January 5, 2015
The New York Business Journal named 78 honorees for its inaugural Women of Influence Awards. The program honors women business leaders in the New York City area who innovate, succeed and “pay it forward.” In the days ahead, we’ll be giving readers a chance to hear directly from these women.
Jane Wesman, president, Jane Wesman Public Relations Inc., New York
Tell us about your family:
I met my husband Donald Savelson, who is an attorney, 20 years ago playing tennis. We continue to play tennis, golf, and ski, and share many cultural and other interests. We are deeply involved in the contemporary art world as collectors and supporters of young artists and nonprofit art institutions. Currently, Don is chairman of the board of directors of the Bronx Museum of the Arts and I am president of the New York City chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. We are strong believers in giving back to the community. Of course family is very important to us. When I met Don, his five sons were already grown. We now have seven wonderful grandchildren in cities around the country. I am also very close with my brother, his wife, and children. I am quite proud of my two nephews who are building great lives and careers, one as a filmmaker and the other in a senior role at a tech startup, both in California. Don and I are very lucky. We have homes in New York City, East Hampton, and Miami Beach. We have friends in each of these places and love to spend time with them. When I was growing up, I never imagined that I would be this blessed.
Where were you born?
Elizabeth, N.J.
The one word that best describes you:
Determined
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
When I was seventeen, I worked as an assistant to the arts and crafts counselor at a local day camp. I learned that it takes a great deal of study and preparation to be good at your job. I also learned that loving your work and being fully engaged in it, makes life a lot more interesting. I did not love my first job. It was quite tedious, because the day camp was not well run. But it inspired me to search for work that I could be passionate about — and to work among people who felt the same way about their jobs.
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
I am most proud of starting and growing a company over many years, despite recessions, intense competition, and the great technological changes that have greatly impacted the book publishing industry that my firm serves. Today, book publishers and authors from the United States and abroad rely on us to market and promote their books in the most competitive marketplace that has ever existed.
Who has been the biggest influence on your career, and why?
My parents were my greatest influence, because they understood that entrepreneurship was in my blood.
If you could be mentored by anyone, who would it be and why?
Hillary Clinton, not because of her politics, but because she has shown true grit throughout her life, persevering and succeeding despite the odds, constant media surveillance, and personal difficulties. There is so much that women can learn from her about leadership, intelligent decision-making, setting goals, and achieving them.
What is your philosophy as a mentor?
Getting people to understand that there are solutions to almost all business problems, once the problems are identified and clarified. Also that there is a great deal of information available to help anyone succeed, either in books, classes, online, and most importantly, through the people they know. It’s essential to build a strong network of advisers, colleagues, employees, suppliers, etc. and turn to them for help. Too many entrepreneurs, especially women, try to do everything themselves. Building an organization is all about the people who are part of the team. As a mentor, I am part of that team.
What is your one daily routine that you can’t do without?
I’m a big coffee drinker. It helps me think clearly. Also, I need a lot of exercise or I feel grumpy.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Smile a lot more. Take the long-term view. Be more understanding of other people’s quirks and more forgiving of my own.
What is the biggest challenge or opportunity facing your company in 2015?
The biggest challenge for us is to stay on top of the constant changes in the book publishing industry, finding the most effective ways to market our clients books in this extremely competitive environment.
Guilty pleasure: (“I hate to admit this, but I really like … “)
I really like to day dream.
Book you have read recently that you would recommend to others:
I read many books every month, because it’s part of my work. But for pleasure, I always return to the great classics of English and American literature. I just finished “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton. It’s fascinating to read about society, people’s attitudes and behaviors, and the opportunities for women in the early 20th century. Wharton is extremely skilled at transporting readers inside her characters’ heads. We understand why Lily Bart is doomed, trapped by her own beliefs and values as well as by those of the society in which she lives. It’s impossible for her to defy her strong moral code. Reading this book makes me think about how difficult it is for us to change our own thought patterns and beliefs. We often trap ourselves in our own circular thinking.
Favorite pastimes:
Playing sports, reading, viewing art and theater, listening to music, spending time with family and friends, especially at intimate dinner parties, and contemplating the beauty of the natural world.
What needs to happen for more women to succeed in business in the United States?
Men need to understand that helping women succeed is good for everyone. It’s a win-win situation. it’s been proven that companies with more women at the highest level have stronger profits. So men need to get on board — not just pay lip service — to advancing women’s careers. We also need to recognize that everyone, both men and women, judge women in the workplace, in government, the arts, and other positions of responsibility by harsher and higher standards than men. And of course, we also need to solve the day-care problem. Women should not have to sacrifice family for work, and vice versa. Women need more options for being able to balance both family and work.
