Get to know our partnership manager in the operations department, Frances Leath!
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN THE INDUSTRY?
I didn’t really. Hirons and I sort of found each other. I don’t have formal training (a degree) in communications or marketing, and I’ve spent most of my career in large corporate settings. However, my education and background seem to fit what the company was looking for in a Partnership Manager and I was very impressed by everyone I encountered during the interview process.
OUTSIDE OF THE OFFICE, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES OR PASSIONS?
I’m a lifelong reader and I love to listen to live music. In addition, I just bought a really expensive bike, so I’d better become a cyclist too.
WHEN AND WHERE DO YOU HAVE YOUR BEST IDEAS?
On long solo drives. I will happily drive to places that most people insist on flying to, because I love long drives by myself. It gives me a chance to listen to a lot of music uninterrupted, or to catch up on podcasts, but it also gives me time to sit with my thoughts and really wrestle with new ideas and plans.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF DAY?
The evening before sunset. First, it’s a beautiful time of the day. Second, I’m a night owl and I consider it a brief time to relax before starting my second shift.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My very first job was babysitting as a pre-teen, followed by church secretary, limo driver and a summer job as a hotel maid at Cedar Point amusement park. However, my first job after earning a college degree was as a financial analyst at a pharmaceutical firm called Eli Lilly and Company.
WHAT’S ONE QUOTE THAT DEFINES YOU?
Don’t worry about what people say. Watch what they do. I try to be observant about quiet things. I want to know if someone is honest and has integrity, if they’re suffering silently or if they’re feeling proud. In addition, I try to pay attention to what my behavior is putting out in the world.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN TOWN?
My favorite restaurant in town, no longer exists. It was called Mama Irma’s and it was on Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square. Mama Irma’s served Peruvian dishes in a space that probably sat 20 people. The owners moved back to Peru for their retirement, and I haven’t been able to find a true replacement.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE WORDS.
Grandmother, stoic and curious.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MOVIE OR BOOK?
My favorite book is Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. I’ve read it three or four times and I lose myself in each reading. I had the same experience when I read Wally’s Lamb’s I Know This Much is True. Both are fictional novels where the author has created worlds that I fold into.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WORKING AT HIRONS?
Learning new things. I’ve been in the workforce for decades and this is my first experience in an advertising agency. So far, each day has brought new perspectives, new challenges and lots of new people.
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