Fall 2017 EditionAlumni & Friends Magazine
When Jeanette Grasselli Brown, BS ’50, HON ’78, embarked on her career with Standard Oil Company in 1950, she had few women to look to for professional advice. Self-taught ambition, determination, and a relentless work ethic formed the foundation of her success.
Natalie Trusso Cafarello, MSJ ’08 | October 30, 2017
Now retired from Standard Oil—where she was its highest-ranked woman—Grasselli Brown gives back to numerous organizations, charities, and corporate boards, including a term as chair of the OHIO Board of Trustees. In March, funds from the Women in Philanthropy Jeanette Grasselli Brown Leadership Initiative Endowment brought author and women’s advocate Rachel Simmons to the Athens Campus. Simmons coached OHIO students on facing their fears, doubts, and daily pressures.
Grasselli Brown strongly believes in the power of networking, mentoring, and passion. An excerpted list of her career tips and words of wisdom follows.
Try to be sure of what someone expects of you. It helps to minimize the confusion and concern that are the voices in your head: “Am I good enough? Can I do this?” Go a little bit outside yourself and ask, “What is the job I’m expected to do?” and then start doing it. As you progress, what you find is you gain confidence in the fact that you are performing as expected.
Research the industry marketplace and base your worth on knowledge and facts. Gather information that the salary that you expect in the position is commensurate with the market. Make sure you have the facts. Don’t approach “Am I paid fairly?” without being sure of yourself and where the field is. It isn’t a matter of comparing [your income] with your closest friends who have jobs that are quite different.
My mentors were always men. I very much appreciated [them]. I was not in any way kept back because of them. However, there are women’s issues that a woman mentor may better understand intuitively—issues of family, time management, and balancing work and family life. Women often compare their stories about these issues with other women.
Women who are already achievers and are being recognized should offer to mentor young women. I have mentored so many young women. It is so satisfying when you get a letter, or a phone call, or meet them somewhere, and they say, “Thank you so much for what you did. It really made a difference.” I think there can be no greater compliment in life than to hear someone say that you made a difference.
Look at your job as a fun part of your life. It can be. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, or if you’re stressed about the job and can’t wait until you’re out of the office and can go home…then try to find something elsewhere, where you can be happy. I know that sounds easier said than done because you need a job to survive and they’re not always out there for the picking. But, maybe there’s a way you can make your own job a little better.
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