#179 - Jessica Soman - The Reality of How Women & Minorities are Treated Online

Jessica Soman is a young business owner and graduate student in sociology who brings a rare level of intentionality to both the marketplace and the academy. With a research focus on online violence, youth, and women, she doesn't just study social structures; she actively shapes them through her entrepreneurial ventures. By bridging these two worlds, Jessica demonstrates how a background in sociology can transform a business from a mere commercial entity into a vehicle for genuine advocacy and structural change.

For Jessica, social justice is an operational standard rather than a hollow slogan. She uses her sociological training to view systemic inequality as a structural and interconnected reality, one that requires an understanding of history and social attitudes to truly dismantle. In her day-to-day operations, she moves beyond the performative language often found in the business world by formalizing mentorship, clarifying expectations, and designing systems that reduce bias. By refusing to be complicit through silence, she shows that young entrepreneurs can lead the charge for equity by embedding fairness directly into their hiring, leadership pathways, and accountability structures.

In the realm of education and teaching, Jessica prioritizes accessibility over academic jargon. She believes that researchers have a responsibility to bring themselves to the audience’s level of understanding, whether they are speaking to fellow academics or the eight-year-olds she works with. Rejecting the power hierarchies of "traditional education," she identifies as a mentor whose authority is grounded in shared participation: a philosophy influenced by her experience coaching swimmers, leading an esports team, and the lessons learned from her own mother. Through this lens, she has discovered that human behavior is far more nuanced than textbooks suggest, finding that resilience often masks vulnerability and that dignity is a far more powerful motivator than most expect.

Managing the rigorous demands of graduate-level research alongside a growing business requires a strategy of discipline, ethical precision, and long-term thinking. Jessica views these two paths as complementary investments rather than competing urgencies, using "artificial deadlines" and strict self-care routines to maintain her energy. Her research on women’s identity management in gaming has directly influenced her professional life; after observing how women self-censor to avoid hostility, she implemented clearer communication norms and conflict resolution processes in her own organization. She remains a firm believer that research without application risks irrelevance, while business without reflection risks harm, proving that the marketplace and the "ivory tower" can and should work in tandem.

Ultimately, Jessica Soman serves as a powerful example of how academic insight can be synthesized with professional ambition to create a more inclusive community. Her journey illustrates that the most effective leaders are those who allow empirical evidence to discipline their ambition while letting real-world practice test their theories. By following her passion and refusing to choose between the two worlds, she not only uplifts those around her but also provides a blueprint for the next generation of researchers and entrepreneurs to follow their dreams with both heart and data.

KEEP IT LONG TERM!