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Deb Lerner
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
AXIS PROMOTIONS, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS:
2
NOMINATED BY:
Kylie Fitzgerald and Dana Cappabianca
“Axis Promotions has been
my work home for almost
14 years,” says Deb Lerner
proudly. Prior to that, she
worked for distributor CYRK
but in an earlier life before
promotional products, she was
in restaurant management. It
was fertile training ground to
learn about managing people.
Whilemajoring in hotel/
restaurant management in
college, she was hired as a
restaurant manager trainee
while waiting tables and
tending bar at Houlihan’s,
a restaurant chain with a
location at Faneuil Hall in
Boston. She was responsible
for the front of the house
which included hiring the wait
staff of 40 (“They were called
waitrons,” she says). Because
themanagement teamwould
switch responsibilities, she
also frequentlymanaged
the bartenders and the door
men (“My favorite group,”
she laughs).
Lerner has made a lasting
impression on her team at
Axis by truly caring about
them. “Since day one she has
made me feel comfortable
working here,” says nominator
Kylie Fitzgerald, branding
associate. “She is my biggest
cheerleader and is constantly
motivating the team to go out
there and work harder to grow
our business. She has taught
me so much about this crazy
business—Not only about
products, but how to grow
relationships and to treat all
people with respect.”
Her colleague, Dana
Cappabianca, who also
nominated Lerner for the
honor, agrees. “Deb Lerner is
a wonderful person. She has
Most important lesson learned
as a boss:
Not being “the
boss” is the important lesson
for me. Yes, I always own final
responsibility, but I am part
of the team. My team allows
me to use my strengths, and I
encourage them to build their
own. We really help each other
accomplish the tasks at hand.
Also, I feel it is important that
Dana and Kylie know that I
always have their backs and
their best interests at heart!
Philosophy for successfully
managing people:
My
philosophy in life is also my
work philosophy. “Don’t mess
with my family, my friends or my
money.” My team is all three.
To create a positive team
culture:
Unfortunately, I have
experienced great loss of loved
ones in the past two years. My
feeling now, more than ever, is if
it ain’t a body part, it’s all good!
Drama and negative energy are
just a waste of time. Let’s keep it
real, prioritize our tasks and try
not to overthink too much.
Best advice for other people
managers:
Every team lead
has his or her own style. I
described what works for me.
Axis Promotions has great
people and that’s what makes
us special. On my team,
we work hard, we play with
enthusiasm, we laugh a lot and
I am full of surprises.
Best boss ever:
He’s also
a close friend today—Hank
Miller, my boss when I
worked at Houlihan’s in 1979.
Hank knew he was on the
fast track with the company.
Delegating was his best
skill, and his second-best
skill was recognizing a good
team and taking the team
with him whenever possible.
I’ve built my team according
to the principles I learned
from Hank.
Nominators Dana Cappabianca (left) and Kylie Fitzgerald say their boss,
Deb Lerner (center), is a friend and a mentor.
a huge heart and has taught
me so much about business
and personal relationships.
She is a friend, a great mentor
and then a boss. I respect
and value her opinion and
appreciate all I have learned
from her,” she says.
ONE-ON-ONE WITH DEB LERNER
My philosophy in life is also my
work philosophy. “Don’t mess
with my family, my friends or my
money.” My team is all three.
2016
DEB’S COOL FACTOR
She does not micromanage
others and is always open to
new ideas.
|
OCTOBER 2016
|
51
Best Bosses
|
FEATURE