Title:GEMA Alumni Spotlight – Monique Jones (B’87), Chief Financial Officer, Jesse Collins Entertainment

Chief Financial Officer, Jesse Collins Entertainment

Monique Jones (B’87) is the Chief Financial Officer of Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), a full-service television and film production company responsible for a slate of high-profile live award shows, music specials, and unscripted content, including the Super Bowl Halftime Show, the BET Awards, the Primetime Emmy Awards, and the Grammy Awards. In her role as CFO, Monique leads all aspects of financial operations (accounting, FP&A, treasury, and tax) and corporate development.

What was your first “big break”? Or, what is the most significant experience you have had that has made your success possible?

My first “big break” was my first official job in entertainment as Manager of Strategic Planning & Development for PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (PFE). One of my primary responsibilities in this role was to prepare the greenlighting package for every film that PFE considered for production. To do so, I collected and compiled information on the potential film production from our department heads (Creative, Theatrical Distribution, Home Entertainment, TV Distribution.) I took all of these projections and added them to our forecasting model that was then reviewed by the executive team as they made their greenlighting decision. From this job, I gained incredible knowledge about the financial drivers of the film industry. Plus, I forged key relationships with my PolyGram colleagues that have led to multiple job opportunities throughout my career.

What is the most challenging part of your job? What is the most rewarding part?

The most challenging part of my job is to ensure that our company is financially nimble and can fully exploit the many production opportunities that are pitched to our production team. The most rewarding part is to see our slate of productions grow year over year as we expand our partnerships with both current and new production partners.

What is something current you are working on that you are excited about?

We are working on new partnerships with Major League Baseball and Netflix and will premiere new productions with them in late 2026 / early 2027.

How is the ever-changing media landscape affecting your industry?

As the audience gains more control over when and how they consume content, producers of content have to figure out ways to continue to attract the attention of the audience. They have less incentive to sit through a live 3-hour broadcast when they can see viral clips and memes on the internet the next day. Our production team at JCE focuses on developing show concepts that the audience will want to experience live and be part of the viral moment, instead of a postponed viewing experience.

Are there any ways that you feel Georgetown especially prepared you for your career?

Georgetown introduced me to a new world of opportunities. I came to campus sight unseen from Omaha, Nebraska, so life on campus and in DC was a brand new adventure for me. While the academic curriculum of the business school gave me a solid foundation for my finance career, the jobs that I had in DC during the summers and academic year were critical to my professional development. I am certain that the resume I built with these professional experiences during my time at GU, combined with my GU degree, was instrumental in helping me secure my first job on Wall Street after graduation.

What is your best advice to those who are starting out in your field?

Opportunities are offered to you daily, so learn to say yes instead of no. The more experiences you have, the more you will grow as a person and a professional.

Best Business Advice Received:

Ask questions. It’s better to confirm that you’re on the right track than to be afraid to ask and then head off in the wrong direction.

Trait You Most Admire in People:

Trustworthiness.

Favorite App, Website, Podcast or Social Platform (other than related to your own company):

Threads for the day’s trending topics, NPR’s 1A for my political fix and NYT’s weekly Flashback Quiz for fun because I love history.

Favorite Georgetown Professor:

My freshman year accounting professor Joseph LeMoine. I learned foundational concepts in his class that I put to immediate use when I secured a summer job as an accounting clerk at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Favorite Georgetown Restaurant or Bar:

Pizzeria UNO on M Street and Houlihan’s at Georgetown Park were my go-to spots. Can’t forget Au Pied du Cochon for the late night post-club hang. RIP as all three are long gone from the Georgetown restaurant scene.

Favorite Georgetown Memory:

I was lucky to be on the Hilltop when Patrick Ewing was leading the Hoyas Men’s Basketball team. My freshman year, we won the 1984 national championship, and I was part of the thousands that celebrated our victory on Wisconsin and M Streets that night. My sophomore year basketball memories are bittersweet. The Hoyas had an incredible 1984-85 season, and I made the road trip from DC to Lexington, KY for the Final Four with my roommates. Unfortunately, we were denied our second consecutive national championship when we lost to Villanova 66-64. While we were crushed, it was a great adventure with my roommates and I’m glad we were there to support our Hoya team.

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