She Leads – With Jamey Hebb

Name: Jamey Hebb

Job Title: Sr. Client Solutions Executive, CAI

What would you tell your younger self? I would tell my younger self to take the academic part of college more seriously in order to be accepted into law school, and to consider summer jobs that would have better prepared me for a career.

What was your major in college? General Studies and Men’s Lacrosse, though not always in that order. I worked in retail automotive sales and management for over 25 years before moving to the vendor side seven years ago.

What was your inspiration and what helped you become successful? How do you define success? My inspiration was and continues to be my three children. A desire to provide well for them helped me stay focused and be successful. I define success as keeping your priorities straight, setting/pursuing/achieving goals, and never giving up – though I could write a whole lot more. Loving and being loved is a huge part of success as well.

How do you balance your work and personal life? Often times one has more importance, and we’re curious to know how you’ve handled the balance. That’s the million dollar question, and one I have wrestled with for the entirety of my career — sometimes more successfully than others. I set limits on how many hours I work in a given day and I schedule time into my day to focus on my personal life and the people in it.

What is your favorite quote? “The great challenge of adulthood is holding on to your idealism after you lose your innocence.” — Bruce Springsteen

What’s your favorite part of your job and why? The variety of activities and clients I participate in on a daily basis. Knowing that we are working to change for the better the way the automotive business operates.

What is your favorite hobby? Lacrosse, which I played competitively from age five to 35, and now coach my sons’ teams and enjoy being a lacrosse parent and fan.

What advice do you want to give the next generation of women leaders? Don’t let anyone define you or tell you what you can’t accomplish.

What does leadership mean to you? I like what John Quincy Adams wrote about leadership — “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

What’s your advice on mentoring? Find a really good one and ask lots of questions while listening and learning. If you become dissatisfied or outgrow your mentor, do not be afraid to find a new one.

What’s your favorite ice cream? Chocolate Peanut Butter, though I very rarely eat ice cream anymore.

Is there any other information that you think Girl Talk members would benefit from? “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson