Her Story
About Jillian
I've been in the food service industry for over 25 years, beginning with entry-level positions when I was young. I was offered management opportunities and was able to grow and continue my career through opportunities that were available to me through my success in my previous roles. I moved to different locations and corporations throughout my experience to get better opportunities and more experience as I grew. My passion for hospitality stems from my mom, who was in charge of setting up a hospitality table for the PTO back in the 90s. I remember her worrying about making sure that all the different people that attended the meeting had a hot beverage or a snack available to them, and I remembered how important it was to her that everything was done right. That experience stuck with me - that food and beverage can really create a memorable experience. I have grown into not only believing that in my own family and my own house, but now here at a major university in the state of New Jersey, I still believe food and beverage are a big part of the experience. There's no celebration in our life that doesn't happen with food and beverage involved - we always highlight those important moments with some sort of celebration that includes dining. It brings us comfort and warm feelings and leaves a lasting impact well beyond that full stomach.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jillian
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to always being willing to evaluate myself. If I'm not where I want to be, I take a look in the mirror and reflect upon what I'm bringing to the table every day. I make sure that I'm contributing in the way that I believe I am, and that I am doing my fullest to meet the goals ahead of me. I also have a true understanding that my entire team contributes to what I do, and that we all are people before we are employees. We all are human beings who need to be taken care of as individuals before we can take care of our job to the best of our ability.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was to always be willing to evaluate yourself. If you're not where you want to be, be able to take a look in the mirror and reflect upon what you're bringing to the table every day. Make sure that you're contributing in the way that you believe you are, and that you are doing your fullest to meet the goals ahead of you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think young professionals are told in the food service industry how grueling the work will be, but they're not very often told how rewarding it is. It's rewarding to see one of your employees understand that you're going to support them, because they might not have received that support previously. As one leader and one manager, you have the ability to impact your employees, and in turn, impact your guests. But as a leader, you have to be able to impact your employees in the most positive manner to be able to get the results that you desire. It has to be a positive experience for everybody.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are having a true understanding that my entire team contributes to what I do, and that we all are people before we are employees. We all are human beings who need to be taken care of as individuals before we can take care of our job to the best of our ability. I believe that food and beverage can create memorable experiences and bring us comfort and warm feelings, leaving a lasting impact well beyond that full stomach. It's something that brings us together - there's no celebration in our life that doesn't happen with food and beverage involved. As a leader, I believe you have to be able to impact your employees in the most positive manner to be able to get the results that you desire. It has to be a positive experience for everybody.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · New Jersey
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.