One EyeMail at a Time: Lisa Jones's Inspiring Journey with EyeMail

*"I started crying when I got my first contract with Microsoft because I was grateful," Jones shared. "Everyone told me, 'You're a woman, you're a Black woman, you're from Alabama, you don't have the right network, you're not a coder'—but I said, 'I am going to make it.'"*  # **A Journey of Resilience and Innovation** Lisa S. Jones is not just a Black female entrepreneur; she is a visionary who has redefined the future of digital marketing. As the founder of EyeMail Inc., she pioneered a groundbreaking email communication approach, proving that passion, persistence, and innovation can overcome any challenge. As the CEO of one of the leading Innovative email suggestions, she has championed record-breaking approaches to inclusive email marketing, proving that one can achieve almost anything through resilience, consistency, and focus. Jones grew up in her home in Alabama from humble beginnings. As is often the case, she was stereotyped and talked down by the loud voices of the people around her, who usually suggested her background and the color of her skin would never get her anywhere. However, she turned those voices into motivational milestones to fuel her desires and birth them into reality. One can only be amazed that today, due to her innovation EyeMail, she has worked with global brands like PepsiCo, Microsoft, Delta Air Lines, The Coca-Cola Company, Porsche North America, and Harvard Business School.  ## **The Birth of EyeMail Inc.** Lisa S. Jones' journey as a tech founder was born out of a personal loss. After she lost her mom at a young age, the experience built up an unusual personal ambition to do something that would make a difference. It was after her mother passed that she realized the importance of having Human connections with people around you. She also realized that **[digital communication](https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/digital-communication/)** did not have adequate warmth and lagged far behind compared to physical communication. With this, she created a tool that conveniently incorporates emotions and interaction into email messaging. She named the tool, **[EyeMail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EyeMail)**.  When she founded EyeMail in 2004, she had one goal: **Video emails** should be an **accessible email technology.** Not static or slow. Just seamless and engaging. Unlike traditional email marketing technology, EyeMail made email storytelling much more interesting by introducing high-resolution videos that could run for at least 1 minute. Another perk was that you could play the videos directly in the emails without leaving the site or clicking on unnecessary links. EyeMail's USP lies in its emphasis on visual communication. The platform boasts a unique interface that integrates images, videos, and interactive elements directly into emails, creating a more engaging and immersive experience for users. This contrasts with traditional email platforms that rely primarily on text-based communication. This feature caught the attention of major companies who later became sponsors and even users of this tool. Before coming into the limelight, she had to deal with major key players who had dominated the **digital marketing space** for a long time. Another challenge she faced was securing funding for her project and convincing major companies why they should work with her, especially because few people saw the possibility of **video email technology.**  ## **Breaking Barriers in the Tech Industry** As a [**Black woman entrepreneur** ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_S._Jones)entering into **email marketing technology**, she had to be more intentional about her efforts - it wasn't easy. She was turned down severely, with most hanging onto the fact that she wasn't a coder. That alone would have been enough to shut her down, but you know what they say about that black girl spirit. Now more than ever, she was more consistent and refused to back down even though she didn't have the right connections. These reasons were not enough to stop her. Lisa was determined to prove her doubters wrong. She focused on learning everything about email marketing and how to build a tech company from the ground up. Her major turning point was when she started getting noticed by leading companies such as Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola, who keyed into the future by believing that Ms. Lisa's idea of Video marketing was possible. With this, EyeMail began partnering with all the top companies, proving that she could set another standard for Email video technology.  ### **A Game-Changing Partnership with Microsoft** The turning point for EyeMail Inc's story was in 2021. It was that year Microsoft reached out to Ms. Lisa for a partnership. They aimed to include her project in its Racial Equity Initiative platforms. They did this to enhance the visibility and create opportunities for black-minority-owned businesses. Microsoft reached out to Jones when the procurement engagement officer at their company mentioned EyeMail as a highly innovative technology they could partner with to incorporate Video email technology into their communication policy, including the Windows 11 launch. It was a deeply emotional moment for Jones, especially because, through the years, she had faced a series of rejections, segregation, and even stereotypes from people who had told her countlessly that she was never going to succeed in the tech sector. But there she was, striking a major contract with one of the world's largest tech companies. *"I started crying when I got my first contract with Microsoft because I was grateful," Jones shared. "Everyone told me, 'You're a woman, you're a Black woman, you're from Alabama, you don't have the right network, you're not a coder'—but I said, 'I am going to make it.'"* By the end of EyeMail's two-year contract with Microsoft, the company had scaled so high in growth by over 71%. By enabling EyeMail to integrate its Microsoft 265 Business Premium, it could deliver projects at least 40% faster and more efficiently.  ### **Recognition and Awards** At the rate EyeMail has rapidly grown, it has become almost impossible for it to be ignored or go unnoticed. In 2023, it was recognized on [Inc. magazine's list of fast-growing **black tech companies** around the US Southern region](https://www.inc.com/inc5000/2023), ranking 181. This sealed EyeMail's place on the global map as a fast-rising Tech innovation. Aside from this, it was also recognized under the category of the [Top 100 Women of the Future in Emerging Tech](https://womenofthefuture.com/global-vol-2/).  She was also honored by Women of the Future for her major contributions as a **black woman in Tech.** ###### **The Future of EyeMail Inc.: Expanding Innovation** There's much more to come, and you should expect.  Jones has big plans for the future. Just recently, she announced the upcoming launch of a new EyeMail feature known as the EyeMail Software as a Service Storytelling Platform (SaaS) The SaaS will have new tools such as: * **EyeCon** – A feature for personalized video branding options that will boost customer engagement * **EyeViewer Assistant (EVA)** – This is an AI-powered tool to track video analytics and insights for maximum performance * **Video in Tex**t – An SMS and phone messaging feature to extend **video communications extension** Aside from those, EyeMail plans to take things a notch higher by opening its arms to partnerships with nonprofit organizations and small and medium-growing brands. ### **Winning at Invest Connect: Linking Black-Owned Businesses with Investors** Two years ago, in November of 2023, EyeMail bagged an award as one of the selected [winners of Invest Connect](https://www.tagonline.org/bridge-builders/tech-entrepreneurs/tag-invest-connect-recap-2023/), a competition set up by the prestigious Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Aside from the competition, The event is organized to connect **black-owned businesses,** investors, opportunities, and invaluable experiences to enable them to grow bigger and better.  #### **A Legacy of Resilience and Impact** Lisa S. Jones' inspiring journey began in Alabama when she was determined to make a difference in the tech world by founding a tech company to impact her society. Against all odds, she determined, desired, and acquired her dreams and has now become the founder of one of the biggest and most relevant technological innovations. She could only do it because she believed in herself, saw the vision, pursued it, and brought her vision to life. She has now created a multimillion-dollar company, Wherever Email marketing gets mentioned, video email technology EyeMail will not be left out because it has completely changed the communication structure of major brands today. Her story is not just a story of a **black business women in Tech**; it is also about breaking barriers, tearing down stereotypes, and inspiring women in marginalized communities that anyone with a vision can make a lasting impact in any area they want to. As EyeMail Inc. continues to grow and expand, Lisa S. Jones remains a beacon of hope. Today, EyeMail stands as a beacon of resilience. A testament to what consistency can do and the power of dreaming big. Never give up!