Wisdom Unlocked 🔓✨ Career Lessons from Leading Women: A Conversation with Susan Jurevics

1.Please introduce yourself and your current role.

Susan Jurevics, C-suite executive, board member, global citizen and mom. I have extensive experience in B2C and subscription businesses of media, entertainment and consumer products companies, including Audible, Shiseido, J. K. Rowling’s Pottermore, Sony, Mattel and Nickelodeon.

2. How did your career begin, and what path led you to your current position?

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of creativity and commerce. After earning a BA in Visual Arts, I started in Marketing & Licensing at Nickelodeon, where I became fascinated by the commercialization of intellectual property. One of my earliest projects? Editing Ren & Stimpy comic books!

I completed my MBA at NYU Stern in a part-time program that took several years, including an international management program in Sydney. I then joined Mattel as Director of Barbie Marketing & Design, overseeing a $100MM P&L for doll accessories. From there, I joined Sony Corporation of America, where I built the company’s entertainment marketing function, incubated digital businesses, and developed global marketing campaigns for franchises like Spider-Man and James Bond.

At Sony, I worked closely with J.K. Rowling’s digital publishing company, Pottermore. When their CEO departed, I was recruited to London to take on the role. After four incredible years expanding the Harry Potter franchise — including Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the Fantastic Beasts series — my family and I returned to NYC. I then spent a year at Shiseido leading bareMinerals before joining Audible to build its entertainment subscription service outside the U.S. Throughout my career, I’ve remained involved at NYU and in leadership roles on nonprofit arts boards.

3. What are the most significant changes you’ve observed in the workplace since you started your career?

As others have shared, advancements in technology continue to significantly impact industries, companies and careers. The rise of smartphones delivered portability, access and digital democracy, giving the tools to every individual to become a content creator, evangelist and influencer. Media platforms have shifted from a few, analog channels with mass awareness and reach to digital channels targeting niche audiences with highly specific interests.

As the traditional demand-generation marketing funnel is collapsing, consumer behavior in streaming, scrolling, searching and shopping has resulted in new roles to harness these trends. These positions require deep subject matter expertise, yet holistic thinking, “dot-connecting” and cross- functional collaboration are more important than ever. Companies and individuals are much more seamlessly, globally connected than when I first started my career. I think there’s a higher bar now for brands and businesses to align their missions with the content, products and services they offer, and how their leaders communicate and behave.

4. What aspects of the workplace have remained consistent throughout your experience?

Finding meaningful ways to add value is, and always will be, in vogue. Genuinely investing in relationships and building emotional intelligence remain essential skills, and are perhaps even more so now, given the focus on AI and productivity. Developing a reputation for acting with integrity, having a high “say/do” ratio, operating from a place of optimism, and balancing warmth and assertiveness continue to be important focus areas for women leaders.

5. Could you share a pivotal moment or decision that significantly shaped your career? This could be a success, a challenge, or anything that stands out to you. How did this experience impact you?

When I was recruited to join Pottermore 12 years ago, my daughter had just started 5 th grade and a SAG acting production, my son was in 1 st grade, and my husband had a full-time consulting job. We had made a number of commitments to our life in NYC and I was unsure how we could untangle our lives to move to London for my career. We realized after discussing the opportunity as a family that this role would not only help build my career but also would be an incredible adventure for us to explore more of the world together beyond NYC.

Because of the school calendar, I spent the first 10 months in the role living and working in London for three weeks of each month, while my husband lived and worked in NYC with our children. When I returned to the US each month for a week, I worked UK hours while participating in our community and my non-profit board commitments — my days typically started at 4 am ET. While many saw this as an unorthodox choice, it succeeded for us, and I realized that I didn’t need to explain or defend my choices. I learned that there are lots of creative solutions to every challenge, and finding the one that suits you best at that moment in time — however unusual — can help unlock your highest contributions.

6. How have you managed work-life balance throughout your career, particularly given the unique challenges that women often face?

I’ve learned to be intentional and deliberate with the choices I make and how I spend my time. I don’t think about “work” and “life” as two distinct things that need to be equally balanced, instead they are blended, fluid and operate on a continuum. Sometimes the demands of a job require greater attention than anything else in your life, and sometimes the demands of family take precedence. I think the key is to understand these demands and choose with intention to focus on them, so your words and actions reflect your highest priorities.

7. Who has been a mentor or guide for you, and how have they influenced your career journey?

I’m a perpetual student: I’ve learned so much from every boss, peer, team and experience throughout my career. I’ve carefully watched high-profile and high-performing women and emulated some of their distinct traits and actions that resonate with me to build my own authentic leadership style. I’ve also crafted my own personal board of directors — smart, savvy women and allies whose opinions matter to me, and provide honest, constructive feedback to help make me a better version of myself.

8. What advice would you give your younger self just starting out?

Consider the source of feedback — both positive and developmental — when receiving praise or criticism. While all feedback is a gift, it’s up to you to determine if it truly resonates with you and whether you want to act upon it. Also, never underestimate the transformative power of a great pair of shoes! I’ve found that wearing heels makes me feel more confident and prepared to take on any challenge.