Ann Mincey Jetton is an inspirational leader and was not your garden variety top executive in a highly competitive industry. She is a supreme communicator who brings her enthusiasm for encouraging the human spirit to everything she does. Today you will meet this dynamic businesswoman whose success seems almost incidental next to her real passion for uplifting those she comes to know and care for. Her life and career paths illustrate her message, and today Amy guides her through that story.

Ann grew up in southwestern Ohio and graduated from Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma. She married her college sweetheart, but their union failed. She returned home to Ohio to rethink her future, and in doing so, took a part time job as a receptionist at a friend’s hair salon. She enjoyed working there for a year while she thought about her future. One day a sales representative from Redken hair care products was in the salon and told Ann there was a Redken field rep job she’d be perfect for. (Redken was the premier hair care line at that time and is now owned by the L’Oreal Group.) Ann loaded up her belongings and traveled to California, and in April of 1975, she began training for the popular hair care line. During her California years at Redken, she moved into the area of client education as her communication abilities became more and more evident.

You will not hear Ann describe how successful she was in her initial years, but when L’Oreal bought Redken in 1993, Ann was asked to continue on with them and move to headquarters in New York City. She had earned the title Director of Public Relations. She wasn’t sure she knew much about public relations, but like most successful people, she risked the chance to move forward. She found good hires to support her efforts, and together they forged a powerful department.

Ann began establishing strong relationships with influential beauty editors. These relationships opened doors, and increased Ann’s respect in the industry. She was tasked by L’Oreal to promote a line of products designed to create healthy hair and skin from within. This line was surely ahead of its time and although the line eventually ended, Ann’s hard work and exceptional skills were noted.

Using the theme “you are what you think,” Ann created a campaign of inspirational messaging. Her efforts eventually led to another promotion and the title Vice President of Global Communications. Not content with sitting behind a desk, Ann identified the most elite L’Oreal clients and salons. She spent her last years before retirement working closely with them to inspire and encourage each to greater success by connecting more meaningfully with their clientele. She continues to maintain ties to L’Oreal and many of her clients to this day. Periodically she can be found directing or speaking at seminars, workshops and conventions because of those long time relationships.

Although Ann retired from Redken, she has many other business and personal interests she pursues now. She’s written inspirational books that have led to annual retreats in Laguna Beach and Palm Springs, California. She is a counselor for HeartMath, a wellness organization that emphasizes heart-brain science. (heartmath.com) She is also president of her own brand, Starshine Systems, Inc. Ann has remarried happily and supports the work of her pastor husband and his church. And today her work was to inspire you with her faith that has taken her far in both her personal life and in business. This is not a story you will hear every day, but it is one that says the strength of your values and your beliefs can uplift you to be the best possible no matter what avenues in life you take.

 

Topics in this episode:

• Harnessing the power of belief in oneself
• The importance of channeling gratitude
• How having a foundation allows one to risk with less fear
• How to create a positive attitude
• How giving to others brings a return in all aspects of your life and builds self-confidence;
• Aspects of self-empowerment in highly competitive business

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-mincey-7720121/