Chase CBO Fremar Defines Success Unlike Others

Success can mean a lot of different things to people. But to Leanne Fremar, it is exactly that. She defines success on her own terms and perhaps that is the secret sauce we have all been looking for. As the Chief Brand Officer of JPMorgan Chase, Leanne leads the firm’s brand strategy, creative, advertising, content, video, consumer insights across their three Masterbrands and the lines of business that sit within them. In a world still slowly exiting the pandemic and navigating market volatility, working in the financial sector can undoubtedly have its challenges. But Leanne leads by example, the key being to bring 200% of herself to work every day during work hours, but shutting off when it’s family time and getting enough rest while ensuring her team also protects their personal time. From accomplishing her childhood dreams of living in NYC to finding what motivates her to bring her best creative foot forward, read on to learn more about Leann’s journey to the top while she moves with poise, strength, empathy, and resilience. How did you get to where you are today? I grew up in Toronto, but as a kid I was fascinated by the New York I saw in movies and on TV. I got my first job working at MoMA. It felt like a dream to be starting my career at such a classic New York institution and walking to work through the city I had such a long-distance love affair with. I’ve made conscious career decisions along the way. I choose to be picky at times and passed on opportunities that sounded interesting but didn’t feel right for me. But those decisions ultimately led me to work for some of the greatest global fashion and retail brands around the world. How do you foster strong professional relationships as you grow in your career? I’ve worked for a series of extraordinary people throughout my career. Their willingness to give me roles that stretched me taught me a lot about my own capabilities. Many of the opportunities they gave me were doing things I didn’t even realize I could do. As I’ve moved around in my career, keeping those connections have brought a lot of meaning and joy. I’ve also always been lucky to have a close group of girlfriends and family who have always been supportive of me. Over time, I’ve learned the importance of surrounding yourself with people who encourage your success and help you feel comfortable with your own ambition to think big about what you can accomplish. What’s one way you’ve invested in yourself that’s had the most impact over the course of your career? I try to be disciplined so when I’m in the office, I’m laser focused and I give 200% of my energy. I power through as much as I can during work hours so I can leave time for my family and eight hours of sleep. I also try to find ways to stay inspired. I love retail so I actually unwind by going to stores—any store inspires me. I love grocery stores, farmers markets, experiential retail, coffee shops, even airports! And of course, now I love going into Chase branches to feel what our customers experience! Being out there seeing things helps me bring my best energy and creativity to work, too. How do you view work-life integration, especially now, and what advice can you share with others who may be struggling with it? I think it’s so important to have empathy—especially for the women and parents on my team. Protect time for yourself and help the people you’re working with do the same. So many of us are in charge of running our households when we’re not at work; we’re trying to remember all the items for grocery shopping, we’re coordinating school schedules and calendars. It’s always been tough, but this pandemic has made it that much harder. Protect time for yourself and help the people you’re working with do the same. Can you recall a situation where you've dealt with typecasting in the workplace? And what advice do you have for other women on how to overcome typecasting at work? My advice for women would be to double down on who you are and try to tune out the noise from people who might be making false assumptions about you. The less oxygen you give to things you can’t control, the better you’ll feel. Who has helped you in your journey and how did they help shape your career? All the people along the way who stretched me beyond what I knew I was capable of have been fundamental in shaping my leadership style. I look at people on my team and try to show them they’re capable in ways they don’t even realize. What’s the single best piece of advice you’ve ever received? My grandmother always said to me “just do the best you can, honey.” I felt like she was giving me permission to set a high bar but she was also saying be yourself, stay true to yourself, your best looks different than someone else’s. And that’s just fine. Focus on the things that will drive a positive outcome for your brand, business, customers and community. What does success mean for you? Personal and professional success might not come at the exact same time, but you work at it and make trade-offs and hopefully over time things balance out. I try to also remember to zoom out and see the bigger picture that I am just a tiny part of. Sometimes success is as simple as biting into a ripe and juicy tomato that I grew myself! Figure out what it looks like for you and embrace it. How Panasonic CMO Lauren Sallata Brings Community-Based Purpose to Her Job

Women Trailblazers

Why Chase Chief Brand Officer’s Definition of Success Is Unlike Any Other

Leanne Fremar shares the importance of a strong support system and staying true to yourself

Luz Corona

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