Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Meyer.
Hi Jenny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Folks ask me all the time, “Jenny, how did you get here?” My resume certainly doesn’t tell the story. I began my career in Houston as an Executive Assistant – though I aspired to be something more but could never define my skillset, and as a single mom, this was a safe role. I worked for eight years in private equity and took some time off. When it was time to go back to work, I found a job as an EA at a boutique consulting firm in a part of the energy industry I knew nothing about – downstream energy. I had earned my MBA from the University of St. Thomas but didn’t understand technical operations, didn’t know the key players in refining and petrochemicals. The learning curve seemed steep. Six days into my job, my son committed suicide.
We all deal with tragedy differently. I threw myself into the position. I learned about the industry players and what my new company offered. Within months, I was promoted. . .and then promoted again. I started a leadership team – the gentleman who founded the firm was in his early 70’s and looking to divest. We turned revenues around and were working to build the company into an attractive purchase. I finally figured out what I could do well – build relationships and lead a team. Soft skills are so underrated.
Typical entrepreneur story – the owner loved what we were doing, but he and I didn’t see eye to eye on several things and he couldn’t let go of the reins. In April 2019, I resigned and in May 2019, I started up shop at JEM Advisors. We were careful to build the team and our reputation. . .and have been billing steadily since July 2019. When the pandemic shutdown happened, and oil went negative, we were not even a year old, and I was certain we were finished. Our biggest client had cut their CapEx by 80%. We tripled revenue in 2020. I am proud to say that 2022 is our best year yet and we have just hit another revenue milestone. We are fiercely proud of what we have built. . .we are family.
My team is a group of mostly retired executives and operators from the midstream and energy downstream and are passionate about helping the people in the industry that made their careers. I am just as passionate about helping people, shining a light on mental health and suicide. I couldn’t save my son, but I can save as many lives as possible by telling our story.
I am a big believer that incredible, remarkable things can come from great tragedy. We can use the pain as fuel to change and make a difference.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. I cashed out my 401K to survive until JEM became viable. We ate tuna and drove around on spare tires for months until I could get the company up and running. I faced great odds being a woman in a male-dominated industry. There is no such thing as overnight success (although my daughter thinks I am).
As you know, we’re big fans of JEM Advisors. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
JEM Advisors provide experts who partner with client teams across the globe to improve safety, reliability and profitability within the organization.
We share our domain knowledge of strategy, leadership coaching, safety leadership, project management, process safety best practices, operational readiness, business continuity practices, asset-based digital transformation and continuous improvement to optimize the value within our client organizations through strategies, practices and sustainable implementation.
The JEM approach is a phased journey, walking alongside our clients, learning and implementing together, pressing toward the shared goal of safe, reliable and profitable operations.
We move fast. We work hard. We optimize value quickly.
We are your partners.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
Playing softball. . .the joy of crossing home plate…fielding as short stop. The respect I earned from my coaches and teammates. There are so many amazing lessons to be learned from sports. Look at our Astros manager, Dusty Baker. Perseverance and hard work. Grit and character.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.jemfirm.com
- Instagram: @fearlessjennymeyer
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/69065102/admin/
