The daughter of immigrants who taught her to work hard and become involved in her community, Jenelle Lefief learned those lessons well. At the age of 14, she talked her way into a job as a telemarketer and within a week was one of the best salespeople the company had.
“Keep in mind, it’s not about this job,” she says. “It’s about two jobs ahead or three jobs ahead. Sometimes you have to say it’s okay that I’m where I am right now, because it’s giving me the experience and knowledge in order to get to my next job.”
Today, she is a key account manager for Janssen, the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson.
Here’s some advice she was given, and which she has taken to heart throughout her life: “There’s a very small percentage of people who get to do what they love and for the rest of us, it’s important to have perspective about what your job is. Your job is to make money so you can do the things you love. So, some people work doing what they love, and some people work to be able to do the things they love.”
One of the things she loves to do is volunteer. She founded an organization in 2016 with other local women called Phoemale (pronounced female). Its goal is to give women who are having a hard time a hand up in life and not just a hand out; every single dollar raised goes directly to help these women transition to a better life.
Giving is specific to each woman. One woman received a car, one had her college tuition paid, and another was helped with home repairs.
“We are women supporting women and our focus is on survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and homelessness,” says Jenelle. “We do this by becoming sister agencies with other charities who are already helping these women and doing things that other charities cannot do.”
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Who: Jenelle Lefief
Title: Key Account Manager, President of Phoemale
Where: Grosse Pointe
Advice: There’s no greater feeling than doing good for others with others.
[Pull quote: Keep in mind, it’s not about this job. It’s about two jobs ahead or three jobs ahead.]