WeJane TV Focuses on Putting Women in the Spotlight
Fans of the long-ago adventures of Tarzan will no doubt remember scenes of him racing through the jungle trees, swinging from vine to vine, often to rescue the damsel Jane whenever she was in danger. Generations grew up grunting the phrase, “Me Tarzan, you Jane” – although, it is interesting to note, that line was actually never uttered in the Tarzan movies or books. Fast forward to 2018, when two local women put a creative and independent twist of their own on the wording of the oft-repeated line. To Beth Tancredi and Ilsy J. Hoo, both Monmouth County residents, the jungle out there is not about “me Jane” at all; it is about “we Jane,” signifying the unity of women they’ve known who, like the vines of the jungle, helped guide them from point to point in the journey of their lives and careers.
This dynamic team first met several years ago through a newly formed networking group for Jersey entrepreneurial moms. Both divorced with kids, they soon discovered the kinship they shared, despite having what they admit are completely different personalities that, fortunately, complement each other perfectly in many ways. They describe their friendship as “two types of people with the same passion.” Ilsy’s professional career is in finance and global commercial services and client relationships at a large financial company, where she’s also headed up a women’s network with speakers, workshops, and other events. She’s also working on branding for a hip hop artist; a great way to learn more about networking, social media, and the entertainment industry. In addition, she taught herself how to film and produce videos – a skill that would prove to be particularly useful. Beth, who says she’s the more introverted one, has a diverse background that includes working in healthcare, finance, political polling, journalism, and writing books, blogs, and more. “Beth is an excellent writer,” explains Ilsy. “I say things and she knows how to put it on paper. She’s more articulate than I am, and I tend to be more visual. I get ideas of how we can connect this person with that person. I love networking.”
Reflecting upon the many women they knew who had inspired and supported them, plus other women they met who could use that same helpful network of vines, Ilsy and Beth decided to create a platform that could serve to elevate startups, entrepreneurs, brands, and small businesses established by women – particularly those who make a point of giving back to the community and working to make a difference.
Their initial pitches to print media fell short, but social media was both booming and affordable. Aligning their marketing and creative skills, they become versed in the nuances of producing videos to share on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, featuring interviews with various guests. Finally, barely a year ago, “WeJane TV” was born and quickly flourished. Each of the segments – about 10 minutes on Instagram, no more than 15 minutes on Facebook, and sometimes longer on YouTube – is entirely planned, filmed, edited, produced, and shared by them two or three times a month. Some of the videos are filmed right at Ilsy’s home, while others are filmed offsite or even virtually, depending on their subject, the location, and what product or service they’re highlighting. They’ve interviewed an interesting array of guests from throughout New Jersey, New York, and as far away as Maryland and Virginia, each of them invited to tell their own stories of who they are, what they do, and how they are striving to pay it forward to others.
Guests have included fitness trainers and wellness coaches, a creator of innovative pet products, the founder of a nonprofit organization that provides free support services for victims of violence and abuse, a motivational expert, a fashion boutique owner, the founder of a culinary and art studio, a breast cancer survivor, an award-winning newscaster, and even an 11-year-old entrepreneur with a line of all-natural personal care products. On every episode, viewers are drawn in by Beth and Ilsy’s friendly, comfortable demeanor and easy, funny banter with one another and with their guests, with lots of laughter sprinkled throughout the informative conversations. “It’s been a really interesting journey because we both love what we do,” Ilsy states. “Our guests have been happy with their interviews and they’ve gained more value from them, whether it’s exposure for their business or attracting more customers, plus the chance to personally express themselves. We also give them the chance to collaborate with people in another industry. We don’t just upload the videos and have them sit there, which would serve no purpose. That’s the difference we try to offer, by following up and making connections.” Beth agrees, adding, “We’ve met such a diverse group of people. It’s a grassroots network and you never know who knows who.”
The criteria to be a guest on WeJane TV is simple: a woman who has a business or branding, who does good for the community, and who is passionate about helping others. “We want to inspire people to do good,” Ilsy explains. “It’s all about paying it forward, empowering women, and connecting people to help one another.” Beth says, “We also try to have topics that are relatable, whether it’s business or personal information.”
With kids that range from middle school to high school age, balancing family, corporate jobs, part-time work, and their venture with WeJane TV takes an enormous amount of time, patience, and organizational skills. Both moms report happily that their kids are completely supportive and enthusiastic about their efforts, even when it means “bending over backwards and editing late at night.”
In recent months, Ilsy and Beth have also had exciting new developments of their own. In February, they learned that WeJane TV would become the official media sponsor of the two-day Jersey Shore Cake & Cookie Convention to be held at Asbury Park Convention Hall in October. Then, in early April, WeJane TV officially partnered with NJ On Air, a streaming TV channel for New Jersey available on Apple iOS, Android, Kindle, and Roku.
Beth says that thus far, WeJane TV is “a labor of love, a passion project” for this ambitious pair, whose mission statement operates on the foundation that women thrive when they support one another, whether it’s in business, motherhood, or friendship. And they are working hard to share the news of their project, gain more followers, and seek out additional guests they can speak with about new topics. They also welcome donations of old camera and lighting equipment. For more information, contact Beth Tancredi and Ilsy J. Hoo at info@wejanetv.com, visit their new website at www.wejanetv.com, subscribe to WeJane TV on YouTube, and follow them on Facebook.
