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To succeed , be the best at your craft , whatever your craft may be , and let your work and expertise speak for itself . Hard work and the willingness to go over and beyond the call to duty without having to be asked will also get you where you want to be .
I am a black woman politician cut from the cloth of Shirley Chisholm and live by her adage , “ If they don ’ t give you a seat at the table , bring a folding chair .” Her tenacity drives many of the decisions I make in my career and life . There are issues that would never have been addressed in the legislature if my voice hadn ’ t been in the room . Be bold and persistent .
We now have an African American and South Asian woman as our Vice President . As a woman in this country , know that you are capable of becoming anything you set your sights on .
Interpersonal relationships with colleagues are important in successful career-building .
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WINERIES
Dina Opici , President , Opici Family Distributing
I am the fourth generation in my family ’ s wine and spirits distribution / import business , which is historically a male-dominated industry . However , my entry into the business was such that it never occurred to me that this should be an obstacle to my success . Throughout my childhood , I witnessed my grandparents working together , traveling together , and enjoying life together as they managed our family ’ s business . They were a team , and my grandfather never considered not including my grandmother in a meeting , a business trip or industry function . For this reason , it seemed natural to me to enter this business with the same level of confidence that my grandmother had in her abilities to be part of the conversation , to have a seat at the table and to contribute to our family ’ s success . To not be afraid to fail — that is the best way to learn how to get it right . And don ’ t forget to listen , because we don ’ t learn by talking .
BANKING
Josephine Savastano , Chief Lending Officer , Valley Bank
My major in college was accounting and I had all intentions of joining a large accounting firm . That is until I interned at a large CPA firm . While it was a terrific opportunity , I absolutely hated the job . It proved to be excellent training , but deciding not to enter the field led me to banking , which I love . If you have strong feelings about what seems like the right fit and what does not , listen to your instincts . My advice comes from a good friend who helped me when I was struggling to connect with new management at my employer at that time . Her advice was to be myself and let people see my personality more . I had always thought that I needed to be more reserved and “ corporate ” in the office . I realized it was blocking me from really connecting with people , especially those that I didn ’ t know that well . Her advice enabled me to relax a bit and almost immediately had an easier time connecting and establishing relationships . In hindsight , I realize it was all about trusting myself .
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What Exactly Is Public Relations ? It is an invaluable tool in creating favorable public opinion . It differs from advertising in that it is an unpaid endorsement of a company , a person , a product or a service , and that fact alone , lends tremendous credibility .
How Does Public Relations Pay Back Big ? Your uniqueness , your story is what differentiates you from everyone else in your field . Being quoted in newspaper and business publications as well as appearing on broadcast media brands you as an ‘ expert ’. This type of credibility creates a ‘ buzz ’ or publicity that associates you and your firm with excellence . Publicity builds on itself and opens doors where entrée was never previously anticipated or envisioned .
Make sure your story is told .
Contact Amy Delman amydelmanpr @ verizon . net or 201.563.4614
www . amydelmanpr . com