Director of Marketing
Hahn Automotive
You could say Jen Vitaro is an aftermarket “lifer.” She joined Hahn Automotive a year after graduating college with a BFA in graphic design. The person who eventually became her boss had come to a small senior showcase the design department at her school had hosted and liked her work. Vitaro already had a job lined up following graduation but about six months later, she reached out to her future boss and joined Hahn Automotive part time, “and the rest is history,” she says. In a few months, she will have been with the company for 19 years.
As she has stepped into bigger and bigger roles with the company over the years, Vitaro says some important tools have helped her succeed.
“I think building that confidence is huge because we are our toughest critics,” Vitaro says. “At times I felt, should I be saying this, is it my place to be saying this? Having that confidence to say yes, you have this experience, you are smart, you can bring this to the table and I’m good enough to be able to do this. I think also [it’s helpful to] surround yourself with people who lift you up and continue to find those ways to learn from people and educate yourself. And, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.”