⚽ Jennifer Levine: VP, PR and Communications at National Women's Soccer League
The Importance of Transparency, Positivity and Joy at work
Hello, It’s Julia. Welcome to my weekly newsletter exploring the ways we communicate and connect at work and beyond. It’s last call for The Paper Plate Awards: nominate an exceptional person at work until Nov. 15th.
In This Edition
⚽ Jennifer’s Career Profile
🪖 The Switchboard Soldiers
🍽️ Paper Plate Award Winner
About Jennifer
Jennifer Levine has vast expertise developing communications strategy and launching cultural moments and campaigns for Fortune 50 and blue-chip powerhouses, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix and Amazon.
In her current role, she leads PR and communications for the National Women's Soccer League. Previously, she was at Amazon Global Media & Entertainment, where she was charged with corporate, financial, and internal communications across its various entertainment businesses. Her past experience includes 5 years as Vice President of Communications at NBCUniversal's Cable Entertainment Group, and 13 years at Disney as Vice President, Global Communications for Disney Publishing Worldwide.
What sparked your path into your field?
In my first job at Atlantic Records, I worked in International Marketing. It was a lot of fun. I sat next to my counterpart who worked in publicity. As I heard his phone calls and got to know him, I thought I would like to work in that field more. So I left that job and started over. I took a job as a Publicity Assistant in children’s books. It was even better than I imagined as I was able to work on telling the world about creative stories that are incredible classics, such as Dr. Seuss books. I never looked back.
What is a value that drives you?
Honesty. I ask for it from both my peers and my team members. I always say to the people that work for me, if you mess up, I will always have your back, just be honest with me.
It was really working at Netflix that taught me that transparency and open lines of communication are integral to healthy relationships at work and to making everybody at every level of an organization feel empowered with information. It was a culture of feedback, transparency and trust that enabled all employees at every to access data reports. I believe in transparency because I think it translates into a strong level of respect for your employees.
As you look back, is there a pivotal project that's shaped your career or inspired you?
Working in children's books and global licensing in the mid-2000s was incredible. It was the onset of digital publishing and an entirely new category. I went to the President of my Division and made a case for me to take on a new role. I said that I know I didn't know how to do it, but if you give me a chance and an opportunity that I will make it happen. He trusted me and it happened for me. I think this story shows if you go in with confidence and honesty, you can learn new things on the job and take on projects outside of your scope. Have the guts and ask for what you want. This also empowered our relationship too as I worked with a senior executive and delivered.
What is a skill needed for great communicators?
Positivity. My entire upbringing has been focused on being glass half full. This applies to work too. If I'm going to spend more time at work than I am with my family, I want to find joy and positivity. For me, it’s about bringing that attitude to my jobs everyday and trying to inspire the people around me to laugh.
If you could give a TED talk, what would the topic be?
I think it would be about the importance of joy and positivity in the workplace. It’s about finding the fun — following your gut to find a job that makes you feel good about yourself and inspires others around you to feel that joy in work.
What’s a hack that has helped you in your career?
Valuing the relationships you make at work through the years. When you find good people, keep them around you. They become your trust council even if you aren’t working with them. Your intuition is the most important thing, if something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. Working parents … you are fulfilled in your job to become a role model for kids.
Honoring the Hello Girls: Switchboard Soldiers of WWI
The Switchboard Operator was my muse in starting this newsletter. But, I had no idea of this hidden story in history of women who changed the world. It was my honor to share these stories:
🍽️ Paper Plate Award Spotlight: Best Community Builder
Congratulations to Rachel Stacy for being a Community Builder. Nominated by Kyle Arteaga.
Several months ago Rachel took it upon herself to create a wellness challenge amongst our employees to help our remote workforce better prioritize wellness. This started with a Slack Channel, includes a real time scoreboard and orders fun, customized to the person stickers for each employee who participates. we have 100% participation.
It's been amazing to see how invested our team gets in the wellness challenge, each week has a special challenge for example this week you get an extra 100 points for exercising with a pet, last week it was get to know your colleagues via virtual coffee breaks, and we’ve even had a virtual petting zoo with goats. It's become a major rallying point.
It’s last call for The Paper Plate Awards: nominate an exceptional person at work until Nov. 15th. Signing off for this edition, Julia Levy.