Celebrating Women’s History Month
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the female members of the Bob Gold & Associates team. We posed a number of questions to each and asked them to tell us about themselves and their journeys. We’ll be sharing one per week throughout March 2021.
VP Beth Braen is an accomplished, passionate and creative leader with more than 25 years of experience helping companies and teams transform. During this challenging pandemic year she has done her best to find joy, treat folks with kindness, practice mindfulness meditation and when all else fails have a glass of wine (or two!).
Q&A
What words of wisdom can you share with an aspiring female PR professional?
Be fearless, curious and believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t be afraid to give your insights and opinions, just be sure you have the knowledge to back it up!
Who are your favorite cultural heroines? What appeals to you about them?
Some of my favorite cultural heroines are known for their fierce individualism, long careers, ability to pivot and all-around badass attitude.
– Patti Smith, singer-songwriter, musician, author, and poet who rose to fame as an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement and is often called the “punk poet laureate.”
– Gloria Steinem, journalist and social political activist who became nationally recognized as a leader and a spokesperson for the American feminist movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Steinem was a columnist for New York magazine, and a co-founder of Ms. magazine.
– Eleanor Roosevelt, longest-serving First Lady, diplomat and activist. An inspiring, controversial, and outspoken leader, she fought for social justice around the world throughout her life. One of my favorite quotes by her is, “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”
What in your life has given you the greatest satisfaction or sense of fulfilment?
I have gained fulfillment from the jobs I’ve had in marketing and communications including the opportunity to work with a diverse and eclectic group of clients at BG&A. Beyond that there are two experiences that bring me great joy. For more than 15 years, I’ve been in various leadership roles at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles. It’s been a pleasure to utilize what I’ve learned in my professional life to help my community thrive. However, being mom to my daughter Mollie is by far the most gratifying experience in my life. It has brought me the most insight into who I am, challenged my beliefs and taught me patience and empathy. When it comes right to the point for me, it’s all about family, and friends that have become family. I am grateful that they are the mirror to help me see myself clearly and the telescope so I can see far beyond myself.
