Her Story
About Jana
Jana Fain-Rossen brings over 25 years of professional experience to her role in operations and leadership. She is currently working for a global design firm where she leads culture, operations, and strategic initiatives. After beginning her career in entertainment as a writer's assistant, director's assistant, script development coordinator, and facility manager, including time at Funny or Die working with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, she transitioned into tech and then design. In her current position managing the West region, she works to modernize company culture, implement consistent policies across regions, and help teams thrive. She is eager to constantly learn and has pursued multiple certifications and courses in leadership, facility management, safety, unconscious bias, and ERG programs to strengthen her approach. Jana attributes her success to her mother, a single parent who worked as a Teamster in a male-dominated field, and she values honesty and accountability in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jana
01What do you attribute your success to?
Definitely my mom. She was a single mom with 5 kids. She was a Teamster and drove big trucks. She made magic happen for her kids and by magic, I mean food, shelter and clothing on a regular basis. She was one of very few women in her field, she was bullied and made fun of, but she got up every single day and did what she had to do for her family. I deeply understand that perseverance and tenacity make many things possible.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't be afraid to fail, and don't be afraid to feel. Obviously, there's more to those two things, but I think that advice has stuck with me. Humans are not meant to be robotic, it's okay to have feelings about people or situations and express them. A 2nd piece of advice I own daily is to Choose Joy. It's so easy to get overwhelmed and start feeling like everything is hard and nothing matters, but anger, frustration, happiness - all emotions are transient - when you choose joy it's an active choice that will immediately reset your perspective and also put a smile on your face.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's okay to fail. I've learned more from my failures than I have some of my wins and successes. I know corporations boil us down to numbers and spreadsheets, but that doesn't mean we have to do the same. See people for who they are and listen to them. Then listen again.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The scarcity of female leadership - from the front lines to the Board level - is one of our greatest challenges - across all industries. But this is also our greatest opportunity. My mother proved this when she was a teamster. Despite being bullied by her male peers, she refused to hide her femininity, showing up to drive big trucks in sparkly boots and vibrant lipstick. She didn't just excel at her job, she gained their respect and became a legend known as "punk mama". Her story is always a reminder to me that we don't have to conform to lead. I hope all women seize the chance to be legends in their own fields by showing up in whatever way feels authentic to them.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and accountability.
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