Her Story
About Jade
Jade Heslop serves as General Manager for Scanlon Theater in New York, NY, overseeing all departments within the head office group as well as retail teams and stores across the US. With more than 15 years in fashion retail, she specializes in retail team management and has built her expertise through a Bachelor of Design majoring in Fashion earned in New Zealand, supplemented by hands-on experience working directly with CEOs and owners of independent brands in New Zealand, Australia, and New York. She grew the current business from approximately $2 million to over $15 million by approaching each role with the mindset of an owner, committing to hard work including 80-hour weeks when required, and fostering flexibility and balance as a mother of three. Heslop attributes her success to diligence and trusting her instincts while advising others to maintain an open mind and avoid limiting themselves to defined roles. She credits mentorship from CEO and owner Melinda Robertson for opportunities to expand her scope beyond initial responsibilities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jade
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work. Nothing comes easy. I come from a generation where it was putting in the work to get the results. I treat every business like it's my own and look to develop it in the best way I can. Whether working 80-hour weeks when needed or focusing on achieving results, it's about getting it done.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice is to stay true to who you are and really trust your instincts based on experience. Most leaders I've worked under, especially owners, have shown that treating the business like your own leads to success.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Have an open mind and don't work within your role. By doing that, you sometimes cut yourself off from opportunities that could be right in front of you. You're really cutting yourself off from all the things you can achieve within a company.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Female leadership is still challenged in male-dominated parts of the fashion industry, especially at the executive C-suite level and in operations and inventory sectors. There's a lot of opportunity within that space, and many women don't know there are career opportunities in fashion operations.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Flexibility and balance are most important. There's no such thing as perfect balance, you have to give 100% sometimes in one area and shift focus. As a mother of three little boys, I sometimes have 80-hour weeks or need to step away for family, and I ensure my team has that flexibility too.
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