Tell me a little bit about your career path. What did you think you wanted to be when you entered the workforce, how has that changed, and why?
I started my career in retail as a buyer and merchandise planner at Bloomingdale’s. I loved digging in to understand more about the customer and I wanted to own more of the brand experience, so I used business school to make a move into brand management. Following bschool, I went to Pepsi, where I worked on multiple brands, in customer-facing roles and innovation. After having my first baby, my perspective on life shifted. My vision for how I wanted to raise him didn’t align with how we were living at the time, which was the catalyst for moving from the east coast to Minneapolis. I launched a strategic marketing firm with a partner after arriving in Minneapolis. When I started my career, I thought that I was going to be in retail/fashion for the entirety. I could never have imagined this journey.
What does it mean to you to be a leader?
To have an ability to establish a vision for the future, inspire others to see the possibilities and empower them to take action.
What is your favorite part of coming to work each day?
My favorite part of work is tackling problems and pursuing opportunities in new and different ways. I also really enjoy working with my business partner.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Family, friends and food make-up most of my free time. My husband and I have two young boys that keep us very busy. We love hosting gatherings with friends and family, as well as going out with everyone to try a new restaurant. When time allows, I love to cook. I find it relaxing to experiment in the kitchen.
What advice do you have for navigating this industry?
Embrace the journey. The landscape of Advertising and more broadly, Marketing is quickly changing. There isn’t one set path to take, so as you move through your career balance being present and reflective to figure out where to go next. Be present in your current role thinking about what you can learn from that experience. Continually take a step back to reflect on what you like doing, as well as what you do well. Take a chance to try something that excites you.
How did you get to where you are today?
By focusing on building relationships. I’ve found that it’s important to not only deliver solid work but also get to know people on a personal level. For me, the key has been listening, and asking questions, then asking more questions. At home, I have an amazing support system that enables me to be fully engaged in my work.
What do you have on your desk?
In my ideal world, I’d have a minimalist workspace – a laptop, a monitor, a container of my favorite pens and a notebook. In reality, my desk includes all of the above, plus an array of post-it note reminders, files (I still like hard copies of certain things), a coffee mug, water bottle, and a snack in some degree of completion.
Hear more from Jaylon Rosenblum, an Owner/Partner at Goby Partners, when she emcees the Women’s Leadership Panel on Nov 16.
The post Women’s Leadership Panel Emcee Profile: Jaylon Rosenblum appeared first on AdFed.