I’ve known Jamie Wolfe for several years, as she was one of my husband’s classmates at Ohio University. We reconnected at the National Sports Forum this February, right after she went returned to work from maternity leave. I thought she’d be a great candidate for an interview because not only was she navigating her new role at home, but also one in a new company. Jamie actually interviewed for her current position while she was pregnant – something that I know I would stress over to no end if I were in a similar position. I hope any expecting Mom and job seeker out there reads this and feels confident in their ability to take on a new challenge, no matter the timing!
Jamie Wolfe lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Garrett, six month old son, Stephen, and Goldendoodle Belle. She is the Director of Global Licensing at Gold’s Gym. Prior to her current role, Jamie spent time at Learfield Licensing, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and Genesco Sports Enterprises. She holds Masters degrees in Business and Sports Administration from Ohio University. Jamie also completed her undergraduate studies in Economics at Ohio University and was a member of the Swimming and Diving team. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Do not be afraid to be honest about what you need and how you’ll get your work done.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities with Golds Gym? My day-to-day responsibilities include management of the Gold’s Gym Licensing Portfolio and all associated programming. This could include working with our licensing agency to scout new partners, build offerings and communication strategy for current programs, approve product designs, and assist in the development of programs for partners to sell product at retail or online.
Can you describe a “typical” day in the life for you and your family?
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- 6:00 AM: Wake up
- 6:00 – 6:45 AM: My husband (Garrett) helps to get the dog out and Stephen ready for the day while I get ready
- 6:45 AM: We are out the door
- 6:50-7:00 AM: Drop Stephen at daycare
- 7:30 AM: Arrive at the office
- 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM Work
- 4:30 – 4:45 PM: Leave the office
- 5:15 PM: Garrett picks up Stephen
- 5:30 PM: Stephen eats dinner
- 5:45 PM: Playtime
- 6:30 PM: Bathtime
- 7:00 PM: Nightime bottle and bedtime stories
- 7:30 PM :Garrett and I eat dinner
- 10:00 PM: Bedtime
How has being a Mom positively impacted your career? Being a mom has helped me with balance. I make it a point to really focus and be productive while I am at the office so I can do the same at home. Being a mom also pushed me to explore an opportunity outside of a traditional sports role. I am very passionate about health and wellness and this role provides me the opportunity to source great brand partners/products for a brand that helps people achieve their potential through fitness on a daily basis. It was also a chance to rebuild the licensing program at Gold’s and develop a full-on strategy with a licensing partner. That type of challenge motivates me to come to the office every day and to want to learn and grow professionally.
What’s something you wish you would have known about being a Mom who works before your son was born? How truly challenging it is. I know people say being a parent is one of the most challenging, but most rewarding things you will ever do in life. It is so true, but there are so many things to juggle and my baby is only 6 months old!
How has your employer helped in your transition to being a Mom who works? Have you been afforded any additional flexibility? When I got pregnant, I had to make a decision about how I wanted to balance work and family. I was in a role where I travelled almost weekly. When I interviewed for my current role, I was pregnant. So, from the very beginning Gold’s Gym was understanding of the fact that I would have to balance work and family. Specifically, I am able to get to work early and leave a bit earlier which is huge with Dallas traffic! I’m in the office every day at 7:30AM and leave by 4:30PM, so there’s a lot of flexibility there.
I told Gold’s I was pregnant when I was offered the job. They were supportive and told me we’d work everything out. Unfortunately, since I had just joined the company, I didn’t qualify for the short-term disability benefits while on maternity leave. However, I was able to work flex hours from home for almost a month once I did come back to work, and that helped tremendously with the transition.
Did your husband receive parental leave benefits when Stephen was born? Yes, his company provides fathers eight weeks paid leave. He took two weeks when Stephen was born and then an additional six weeks when I went back to the office. This helped immensely in the transition back to work for me because I wasn’t worried about who he was with and settling back in at the office.
What advice do you have it for women in sports who do not yet have a family, but may someday want to? Do not be afraid to be honest about what you need and how you’ll get your work done. People inside and outside of the industry do understand family balance. Men often do too (especially if they have kids of their own). They may not practice it, but they understand it.