Forty Under 40: Jessica Hendrix, 37

Jessica Hendrix moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2006, and by spring 2007, knew what she wanted — a job at Saatchi & Saatchi X.

“I literally walked through the front door, resume in hand, and asked to talk to someone,” she said.

Hendrix was given the name of Saatchi’s head recruiter and told to mail her resume. Instead, she took a business card from the front desk and deciphered the recruiter’s email address.

“Within seven days,” Hendrix said, “I had a job.”

Less than two years later, Hendrix was promoted from senior account manager to a director’s role. She assumed her current role in June 2010.

“I support the Procter & Gamble Walmart customer team — specifically health & beauty, ecommerce and multi-brand platforms to move the shopper from consideration to purchase,” the Iowa native said.

Hendrix put law-school plans on ice due to a love of business, then spent years in retail management, marketing, advertising and public relations before coming to Arkansas with her husband.

Hendrix loves to exercise, read and entertain when she isn’t busy tending to her two small children. Whatever she’s doing, Hendrix does it with a keen sense of humor.

“If you can’t be silly and have a little bit of fun,” she said, “it’s going to be a long day.”