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Hi, I'm Jeanne.
Life stories can feel cliché – after all, doesn’t everyone have one to tell? Instead, I’d like to share three professional and personal qualities worth cultivating. They have served me well, and I hope they do the same for you.
Education
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My father was a New York City firefighter (FDNY), and my mother was a nurse. As the oldest of three children, I was the first to go to college. It wasn’t going to be a high-profile university or fun-filled college town – it was within commuting distance, and I was bored to tears. Until I discovered work could be blended with learning – and the former was where most of my education happened. Whether formal or informal, learning opportunities surround us. As a kid, I devoured articles in National Geographic magazine, memorized a book about presidents, and raised my hand for every new class, field trip, or chance for extra credit. Learning included microbiology (worthwhile info when it’s a Jeopardy! category), guitar lessons (a fast means of realizing there wasn’t an ounce of musical talent in my being), and the perfunctory dance classes. Why were any of these important? On their own, they weren’t. Together, they melded into a cassoulet (yes, there were also French lessons involved) that has served me well. While university degrees may have fallen out of favor, learning has not. Education is something that – once earned – can never be taken away from you. It enables you to converse with people who have equally varied interests and experiences; it also fortifies you when times get tough. Self-care seems to be the new life mantra. In my opinion, your education should be at its core.
Resilience
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When I was in graduate school, convinced that I was going to set the world ablaze, I worked as the junior placement officer at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. It was a grand job – mostly because there was only one junior placement officer. I spent my days chatting with HR and talent acquisition leaders at major corporations such as Exxon, Chevron, Maersk, and Mitsui. It was hard to fail when you were representing graduates and alumni from one of the nation’s service academies. Yet, I did fail – and not because of my work. Young entrants into the workforce rarely know how to read the room. Had I noticed that there was a dress code? That everyone stood at attention for reveille? That people far older and wiser than me didn’t find my smart comments enchanting? That was OK, because I was a short-timer and soon fast-tracked into a glamorous career in New York City. The allure of controlling my own earning capacity landed me in a quota-bearing, capital equipment sales role – in an industry that, as one customer told me, had ink under its fingernails older than me. After most sales calls, I couldn’t wait to make it back down to street level – so no one would see me sobbing. One customer saw right through me. His name was Mordecai Topel, a Holocaust survivor and business owner. He had no reason to take an interest in my career other than out of kindness and compassion for someone he (rightfully) thought might be struggling. One can only imagine the pain and suffering he had endured in his own life. When I cold-called, he took the meeting. He sat and coached me – not just on my sales presentation, but on life. His generosity taught me how to cope within the broader context of humanity. More on that later. Education is something you earn. Resilience is something you learn. How well you learn is up to you. Sometimes, someone steps in to teach you; other times, you’re left to figure it out on your own. The former is infinitely easier. From Mr. Topel, I learned to watch for the mentors, sponsors, advocates, and tutors in life.
Connection
I started a tech PR firm on a Wednesday, and by the next day, I had three prominent brands as customers. There was no turning back – it was time to sink or swim. Initially, I tried doing everything myself. This was back in the days when we faxed press releases, sent out press kits, and traveled to client sites. It was exciting – and overwhelming. Over time, and by intentional design, the model shifted. Like ripples in a pond, there were core participants and those who opted in or out. Journalists chose us first, analysts trusted us more, and clients knew they could call at 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, and we’d be there for them. Before LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, there were phone calls, lunches, and handwritten notes. There was acknowledgment when someone in your network experienced a loss – and joy when good news was shared. Just as we learn to be resilient, we also learn what it means to be an integral part of humanity. In my experience, creating connections – whether fleeting or forever – can advance key causes, support growth strategies, and make people feel valued. The right partnerships are multipliers, and individual acts of kindness are like money in the bank. It might seem harder to connect these days, but every time we cast the net with an invite for a conference, private dinner, or conversation, we get immediate engagement. People want to network and learn from others. No matter how many social media connections you have, nothing replaces the direct, meaningful relationships built by brokering the right connections. It’s the cornerstone of how we do business.
One more thing
All of us have a starting point – some have the good fortune of launching from third base, while others don’t have that ready-made advantage. Some are just entering the workforce, while others are caught between elder care and childcare. Making and nurturing connections means leading with kindness, even when someone isn’t kind to you. You never know where they’ve been or what they’re going through.
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