Jessica Hanks Talks About The Catalysts, Her Role at Cox Communications & Giving Back
BY MARYAN AIKEN. ASSISTED BY TAYLOR MAHER. CO CEO INTERN. KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
This article originally published on CityBox Media on December 18, 2019
Shot on location at Roche Bobois by Maryan Aiken for CityBox Daily and CityBox Media
“I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING AND IMPLEMENTING CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE THE SELF-INSTALL FEATURE”
Give us an overview of your role as Senior Product Manager at Cox Communications. I am responsible for building and implementing customer engagement strategies and programs that promote the self-install feature, empowering our customers to connect our services themselves.
What is a typical day for you at Cox Communications? My typical day is about influence and communication. I am coordinating and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure my programs are running smoothly. I’m also monitoring success measures and informing leadership and stakeholders of strategic and program progress. In a nutshell, my day is spent on teamwork, strategy and lots of communication.
SHOT ON LOCATION AT ROCHE BOBOIS BY MARYAN AIKEN FOR CITYBOX MEDIA
Jessica Hanks
Senior Product Manager. Cox Communications, Inc. Hometown: Atlanta, GA Washington and Lee University. Economics and Spanish (double major) Number of years at Cox Communications: 1.5 years; total 8 years with Cox Companies
Reports to: Catherine Thompson
Senior Director of Product Device Management. Department: Product Development and Management
Charity Involvement >>> Movember Foundation
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With the demands from your professional realm & home life, how do you find that critical balance to ensure that you have a Me Time to refresh and reset to keep yourself at optimized state? I learned from a good friend of mine how important it is to maintain a flexible rhythm. Even when that work/life pendulum swings toward a heavier emphasis on work there are key activities I always do, I plan for them, I write them down in my calendar. For example, I make time for the gym, spending quality time with family and friends even if it is just a quick coffee, and self-care. By planning and writing these key activities down, I incorporate them into my daily life instead of looking at them as luxuries. By planning for them I can be flexible to adjust to account for those times when work has to take precedence. These activities keep me balanced and are necessary to maintain excellent performance at work.
You have been at Cox Communications for quite some time now, what do you attribute to the longevity and commitment of staying loyal and committed to one company? Company culture is key. Cox has a key dedication to the employee as well as teamwork. I have stayed with Cox for so long because of their dedication to the growth and success of their employees as well as the team culture which means there are countless resources ready and willing to help. That has kept me there for the long haul.
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In your professional journey, what was the most compelling challenged you've experienced that made you more pliable for growth and what resolved did you find to offer and implemented? I have been laid off twice in my career. Both times were scary and discouraging but gave me the opportunity to make key changes in my career that I never would have done otherwise. These experiences gave me a greater understanding of how change and challenge can affect a team and gave me tools to better support a team through that challenge or change.
Your skill set as a seasoned Product Manager is impeccable and prized by your team at Cox Communications. If I were to ask your team members and superior the 3 qualities they value about you, what would they be? Tenacious. Passionate. Resilient.
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What do you most enjoy about Cox Communications & your current role? The culture at Cox is honestly what I enjoy most. Where my role is concerned, I love the collaborative nature of it, I’m working with different teams every day, multiple times within a day, it is both challenging and exciting, never a dull moment. I feel like I’m always learning, growing and building something important. I can see tangible benefits of the work I’m doing.
What project are you working on now? I am highly focused on customer engagement, ensuring we are truly delivering what the customer wants. I’m leading strategies and programs around self-install brand as well as improved methods of targeting our customers with the right offers or treatments.
If you were to mentor your younger version, what advice would you give yourself? I go back to a quote from a childhood favorite, Winnie the Pooh, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” Relax and be confident in who you are, you are going to be just fine. There are great things ahead.
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Who were your mentors that made a significant influence that redirected your journey and explain why? There have been quite a few people who have impacted my career journey there are 3 that easily come to mind that helped me at pivotal crossroads in my career:
Darren, an attorney I supported as a legal assistant my first job out of college. I was considering grad school or law school and really didn’t know which route I wanted to take. He was adamant about me going to get my MBA vs. my law degree. Let’s face it, he was right. I am far happier in business than I think I ever would be in corporate law.
Krista, my former boss at Cox Automotive who has been so good at listening and helping me dissect what I really want to do. I wouldn’t be in Product Management without her guidance.
Erin, my mentor and owner of her own consulting firm, she has been instrumental in helping me recognize and bypass many pitfalls that can affect a new leader.
There are so many other mentors, friends, family and wonderful mentees that have had an impact on how I lead and how I do business. I hope they know how important they are to me.
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What is the secret formula to your success? Collaboration, Communication, and Courage. Collaboration: Functioning well collaborating with cross functional teams is a skill and so imperative to the success of any business objectives. Focusing on when to listen and when to guide has been crucial. Communication: Over the course of my career I have honed and continue to hone communication skills with those up and down the corporate ladder. It has been so necessary in building a solid reputation and ensuring success. Courage: Having the courage to take on a new project, present a business case or take on a new career has been so important in driving not only career success but also personal fulfillment. You really never know unless you try!
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With all the charities that you're involved with why did you choose Movember Foundation to focus on as your chosen charity for The Catalysts? I first learned about the Movember Foundation, through Cox, it is a key charity that Cox supports. It is particularly important to me because male cancers run in my family. Early detection is the reason my father is still with us today.
With your chosen charity, how can your business colleagues, friends and family help make a difference to make a significant impact to help Change the Face of Men's Health? Please do your Holiday shopping through Summer Habit and use my code COXGIVES during check out!
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THE CATALYSTS
She is a gatekeeper, a product performance expert, a professional coach and luminary for medical doctors, and a strategic marketing executive for two iconic brands. Collectively, they serve as the stronghold for their respective fields to deliver exceptional contributions to the triumphs of their companies.Their invaluable skillsets are legendary. They consistently deliver commanding impact that is valued and respected by their peers, colleagues, and superiors. Together, they are prized for their accomplishments and revered for their passion to give back to their community and to the important causes that matter to them. We invite you to join them as The Catalysts unite with their peers, friends, and business colleagues to give back to their chosen charities.
Jessica Hanks shot on location by Maryan Aiken at Roche Bobois Exclusively for CityBox Daily & CityBox Media
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The Catalysts Program is written & developed by Maryan Aiken for CityBox Media. Interviewed by Maryan Aiken. Assisted by Taylor Maher. Co CEO Intern. Kennesaw State University
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Listening to Spotify. Nice To Meet Ya. Neall Horan
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Lynne McDonald’s artwork has been shown all over metro Atlanta and is currently showing in Ligne Roset on Buckhead Avenue in The Shops of Buckhead.
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