience in the industry.
Jade’s childhood ambitions kept changing every few months, from wanting to be an artist, a veterinarian, a detective, an event planner, and so on. However, little did she know that her passion for writing, food, and travel would lead her to become an influential blogger and entrepreneur.
Jade began her blogging journey as a pastime during her nights at home in Mumbai. She started her website, ThatGoanGirl.com, as a way to kill time and act as a creative outlet. Jade wrote about her experiences eating out and traveling in and around Mumbai. Her blog slowly gained traction, and Jade realized that there was so much to write about and document. Her passion for blogging grew from a pastime to a full-fledged passion.
Jade’s friends and family were supportive of her blogging, as it did not interfere with her work or income-generating activities. She started winning awards, getting recognized, being invited to schools/colleges/events, and it just grew from there. Jade did not collaborate with any famous influencers in Goa or other parts of India, as blogging was relatively new back then.
Jade’s biggest challenge in pursuing her passion for blogging full-time was explaining to people that blogging is not Instagram. Writing 800-1000 word articles is not the same as writing a 2-line caption on Instagram. There is a world of difference between a blogger, an Instagrammer, and an influencer, and getting people to understand the difference is a challenge – and a very tiresome one, at that.
Jade considers Bruised Passports, Shivya Nath, Glographics, and the Travelista as her role models. What she loves about these bloggers is that they put out valuable blog posts and Instagram posts without being swayed by trends. They stay true to who they are, and it’s very refreshing.
When asked about any celebrity she would like to meet someday, Jade exclaimed Oprah Winfrey! Her future plans are focused on building Digitally Scrambled, her 6-year-old digital marketing agency.
Growing the team, expanding into new markets, and scaling up is a priority in the near future. Blogging is and will always be a fun way for Jade to unwind and document her food and travel memories. She still plans to travel when work permits and document all her adventures on her website and social media.
Jade has a message for all Goan youngsters out there. She believes that every Goan youngster should move to a big city and feel like a small fish in a big pond. It’s very grounding when you have to hustle and make your way up in a competitive space. In Goa, Goans have things very comfortable, and while that’s nice, it has a downside. There’s often little desire to grow, little ambition, and no drive to improve professionally and personally. Some experience in the real world is invaluable.
Follow Jade on her foodie trails at:
Blog: www.thatgoangirl.com
Instagram: @thatgoangirl
