Her Story
About Rosi
“Rosi” has a passion for people. Throughout her 30 year professional career in Sales, Human Resources and Educational Publishing, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Follett) her focus has always been on helping others. Even in LA where she moved after college to pursue her acting career, she often found jobs for her friends. They would tell her, “ Rosi, you ‘d be a great agent!” As fate would have it, she became one, in a sense, as a Corporate Recruiter. As a strategic business partner, she was mindful of balancing empathy with bottom line results. Her favorite role is being an active listener, adviser and motivator. Her forte is coaching. She has coached countless people in building their resumes. She feels people must create resumes that tell their story and demonstrate the quantifiable value they can bring to a company. People often sell themselves short. She would tell them, “Toot your own horn on your resume!” Trade your tasks lists for measurable, impact-driven accomplishments. Instead of just stating your responsibilities, highlight how your work has positively affected the company. You need to believe in your abilities, talent and value. Your resume should be your own personal elevator pitch. Rosi has always been a dreamer and risk-taker. As an actor, singer, dancer, she worked hard in Hollywood to get into SAG-Aftra and Actor’s Equity. Her experience includes Desdemona in Othello, Happy Days, Blansky’s Beauties, five years in a repertory company, a radio show in Palm Springs and helping to mount LA’s first Equity Dinner Theater. Raising a family and working in the corporate world left little time for Rosi to pursue her other passion: writing. During COVID, when the world stopped, Rosi wrote, produced and directed a “Sizzle” for a reality show, My Country Prim Dream Home and continued work on a screenplay on the American writer and inspirational poet, Helen Steiner Rice. Currently, Rosi spends her retirement in a historic home, built in 1917, on Millpond Lake, where she continues to write, dream and of course, help others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rosi
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to years of education, classes, preparation, listening and being a life-long learner. Often in my careers I have decided to be courageous and step out in faith. I have made mistakes but I know that I have learned from them. Over the years, I have had major support from my family and friends. My parents instilled in me the love of the arts. They also made me feel that I could do or be anything. I was the first person in my family to go to college. My parents sacrificed in many ways to help me finish my degree. I have always had many interests. I believe when you have innate curiosity it drives you to learn, explore and push yourself out into the world to educate yourself. Very early on, I developed empathy. This important trait has helped me connect with people and build trusting relationships. It certainly helped me become a seasoned Talent Ambassador and company branding expert. Understanding, sharing and considering the feelings and perspectives of others is important to me. People are my passion. Honestly, I feel like I have been led to the best opportunities in my life. And, also to the mentors who have given of themselves to help me excel. I am so grateful for their belief in me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The quote, “Bloom where you are planted” credited to Saint Francis de Sales who lived in the 16th century, and became popular in Mary Engelbreit’s artwork, has become my motto. We moved often to different states to support my husband’s career. Being plucked away and starting over could be a curse or a blessing. I opted for the later. It made me embrace the current situation, sometimes re-inventing myself, shifting my perspective and forcing me to live in the present. When I walked into my first publishing company job, I had no business acumen. I was “an actress.” However, the hiring manager felt that with my education background I could be an asset to the team. It was a sales/sales support role. In my interview I must have demonstrated drive, determination and a willingness to learn. I believe she picked up something besides my honed communication skills. I believe she detected empathy. Looking back, she probably felt that she could teach me “the job.” But my ability to be an active listener and step into the customer’s shoes to personalize solutions for them and build long term relationships was harder to teach someone. That hiring manager planted me behind a desk, with a typewriter, (computers came the next year) and I actually bloomed. I am thankful because she was responsible for my having a long and very fulfilling career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The general advice I would give young women entering any career is to work hard, learn your industry/craft, be flexible, stay curious, be prepared when opportunities arise and take good care of yourself. It is an exciting time to take a seat at the table. Bring your personal best, your authentic self, your passion. Recognize your own worth, share your unique perspective and know that your experiences will add value. Align yourself with the mentors and peers who champion your potential. Embrace empathy, understand business metrics, use data to back up your initiatives. Lastly, develop a backbone, whether you are navigating difficult conversations in the workforce or advocating for yourself, it takes courage.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One challenge I find in some of corporate America and national public institutions is the current removal of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives. As an HR professional I spent years acting as a strategic advocate aligning DEI goals to company policy. We made so much progress building equitable workplaces. It really saddens me to see us move backwards in some of these areas. Promoting fair treatment for all employees from all walks of life empowers people and helps them reach their potential. It is important to find value in our differences and create environments where everyone feels like they belong. I am completing a screenplay on Helen Steiner Rice, the inspirational poet. (1900 -1981) She was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. Her nickname was “The Lorain Tornado” because of her unstoppable and enthusiastic energy. She was a dedicated advocate for women in the workplace. While she was not a political activist in the militant sense, many of her teachers were suffragettes. Throughout her career, she campaigned for women and improving their working conditions. Helen was a real trailblazer for women’s rights and workplace equality. “She was considered ahead of her time for breaking barriers for women decades before the modern feminist movement.”
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Hanging in my HR office for years was my favorte framed quote by the philosopher, Jean-Jaques Rousseau, “What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” The idea that kindness itself is the ultimate wisdom is very powerful. Kindness requires emotional intelligence. It is the basic knowledge and act of making someone feel seen, heard and valued. Kindness is improving another person’s well-being and treating others with respect. I have always thrived on giving of myself, my time, my expertise, without expecting anything in return. But what I have found is by practicing kindness I have always received as much or more benefit as the recipient. I feel having compassion and treating others with basic human dignity is imperative. Treating others the way you want to be treated is essential for fostering inclusive, collaborative communities. Empathy, compassion and kindness are the most important values in my work and my personal life.
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