PPB May 2021

the business. That’s a constant focus area of mine. How do I continue to set the vision, set expectations and define the sandbox that we want our teams to play in?” Haspert also says she wants to make Foxtrot the best place to work for current and prospective employees. “We want people to want to work at Foxtrot. To that end, this year we are relocating to a building that is much more employee-friendly. Our current building has served us very well, but it doesn’t have the modern amenities that our employees are expecting.” In the new space, Foxtrot will be making employee wellness a top priority while rethinking work culture. “We will have no private offices and I mean, none. Even I don’t even get a private office,” she says. “It’s all about reducing hierarchy and making our headquarters a social, collaborative hub. I am really excited about how we are better serving employees going forward.” New ideas make Haspert optimistic for the future. “I think we have a great leadership team here at Foxtrot, and I look forward to their ideas on how to grow our business, better serve our customers and be a better community member. Ideas are the lifeblood of what we do.” PPB spoke with Haspert to learn more about how she’s “defining the sandbox” for her team, her concerns for the future of the promo industry and her advice to other leaders. PPB What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned? Haspert Early in my career, when I was in finance, I was working super long hours, constantly traveling and approaching burnout. I remember having a conversation with a mentor of mine, and at that time, I was a 24-year-old all about the “go, go, “We tell the story that when you do business with us, our profit doesn’t go to a small group of wealthy people. It helps our ownership group build their tribal economy, preserve language and culture, and promote environmental stewardship. Our customers care about supplier diversity. But ultimately, that is a cherry on top. We still have to deliver the best product and have the best service.” —Jill Haspert Ji l l Hasper t 88 | MAY 2021 | CONNECT