Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessenia Cosme.
Hi Jessenia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey started long before I ever imagined owning a business. Creativity has always been part of my life, it runs in my family, and I’ve been crafting and creating for as long as I can remember. The real spark, however, came in 2018 when I became a DIY bride. I designed much of my own wedding décor and signage, and what started as a personal passion project quickly turned into friends and family asking if I could create for their events as well.
At the time, I was working a full-time corporate job and building JCsArtDesigns® on the side, often late nights after putting my kids to bed. For years, I balanced motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship, learning everything through trial, error, and a lot of grit. In 2023, I made the leap of faith to leave the corporate world and pursue my business full-time, a decision that was both terrifying and life-changing.
What began as a small, home-based operation quickly outgrew itself. I opened my first storefront in Nutley, New Jersey, and due to rapid growth, upgraded to a larger space and invested in advanced equipment to better serve my clients. Today, JCsArtDesigns® specializes in custom event signage and displays, serving clients who value thoughtful design, quality, and storytelling through their celebrations.
As a Latina business owner, mother of two, and creative, my journey has been shaped by resilience, community, and the belief that you don’t have to fit a traditional mold to build something successful. I’m proud of how far this journey has come, and even more excited about where it’s headed.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, the road has been anything but smooth. Like many small business owners, especially women and mothers, a lot of the journey has been built through uncertainty, sacrifice, and learning as I went.
In the early years, one of my biggest struggles was simply time. I was balancing a full-time corporate job, raising two children, and growing a business late nights and weekends. Burnout was very real, and there were many moments of questioning whether I could realistically sustain it all.
Another major challenge was betting on myself. Leaving the security of a corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship full-time required not only financial risk, but also mental and emotional resilience. Learning to trust my instincts, set boundaries, price my work appropriately, and say no to opportunities that weren’t aligned was a steep but necessary learning curve.
Growth also brought its own challenges. Scaling meant investing in space, equipment, and people before everything felt “safe,” navigating cash flow, and learning leadership on the fly. And like many creatives, I had to overcome imposter syndrome and the pressure to constantly prove my worth in an industry that doesn’t always take creative businesses seriously.
Despite all of this, every challenge strengthened my foundation. The struggles taught me discipline, adaptability, and confidence, and they continue to shape how I lead my business today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At JCsArtDesigns®, I create custom event signage and large-scale display installations that help bring a client’s vision to life in a meaningful, elevated way. I specialize in statement pieces such as welcome signs, seating charts, photo walls, and immersive display elements that blend thoughtful design with high-quality craftsmanship.
What we’re most known for is our attention to detail and our ability to turn ideas into tangible experiences.
What I’m most proud of is building a business rooted in creativity, integrity, and community. From starting at home to opening and expanding a storefront, I’ve created something that supports my family, employs a team, and serves clients during some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. I’m especially proud of creating a space where creativity and professionalism coexist, and where clients feel genuinely cared for throughout the process.
What sets JCsArtDesigns® apart is that we handle everything in-house, from concept to production. This allows us to maintain quality control, move with flexibility, and create truly custom work. As a Latina-owned, woman-led business, our perspective, work ethic, and lived experience also shape how we show up, with authenticity, resilience, and heart at the core of everything we do.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I don’t see myself as a reckless risk-taker, but I do believe in taking intentional, calculated risks when the vision is clear and the timing feels right. For me, risk has never been about chasing something blindly, it’s been about trusting myself enough to move forward even when there are no guarantees.
One of the biggest risks I took was leaving the security of a corporate career to pursue JCsArtDesigns® full-time. Walking away from a steady paycheck while raising a family was intimidating, but staying in a place where I felt creatively limited felt like a bigger risk in the long run. I prepared as much as I could, saved, planned, and built the business on the side for years before making that leap.
Another major risk was investing heavily in growth before everything felt completely “safe,” opening a storefront, upgrading to a larger space, and purchasing advanced equipment. Those decisions required betting on the momentum I was seeing and believing that I could rise to meet the demand. Each step stretched me financially and mentally, but it also pushed the business into its next phase.
My perspective on risk is that fear doesn’t mean stop, it means pause, assess, and prepare. I think the most meaningful growth happens when you’re willing to be uncomfortable while still being responsible. Risk, when approached with intention, becomes less about gambling and more about alignment, believing that you are capable of handling whatever comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jcsartdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcsartdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JCsArtDesigns
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseniacosme/
