NI Connections

Using skills she learnt through her travels and having a family network around her was the driving force in Jenna Stevenson returning home and helping her elevate her business.

"Whenever you go travelling, you see all these amazing spaces and meet great people, but actually, we have such an amazing space here." For Jenna Stevenson, Director of strategic marketing agency Cove Collective, this realisation was a key part of her journey back to the stunning Kingdom of Mourne, where she was born and bred.

With her then-boyfriend (now husband), Stuart, Jenna embarked on a transformative working holiday in Australia after university. Based mainly in Sydney, they embraced the Aussie lifestyle before venturing to the Hunter Valley to work on an olive grove. Jenna fondly recalls the warm welcome they received. "They love the Irish, you know? They love our work ethic." This experience broadened her horizons and instilled a sense of confidence, a feeling of being able to "take on the world."

Despite the incredible experiences, the pull of home was strong. Returning to Northern Ireland, Jenna and Stuart married and settled, eventually finding their place at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains. It was here that Jenna truly appreciated the beauty she had perhaps taken for granted.

However, the most significant reason for her return was deeply rooted in her entrepreneurial spirit. "Having that family network around me was key," Jenna explains, "which helped me elevate my business and look at other business opportunities." The skills and insights gained during her travels now fuel Cove Collective, an agency through which she empowers other local businesses to scale and grow, contributing to the very economy she returned to.

Jenna's story is a testament to the unique draw of Northern Ireland. While the world offers incredible experiences, sometimes personal and professional growth lies in the familiar embrace of home, family, and a landscape that holds a special kind of magic.