Women in Business Awards 2024
Winners of the 30th annual Women in Business Awards were unveiled Aug. 27.
This is one of ABJ’s longest-running events, and it’s one of the most fruitful for making meaningful connections and identifying current and future leaders of our economy.
Winners and finalists span all business sectors. This year, Tiff’s Treats co-founder Tiffany Chen was honored with the inaugural special achievement award.
Winner: Jenna Gruhala-Oltersdorf
CEO, Snackbox
During her younger days as a drag racer zooming down tracks in a 1972 Corvette, Jenna Gruhala-Oltersdorf wasn’t deterred by being the only female in the competition.
That maverick style has carried over to her professional life, where she hasn’t been afraid of taking risks and is known for focus, dedication and selflessness as CEO of Snackbox, the Austin-based public relations firm she founded.
Her introduction to the PR industry was at St. Louis-based The Vandiver Group, where Gruhala-Oltersdorf said she learned to write, pitch clients and master the skills necessary to succeed in the field. From there, she moved to Charlotte to work on bigger accounts like NASCAR and Levi’s, and a short time later landed what at the time was her dream role at Edelman, where she worked on large accounts like Burger King and Kraft. That was when the idea for Snackbox was born, prompting Gruhala-Oltersdorf to move to Austin to pursue it.
“Austin was where Snackbox really took off,” she said. “Not only was the Austin business community incredibly supportive, but we also had the chance to open our first office, grow our team and help shape the city.”
At the company, she’s earned a reputation for mentoring others, holding weekly one-on-one meetings with staffers to provide real-time feedback and help them work through challenges, and she has rethought traditional employee evaluations to make them more actionable. She also established what she calls a PR Finishing School, where she offers advice and resources to those looking to break into the industry.
Gruhala-Oltersdorf is active in the community as well, describing volunteer work as a cornerstone of her identity. Girls Inc., which fosters leadership skills in young women, is among the nonprofits she holds dear, calling it “a tremendous conduit to helping the next generation.”
How do you lead in your company and community? What is your leadership style?
I prefer to lead by example. Our team knows work/life balance is essential to me, and I work hard to show them it’s possible. I’m very hands-on both in our work and in our team’s career paths. I firmly believe that everyone has different abilities, and we must cater to them. I don’t force them into a job role or title; instead, we work together to play off of their interests and bests.
How do you give back to the community, inside and outside of the workplace?
Volunteering is the cornerstone of me as a person. From influencing our clients to give back in big ways to sitting on boards to volunteering my time, there is nothing better than giving back. I don’t volunteer to get my name in lights. Instead, I volunteer to help others.
How has your career developed and changed over time? What are your professional goals?
My career has drastically changed over time. … Every city (that became a stop along the way) brought its own chapter and its own challenges. All of that experience allowed me to start Snackbox, but the growth didn’t stop there. Nearly 18 years into Snackbox, I still marvel at what I’ve learned. There are still many firsts to experience. In fact, last month, I started working on my first international crisis. While I’m not the spokesperson, anyone can read the words I’ve written, and that is quite an honor. For professional goals, I still have a lot to accomplish. I hope to be able to expand my PR Finishing School, to grow our team (not just in size but also in skill) and expand our footprint into other cities.
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