From left to right: Panel moderator Karen Romano, Linda Palladino, Janet McCarthy Grimm, Barbara Marcus |
Thomson-Shore Director of Business Development Karen Romano moderated the discussion, held at Random
House’s midtown New York office. The panel trio included Barbara Marcus, President and Publisher, Random House Children’s Books; Janet McCarthy Grimm, Vice President, Lindenmeyr Paper; and Linda Palladino, Vice President and Director of Production, Random House Children’s Production.
Each panelist took a unique
path to achieve career success. Grimm’s initial years as a sales representative
found her advancing into increasingly responsible positions despite being in a
largely “old school” male industry. Marcus embraced a number of editorial
challenges that demonstrated her high-level skills, business commitment, and strategic
insight. Palladino shifted from law school to publishing and never looked back.
The panelists unanimously
suggested that women new to the publishing or paper/printing industries find
in-house mentors. Their experienced guidance is invaluable to grasping the
essential knowledge of their business. It’s also extremely
difficult to find equally rich sources of advice outside of their respective
industries.. They also underlined the value of mentorship, and noted that those
receiving it should “give back” to the “following wave” that will enter
publishing, paper manufacturing, and printing.
The three executive women also strongly encouraged the
“following wave” to take chances during their careers. Some of the panelists’
most exciting opportunities evolved from their conviction that risk-taking and
self-belief were vital to their career advancement and job satisfaction. Barbara
Marcus emphasized that point during a discussion of her reasoning for embracing
her current role at Random House Children’s Books.