Alumni Spotlight - Jamie Anderson

Alum Spotlight: Jamie Anderson (Class of 2024)

Some people are natural storytellers. Jamie Anderson is the kind who turns storytelling into momentum—whether she’s helping a brand find its voice, or helping someone feel safer in their own body.

Jamie is the Founder of JAMM (Jamie Anderson Marketing and Media) and Co-Founder of Weapon Brand. At first glance, those worlds might seem totally different: marketing and self-defense. But when you hear Jamie talk about her work, the common thread becomes obvious—empowerment.

As founder of JAMM (Jamie Anderson Marketing and Media), she helps brands and organizations grow through strategic marketing and storytelling. As co-founder of Weapon Brand, she helps people and organizations build real-world safety and self-defense skills. To Jamie, both matter for the same reason: the right message—and the ability to protect yourself—can change lives.

A win with real impact

Recently, Jamie produced Glam for the Girls at FloriDama (Floridarama), sponsored by her client T-Mobile Fiber. It was a standout professional win, but also a personal one. After years of walking, supporting, and captaining a breast cancer walk team that raised over $1 million for breast cancer research, creating an event that served breast cancer warriors felt like work with a purpose.

The event offered complimentary hair, makeup, and professional photography for breast cancer warriors, free admission to FloriDama (Floridarama) for the community, photo proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Foundation of Central Florida, and a free mammogram bus for uninsured women. The result wasn’t just “good exposure”—it led to three people being identified for follow-up screenings, including at least one breast cancer diagnosis. It’s the kind of outcome that makes the word “marketing” feel too small for what actually happened.

More than technique: a mindset

Jamie says one of the biggest misconceptions about her work—especially in self-defense—is that it’s all about techniques. In reality, it’s about building what she calls a “weapon mindset”: learning to be proactive, resilient, and intentional in every part of life, whether that’s safety, health, mental well-being, relationships, or whatever challenge is standing in front of you.

The LSP moment that set the tone

When Jamie thinks back on Leadership St. Pete, one moment stands out immediately: Orientation Weekend. Writing songs and poems for classmates created instant connection—real connection, the kind that doesn’t wait for name tags and small talk to do their thing.

She still remembers a piece written about her by Erika Sutherlin that landed so powerfully she knew, right then, that this experience was going to matter—and that she’d found people she would genuinely carry with her.

A connection that became family-level real

Leadership programs love to talk about networking, but Jamie’s LSP story is rooted in something deeper: showing up for each other when it counts.

One relationship that continues to impact her life is her connection with Jeni LaPaglia. When hurricanes hit, Jeni and her husband Michael LaPaglia stayed at Jamie’s home while watching their own house flood through security cameras. Being able to offer a safe place in that moment left a lasting mark.

Through later seasons of loss, Jamie has been grateful to be there for Jeni and her sister Lisa in small but meaningful ways. It’s a reminder that LSP doesn’t just expand your circle—it can change how you move through hard moments, too.

Leadership, affirmed

Jamie says LSP didn’t dramatically change how she leads—it affirmed the path she was already on, while deepening her connection to the city and to the people truly doing the work to make a difference.

What’s next: work, wind, and a little adventure

Jamie and her fiancé recently bought a sailboat with the goal of sailing full-time while she continues running her businesses remotely (thank you, Starlink). It’s equal parts bold and very on-brand: intentional, adventurous, and built around freedom.

If you want to support her in this next chapter, she asks for two things: keep referring her work and businesses even when she’s not physically here—and keep them in your prayers for good winds, sunny days, and safe passages.

What she’s called to right now

Jamie feels most called to two areas: breast cancer awareness and personal and organizational safety. Both center on education, access, and preparedness—whether that’s encouraging early detection and care, or helping individuals and teams feel more supported and equipped in an unpredictable world.

And if there’s one community need she wishes more people understood, it’s this: the “it won’t happen to me” mindset doesn’t match reality—especially when so many women experience situations that leave lasting harm. Her hope is that awareness, mindset, and practical safety skills help more people feel prepared and less vulnerable, so fewer lives are changed by something no one should have to endure.

Quick favorites (because we had to ask)

Jamie’s hidden gem recommendation for alumni visiting town is Nitaly’s ThaiMex—specifically the tiger shrimp and the peanut sauce (which she calls the best she’s ever had). Her current must-watch is Landman, and her perfect Saturday is exactly what you’d hope: boat, beach, beer, fiancé, and really good sushi. Bucket list? A full sushi tour through Japan.

Stay connected with Jamie

Follow Weapon Brand and learn more:

• Website: weaponbrand.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WeaponBrand
• Instagram: @weapon_brand
• LinkedIn: Weapon Brand

And one last note from Jamie to the alumni community: if you’re not already involved, join LSPAA. It’s the easiest way to stay connected across classes and keep the LSP community going long after graduation. (Jamie would know—she’s been all in since graduating, serving as a second-year LSPAA board member and volunteering whenever she can.)

‍