2014 Honoree

Jacqueline Donovan

VP Marketing, Fairway Market

“Vote and get involved–-inspire young women to vote and get involved in their communities and beyond…”

Who inspires you the most?

My mother – she is an immigrant, which made her a real pioneer as a woman in her time and in her own family.

What do you now know about yourself that you wish you knew ten/fifteen/twenty years ago?

I know a lot more now than I did ten/fifteen/twenty years ago, but I wouldn’t change a thing – my journey, how I learned all those life things through my experience, defines who I am today. And I wouldn’t change it.

Fill in the blank: You can never have enough _______.

Friends.

What City best describes your personality?

New York City.

What gets you through even the toughest days and what are you most grateful for?

My two beautiful children – I have a son and a daughter. Watching them grow and change is something I get excited about witnessing every day and am very grateful for.

What socio-political women’s issue do you care about the most? Do you feel that women are typically presented fairly in the media? Why or why not?

I care about a woman’s right to choose. I don’t feel that women are typically presented fairly in the media – it’s very much based on external looks and very specific personality traits that don’t allow women to succeed in places like business.

Despite separation between Church & State, religion still seems to govern decisions regarding women – abortions, birth control, etc. How do we shift power over women’s bodies to women?

Vote and get involved – inspire young women to vote and get involved in their communities and beyond but also for women like me to be an example of what that looks like.

What is your best read? Favorite character you would most like to be?

I love to read fiction, and my favorite character is Lisbeth Salander

What will it take for women to be viewed as equal to men?

For magazines and media to stop photo-shopping women and setting an unrealistic standard.

What was your best decision to date? Worst decision?

My best decision was to take a risk in my career by leaving the safety of my job at Proctor & Gamble to pursue other opportunities. I don’t have a “worst” decision – I believe in not having any regrets.

Social media has exploded. How can women use it to market themselves without seeming narcissistic?

We can share information and ideas without exploiting ourselves.

Write a fortune you’d like for all women to receive in a fortune cookie.

Love yourself.

If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be?

Granting confidence to people with great potential.