FIVE J.MCLAUGHLIN WOMEN WHO REALLY KNOW THEIR VALUE
We asked and they answered. Find out what they always put in their workbag and the best career advice they've ever been given.
Meet Mary Ellen Coyne: CEO of J.McLaughlin and mom of three, Mary Ellen bounces from meetings in our Brooklyn office to visiting stores across the country.
What's in her bag?
"Bobbi Brown lipgloss (I don't wear much makeup, but I hold onto a tube for touchups), iPhone (my favorite app right now is Blinklist), and readers--sad but true at my age!!"
What do you enjoy most about J.McLaughlin?
"It's still a family brand with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. You can wake up in the middle of the night with an idea, and see it come to fruition in a week!"
Her best business advice:
"Always be clear. Be concise. Be fair. Be nice."
How to overcome hurdles at work:
"I try to focus on the long term goal and stay positive. And I lean on my amazing family and friends for advice!"
Meet Glynis Karp. Soul Cycle enthusiast, mom, and rosé lover. "Summer is my season," as she likes to phrase it. With over 30 years in the retail industry, Glynis' outgoing spirit makes us all wish we could slay the Instagram selfie game as good as her.
What's in her bag?
"I always carry an extra pair of tortoise readers, lip treatment (Sugar SPF15 by Fresh) and an iPhone charger—all are extremely important when traveling to stores!"
How she lives #TheJMcLife:
"Living #TheJMcLife for me is about having the most fun possible at all times…not sweating the small stuff…and being authentic."
Her best business advice:
"Trust your instincts…intuition doesn't lie."
Meeet Rene Ip. A seasoned J.McLaughlin veteran on the product development team. Rene lives in Queens with her family and can be spotted analyzing samples around the office.
What's in her bag?
"My iPhone, lip balm (from Lipstick Queen) and a small notebook (I'm old fashioned, love to jot down inspiration)."
How she lives #TheJMcLife:
"To me, #TheJMcLife is about work/life balance and being chic and classic."
Her best business advice:
"Put family first. It's disappointing that in some corporate environments there's an unreasonable expectation that women must prioritize work over being a mother, a wife, and a daughter. For me, I can't expect work to be more important than family. My colleagues are my work family. Once you understand that, you'll have a team that supports and trusts each other. I'm truly blessed my team has allowed me to balance being a busy mom with four kids and being an executive."
How to overcome hurdles at work:
"Don't be afraid to ask for help. Build a support network and prioritize."
Meet Elizabeth Pilkington. When she's not running around the office, you can find her running around her trendy Brooklyn neighborhood. We joke that her favorite app is Excel and if she's not on the phone, she's crunching numbers on the calculator!
What's in her bag?
"I always carry my iPhone, notebook (because handwriting my notes helps me to remember more), and my Kindle (it's a great way to decompress on the subway home, just got into the Outlander series which is amazing!)."
How she lives #TheJMcLife:
"For me, living #TheJMcLife is more about one of our core values—where you live, work, and play. Having had the privilege to work so closely with Kevin McLaughlin and his team over the past few years, I'm always fascinated by how many different ways he draws on inspiration for the line. It could be themes from an interior designer he follows, motifs from tiling on the floor of a café, tapestry reinterpreted as a statement coat. His travel and wide array of interests lead to endless possibilities for the next great idea. I now find myself taking a closer notice at my surroundings and staying open to new inspiration coming from unexpected places."
Her best business advice:
"Embrace working with people that seem to know more than you do, but also remember your own successes and try not to let a little intimidation get the best of you. I have come across many people in my career who may have gone to a better school, advanced their career faster, or may even be naturally smarter. More often than not, I have gained valuable knowledge by being open to these interactions and have become more confident because of it."
Meet Audrey Dwyer. If you've ever called us for questions about tour style guide, chances are Audrey has answered the phone.
What's in her bag?
"Phone, hair tie, Emergen-C!"
Her best business advice:
"If you want something, don't be afraid to speak up and ask for it."
How to overcome hurdles at work:
"Work hard! Take risks if it feels right. If you work hard and follow your instincts, you will always be proud of your accomplishments."
Follow along on social media while we style the contestants of Know Your Value.