How We Should Really Honor International Women's Day & Women's History Month

Actions Speak Louder Than Generic Slogans

A little admission— I tend to roll my eyes at the idea of “International Women’s Day” and even “Women’s History Month” and cringe at generic posts on social media about “women supporting women.”

Of course, I’m all for women helping women. But the slogans feel a bit cliché and hollow.

When I think about my own career, I’ve been helped and mentored along the way by as many men as I have women. Sadly, I’ve probably been burned by more women, some of whom made my professional life, at least temporarily, pretty miserable. And some of those same women are amongst the loudest voices posting the solidarity quotes.

And if I’m being really honest, I’m sure there are some women out there who feel unsupported and slighted by me through the years.

Granted, tv news can be pretty cutthroat. But I’m sure many women across various industries can relate.

That said, all of the sisterhood kumbaya posts in my feed this month got me thinking about the real women in my professional life who taught me what it means to be an ally, a friend, a mentor. The women who could have potentially seen me– especially when I was first starting out and super ambitious– as a threat. But instead, had my back, encouraged me, and whose kindness I will never forget.

So in lieu of a generic social media post, here’s a shout out to some of those amazing women, whom I perhaps have never properly thanked and in some cases, with whom I’ve lost touch.

And hopefully a gentle reminder to myself and others that this is what women supporting women really looks like.

This is in no way an exhaustive list, but here goes:

My first job out of college was an NBC page, essentially giving tours of NBC’s studios at 30 Rock as a foot in the door at the company. It was there, outside one of the news studios, that I met International Correspondent Ashleigh Banfield and talked to her for all of two minutes. At the time, her career was one I wanted to emulate. It was 2004 at the height of the Iraq war. I told her I studied Arabic in graduate school. Without missing a beat, she said— “Go introduce yourself to Danny Noa who runs the NBC Foreign Desk and tell him he should hire you!” So I did. And he did. (Thanks Danny!)

And so began my journey into tv news. I’m sure Ashleigh doesn’t remember this conversation and has no idea who I am– but it changed my life. Ashleigh, if this post somehow makes it to your inbox, thank you.

On the NBC Foreign Desk, there was Sandra Lilley, a journalist in the truest sense of the word. I was the lowest rung on the tv news totem pole attempting to find my way at one of the biggest news organizations in the world. Sandra always– ALWAYS– had time for me, helping me hone story ideas and giving me the confidence to actually pitch them.

During a particularly treacherous hurricane season, I was meteorologist Jackie Meretsky’s field producer for Hurricane Wilma in Florida. It was a huge opportunity to get off the news desk and into the field. When we got back to NY, Jackie went out of her way to sing my praises to my bosses and encouraged me to follow my true dream of being an on-air reporter.

Roxanne Garcia-Bell was the NY Bureau Chief at the time– to me, a very big deal. I told her I was making a “demo reel” on my days off. Her approval and support helped give me the confidence to finally make the professional leap.

I moved to Lansing, Michigan for my first on-air job at WLNS TV 6. Sheri Jones is a TV legend there. I knew no one in the city. Sheri invited me to professional events and introduced me to her family.

She knew I loved politics. At a planning meeting with the main anchors, Sheri found out that the station was sending a reporter to Mitt Romney’s campaign headquarters in Detroit for the Michigan primary in 2008. She pulled me aside and said– “Jill, you need to convince Phil (the news director) to send YOU.” It would have been my biggest assignment to date. So I successfully made my case. What followed was my first taste of covering national politics and one of the first “pinch-me” moments of my career.

A few years later, at News 12 Long Island, I pitched News Director Pat Dolan on a story to shadow Holocaust survivors and students as they visited the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. I would be the reporter, producer, writer, on-air talent– you name it. The pressure was on. Long-time anchor Danielle Campbell had previously traveled overseas for News 12 and had the Emmys to prove it. She and I worked different shifts and therefore weren’t super close, but I remember sitting in her office as she gave me endless advice about overseas assignments. It no doubt helped make the trip and subsequent series so successful.

Elyse Evans was a fellow reporter at News 12. I was a staffer stuck on the dreaded night shift, and she was a freelancer who would get booked on the coveted day shift. Needless to say, I was jealous and wanted to work dayside. So I did the opposite I’ve what I’ve been preaching— I wasn’t so nice to Elyse. Despite that, after my trip to Auschwitz, she gave me a hand-written note complimenting me on the series, particularly because she knew how emotionally taxing it was. I will never forget it, and am still ashamed that I allowed myself to be so petty.

I later worked as the CBS MoneyWatch Correspondent on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. My in time: 2am. I did more than 30 news hits for CBS stations across the country. Needless to say, it was exhausting. Producer Marina Stanley was in the trenches with me at the NYSE. She kept me laughing and smiling. And caffeinated. CBS Senior Producer Deborah Hill McAloon was at the CBS Broadcast Center uptown. She always had my back, advocated for me to higher ups, and was my go-to person for pretty much everything at CBS.

I had my first child in 2018. Like many women, going back to work after having a baby was one of the most difficult and emotionally stressful things I’ve ever done. It helped to talk to someone who knew what I was going through. Peyton Marcus was a true friend– and someone I still admire professionally– as I navigated a new world of working motherhood.

Speaking of working motherhood, Lauren Smith Brody literally wrote the book on it, coining the term “The Fifth Trimester” aka the months when the working mom is born. I reached out to her for an interview a few years ago. She’s a working mom herself, an author, consultant, and travels to DC to push for better policies for mothers. And yet, she makes time for me whenever I reach out looking for her professional guidance.

During a recent career pivot, I chatted with my former agent Ali Spiesman. Her first question for me– “What can I do to help?” No agenda. Nothing to gain. Just a real woman supporting a woman.

There’s an expression: "Surround yourself with women who would mention your name in a room full of opportunities." That’s Alex Sall. She’s married to my current boss Mosheh Oinounou, and from the minute I met her, I knew she was the ultimate hype girl.

Same goes for former producer Philly Bubaris, who can still get me to relax in front of the camera— even when I’m not feeling it (it happens!).

My friend Stephanie Cartin runs a networking community for female entrepreneurs called Entreprenista. During any conversation we have, I can almost see the wheels in her head turning as she rattles off a dozen names of people she wants to connect me with. Nothing makes her happier than seeing other women do well.

And I just started a new side hustle, a newsletter called Enclave. My partner Rebecca Cohn is my biggest cheerleader as she pushes me to self promote (something I’m not comfortable with) and genuinely believes in my writing and my voice.

And then there’s the reverse.

Cecilia Dowd is one of the first coworkers/friends I had the privilege of mentoring. She worked behind-the-scenes at the news desk but dreamed of being a reporter. I would read over the stories she put together for her demo reel, giving feedback on her stand ups and writing. Fast forward, I smile every time I see her on television, often leading the broadcast.

I can go on. Which is why for me, it’s not about generic slogans. It’s about the real women who supported me along the way and continue to do so, and about doing the same for other women. And a good reminder that actions speak louder than words.