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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.

To see the full story, click here.

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5 Gift Ideas for the PR Pro in Your Life

A day in the life of a public relations professional can go one of two ways: Smooth sailing or HECTIC in letters nine feet tall. As this holiday season approaches (just 27 days left!), here is a list of gift ideas for the time-starved, Austin, Texas-based PR loved one in your life.

 

But First, Coffee

Even in a warm client like Austin, Texas, we need plenty of coffee to get through the day. As I was writing this post, it struck me: Why do I not have a Nespresso on my desk!?!?! We have one at home and I love it. Being in a family that doesn’t all wake up at the same time, the invention of the coffee pod really changed our lives. Keurig was great, but Nespresso makes THE best coffee. This one would be amazing … hint, hint, hint.

 

Put Time on Your Side

I definitely live a very digital life, but having a paper seven-day desktop planner on my desk that doubles as a mousepad has been a godsend. I use it to organize my to-dos, day-by-day. Paper Source on South Lamar is one of my favorite stops:

 

Travel in Style

For anyone who has shopped for a woman’s work bag, you can completely relate with the journey I recently went on … it took me TWO years of searching to finally find a bag that has tons of compartments, zips at the top (so you don’t lose your stuff on the airplane) and works well for everyday use. I use it to go back and forth from the office PLUS it can handle big work trips. A durable fabric and it looks good when it’s sitting in the board room. Knomo London made the most amazing Girl Boss bag ever!

 

Finding Balance

Anyone who knows me well, knows I love relaxing by a good fire. Unfortunately, in Austin, Texas, fire season is an itty, bitty window during our “winter”. Instead, I satisfy my fire needs through candles. I really like this one, not only for its pretty container, but also for its light scent.

 

Excuse for a Staycation

Anyone who is in PR is likely working from one of the best cities in the world… but when is the last time you were a tourist in your own city? Gift certificates to local hotels and best restaurants in your home city can be a perfect excuse to get in a little R&R without breaking the bank. On my wish list would be a stay at Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin, Texas and a chance to try the puffy potatoes at Juniper.