The debate surrounding women in the workplace — why so few at the top, why is it so hard to “have it all” — hit a new decibel level recently when the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandburg, released her book called “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” In the book, Sandburg writes that more women need to be in leadership, and she places the responsibility to get to the top almost entirely on women themselves.
In Pittsburgh, we have a host of women who are at the top and leaders in their fields. Here are five who we think are confident, ambitious, and truly making a difference.
Jodi Passerrello
Occupation: Owner/Operator of Wall2Wall Contracting Services which she runs with her designer and partner, Hallie Dumont
Inspiration: People who work hard and strive for perfection and help push me to be the best at what I do.
Girl Power at Work: “My company specializes in interior finishes, as well as kitchen and bath remodeling. I very frequently employ women because I find them to be far more meticulous in their handling of the work.” While the contracting business is male dominated, Jodi’s found that
when her female clients work with female employees, they are “far more comfortable and tend to become more involved in the process. Being open about my relationship also allows me to set a great example for the LGBT community. I’ve always been comfortable with who I am and I don’t let anything hold me back in work or in life.”
Advice: “Don’t be afraid!”
Guilty Pleasure: Ice cream and “anything on wheels!”
Celebrity Crush: Halle Berry
Motto: “Work hard and play harder.” In the market for some remodeling? Check out Wall2Wall Contracting Services on Facebook!
Marisa Bartley
Occupation: President of the Urban League Young Professionals (ULYP) of Greater Pittsburgh and Business Development Officer, AVP at Citizens Bank
Inspiration: Her mother who she says taught her “the invaluable lesson of being self-sufficient and owning [her] leadership at a young age.”
Girl Power at Work: “My passion is to inspire young people to make changes in their lives and to become successful professionals as part of the ULYP. I’m proud to represent the African American community and one of my goals is to bridge the gap between my community and the LGBT community. Get involved with the Urban League Young Professionals during its National Day of Service week of community service projects April 22-27.
Advice: “Choose a mentor wisely. Choose someone at least two levels above you. Create a diverse portfolio of people to advise you. Being open is also critical. Understand who you can
provide with an opportunity to help out and give to, and you will get so much more back than you imagined.”
Guilty Pleasure: ABC’s Scandal
Motto: “Be the change.” Get more info at ulyppgh.org
Betty Hill
Occupation: Executive Director of Pittsburgh’s Persad Center
Inspiration: Eleanor Roosevelt and her mother, a woman who “moved quietly about the world, doing good things for others.”
Girl Power at Work: “As director of Persad Center, I love how I can care for my brothers and sisters by bringing attention and responding to the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and HIV positive community here in Pittsburgh.” This April, Persad hosts the SAGE (Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders) Tea Dance, and the Art for Change fundraiser on May 13.
Advice: “Pay attention to your integrity above all else.”
Guilty Pleasure: Ice Cream. All flavors of ice cream.
Motto: “Do the next right thing.” For more info visit persadcenter.org.
Tracy Brigden
Occupation: Artistic Director at the City Theatre Company
Inspiration: Her mother, Madeline Tracy Brigden, Fiction Editor of Mademoiselle from the early to mid60s.
Girl Power at Work: “The worst obstacles for women in the theatre are that they typically only get
to direct shows that are by/about women. For me, it is not about gender; it is about talent so I utilize a very broad placement of women at the City Theatre and choose my shows based on quality of story.” This May, check out Abigail/1702 by Roberto AguirreSacasa (writer for GLEE and Marvel Comics) dealing with the infamous Abigail Williams and the events that follow Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
Advice: “Take chances. Go for it. And don’t settle as someone’s assistant.”
Guilty Pleasure: The “biggest, meatiest” red wine she can find.
Motto: “Down with Fox News!” For more info visit citytheatrecompany.org.
Vanessa German
Occupation: Artist
Inspiration: “[I’m] inspired by being alive…by anything that sparks my imagination; beauty, a range of curiosities, joy and my soul. My soul inspires me…and I trust my soul.”
Girl Power at Work: Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1980s, Vanessa remembers a grim time: people getting sick and dying of what eventually became known as AIDS, young people falling victim to gang violence, guns in everyone’s hands. “I remember having to reckon what I wanted my life to be about because I recognized as a child that life was precious, special, and awesome (even if also hard, scary and challenging)…still awesome.” Vanessa strives to work in and through a place of Liberty, Love, Freedom and Truth. She works hard to be her “fullest, best and most courageous self” but is forgiving on the days when she feels she falls short. On those
days when she feels defeated, Vanessa defiantly gathers her strength and throws herself at the next challenge and she does it “OutLoud.” “For me, this is the business of refusing to be lazy with the grace of my humanity – and this is a good thing for our human community as a whole.”
Advice: “Do the thing. Even if all you’ve got is the energy to do a little bit at a time…Do.”
Guilty Pleasure: BBQ pork ribs, ordering dessert first, sad songs, antiques road show, doing nothing to do everything, sweet girl crushes and “sub-par grammar for visual and POlitical
effekt.”
Motto: “Inspiration without action equals regret.”
Upcoming performances: April 14 at the North Hills Unitarian Church, April 30 at the Children’s Museum’s Americans for the Arts Conference opening party and May 19 at the American
Visionary Arts Museum.
Janelle Burdell
Occupation: Professional Freelance Drummer whose credits include Broadway and National Tours of Little Shop of Horrors, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast,The Shirelles, Mickey Hart and Planet Drum.
Inspiration: Musician June Millington, co-founder of the Institute for Musical Arts, a multipurpose facility which features a music camp that empowers young ladies by allowing them, as Janelle put it, “to rock out !”
Girl Power at Work: “Girls are taught to be quiet and reserved” and the best way to break them of this timidity is to allow them to just “hit something.” In this case, Janelle means a drum. Her non-profit project, Rhythm Games, is dedicated to empowering young women (and men) from all walks of life by using drumming as a tool for entertainment and healing, as well as personal and social change. “Believing in someone is half the battle and I believe in the young people.” Men, women, at-risk youth, even those with depression and autism feel the benefits of Janelle’s unique brand of music therapy. Not to mention, it is just fun to beat on a drum sometimes!
Advice: “Do what you love, do it well, do it over & over again, and don’t pay any attention if
boys tell you you can’t do something-show them how it’s done.”
(Not so) Guilty Pleasure: Her udu drum. Check out some of her meditative, healing
work atudugirl.com!
Motto: “Passion is going to change the world and the artists have the passion.”
Follow Janelle on Twitter, Facebook and janelleburdell.com.
