On the path of growing in our careers, there are special people who leave a strong mark because of their friendship, wisdom, guidance, and support. For me, one person that stands out is my former co-worker, and boss, Jen Bernstein. Her ability to stay organized, handle difficult clients and always quick with a one liner was a bright time in my time at McCann Erickson. Jen's smart advice about handling tough situations, managing teams, being curious, and staying positive made a big difference in my professional life.
A Source of Wisdom with Difficult Clients
Working on large accounts in an agency is fraught with difficulties and hurdles. We had one particular client, we can call him Jack, who is still agency lore for horrible clients. Jack was the entitled rich child, who would throw temper tantrums, delight in other people’s misery and remind you of his large bank account. Jack was notorious for leaving some account people in tears or ready to just quit. However, his line of business was substantial and we didn’t want to lose the account.
At the time I was a middling account person and Jen was brought on to take over the team and account for his line of business. Jen jumped into the account and performed a master class in calming the waters, understanding the client needs, placating at the right places and pushing when it was necessary.
Jack was finally calm.
Leading Teams Like a Pro
Jen's skills as a leader went beyond just working with clients. She was like a conductor leading an orchestra when it came to managing teams. She made people work together smoothly. She believed in trust and giving power to everyone. She wanted everyone to talk openly and share ideas, so everyone felt important. Jen thought that when a team is excited, it does better work. Her tips about sharing tasks, giving credit, and solving problems made our workplace a great space to grow.
The Beauty of the One Liner
Jen and I grew to become close friends and shared many dinners, super bowl parties, happy hours and as we became closer her wit and ability to boil things down to short quips and fantastic one liners (many of which I use to this day) were always so spot on. Such great hits like -
"Charlie, I have ZERO fucks to give right now"
"It's not my circus, not my monkeys."
and my fave…
"Charlie, That sounds like a you problem not a me problem."
Staying Positive and Strong
One cool thing about Jen Bernstein was how positive she always stayed. Even when things were hard, she stayed cheerful and strong. Her confidence in herself and her way of looking at things from different sides helped us stay calm when things were crazy. Jen's happiness wasn't just something on the surface; it helped us face problems and become better at what we did.
A Legacy of Help and Inspiration
Thinking about Jen Bernstein's impact on my career and life, it's hard to measure. Her advice on handling tough times, leading teams, staying curious, and being positive keeps helping me in my career journey. She's the kind of boss/mentor we all want—someone who teaches us and shapes who we are. Jen's guidance will always stay with me, reminding me that success comes when we care, learn, and work our hardest.
