Remembering Jackie: An Inspirational Woman on International Women's Day

On this International Women's Day, I want to take a moment to pay tribute to an incredible woman who had a profound impact on my life and career - Jacquelyn (Jackie) Golden Rozzell. While I've had the privilege of working with several accomplished women leaders, Jackie was the first to show me what it meant to be a great boss and female leader.

I still remember my interview with Jackie in 1999 when I was applying for a marketing opportunity at Arthur Andersen. She had a contagious smile, a big laugh (which I can still hear), and a can-do attitude that immediately drew me to her. She spoke amazingly fast in her southern Louisiana accent and was literally gripping her desk, which was teeming with stacks of reports, folders, etc. — complete with a bottle of Tums. I was sold. I knew I could learn so much from her and couldn’t accept the offer fast enough!

Jackie was an incredible woman who taught me so much about marketing, business development, and navigating the accounting and consulting world. She had a heart of gold. She was savvy, ambitious, and driven to succeed, but never at the expense of others. She was confident in her skills and knowledge. She built lasting relationships and was not afraid to disagree with you. I remember how she always made time for me, even when she had a million other things on her plate. She would listen to my ideas, give me honest feedback, and push me to be my best self. Jackie's best piece of advice —"When you don't know what to do, don't do anything at all. Give it time and the answer will come." — still resonates with me today.

She also taught me to be confident in my abilities and work hard but always make time for myself. Jackie would always ask, “Are you getting too stressed? Don’t get overloaded!” I still struggle to heed those words! Most importantly, she showed me the power of mentorship and the immeasurable difference one person can make in another’s life. She also led me to meet another amazing lady, her sister, Michele Golden !

But Jackie's impact on my life went far beyond the professional realm. She was the kind of person who would go out of her way to help a friend in need (me included), would always make you laugh, and had an infectious zest for life that was infectious. Her passing in September 2001 at 44 years old, from cancer, was a devastating loss for all who knew her.

But her memory lives on, and I want to honor her legacy on this special day. As we celebrate International Women's Day, I wanted to share the lessons she taught me and the impact she has left on me.

Jackie, I want you to know that you will always be an inspiration to me and to so many others whose lives you touched. Thank you for all that you did for me and for being the amazing woman that you were. I keep you in my heart always.

To all my fabulous colleagues and friends in my network, Happy International Women's Day! Let's continue to celebrate and uplift one another every day.

#IWD2024 #WomenEmpoweringWomen