Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Fogelson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in a very close family in Richmond, VA. I have two sisters who are two of my best friends and a great mom and dad. My parents met in Boston and we spent part of our summers on the Cape. We all love the beach with a passion and we look forward to our family get-togethers every July at our little cottage.
My life is a classic example of how things don’t turn out anything like you planned and sometimes, that’s for the better!
I planned to be an environmental and animal rights attorney. I graduated law school, got married to my college sweetheart at 27, got divorced at 30 and was looking for a new career.
Fate led me to a recruiter and I have a career in business development for a national court reporting company. The best part of this is that I work from home, which gives me time to pursue my true purpose: working with shelters and rescues throughout Massachusetts to save homeless pets.
About three and a half years ago, I started a Facebook page for senior and special needs pets in Massachusetts to find them foster and forever homes. It has been so rewarding!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but smooth! I thought I would be an attorney, married with two kids by the time I was 32. Besides the marriage, none of that happened! I had to find a new career, make new friends (all of mine were getting married and having kids) and find myself again at age 30.
I joined a volleball team, which led me to join a Newport summer share house where I met some of my best friends. I also met my boyfriend through volleyball, and we’ve been together for almost 6 years.
My advice to any women, particlarly younger women, is to enjoy your life and not put so much pressure on yourself! Your life will never turn out exactly like you planned, no matter how hard ou try to control it! Step out of your comfort zone, try some things that you have always wanted to try, be open to meeting new people and pursue your passion. Your intersts will change throughout your life, so go with it!
You can’t get back time, so really enjoy your 20’s, your 30’s and beyond. Life is a gift!
What should we know about Preppy Francophile? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My day job is that is Managing Director of Business Development for my company, EcoScribe Solutions. We are a relatively small company internally, and what sets us apart is our technology and the high level of customer service that we give. I have been in this business for 12 and 1/2 years, and I am happy to say that I still work with a lot of people that I did when I started.
As for Preppy Francophile, it is still a work in progress. I haven’t been back to France in far too long, so that part is lacking. My preppy part is thriving, and I am proud to work with a lot of small, women-owned businesses to support and spread the word about them.
What sets me apart is the relationships that I develop with a lot of the business owners, and that I am a blogger over the age of 40. I haven’t met a lot of bloggers my age!
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
There are so many resources out there! I think the people have an idea that a mentor has to be someone famous or someone that you idolize in your industry who is almost unapproachable. One of my mentors is a smart and motivated blogger who is almost 20 years younger than me!
What has worked the best for me is developing relationships. It means so much to show people that you care about the details of their lives and that you aren’t just trying to advance yourself or get freebies as a blogger.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wordpress.preppyfrancophile.com
- Email: jen.fogelson@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preppyfrancophile
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreppyFrancophile/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Preppyfranco
Image Credit:
Katie McAleer of @katiefromboston
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