Metro Philadelphia Power Women 2022

Krystal Jones is the senior vice president and CFO for Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia. Bringing more than a decade of experience to her role, Krystal oversees financial operations, as well as provides strategic direction on all financial activities at the world-class gaming, dining and entertainment destination. Krystal is an active member of the Philadelphia community, serving as a board member for the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Who is a woman that inspires you? 
Vicki Palmer, President of The Palmer Group LLC. She inspires me because she’s someone who has risen through the ranks, while also raising an incredible family. I have similar aspirations as I continue to progress in my career and raise my two young kids.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace? It is up to us to level our own playing fields. We determine our own futures and set our own goals. We also have to know our worth and not be afraid to speak up. Raise your hand, step into that next opportunity and ask for what you’re worth.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general?
We live in a male-dominated society, especially on an executive level. I often feel like I, as a woman, need to work harder across the board to prove myself and worth. It’s unfortunate that a number of women in my network feel the same.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Always think of yourself as an equal competitor. Believe that there is nothing that you can’t accomplish and no goal that you can’t achieve. As long as you’re working hard and dedicating the time, you can achieve the goals you have set for yourself.

Meredith Klein is the director of the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School. She began dancing tango in 1999, lived in Buenos Aires for three years starting in 2005, and came back to the US to found PATS in 2008. She has taught and performed tango worldwide. Under her direction, PATS has become renowned for helping to bridge the gap between Argentine tango dancers and musicians. She organizes a rich variety of tango classes, social dances, and live music events, and runs the Philadelphia Tango Festival.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
Kamala Harris.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace?Paid family and sick leave.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general?
Tango couples are so typically male-female that I have doubted my ability to create a career on my own, as a woman in tango. Nonetheless, I keep pushing forward.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Look for opportunities to help and support each other.

Philadelphia native Sarah LaCerra founded the nonprofit Savage Sisters Recovery after recovering from substance use disorder and homelessness. Savage Sisters is a nonprofit that offers six sober living homes for men and women, street-based outreach, statewide education, and training. Sarah also founded H.E.R., the Harmful Ethics Reduction Committee, to advocate on behalf of marginalized and exploited populations regarding unethical and illegal practices in recovery homes statewide. Sarah’s most powerful asset is her lived experience, which drives the mission at Savage Sisters.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace?More women in high level positions.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general?
Gender discrimination, sexual harassment, being undermined.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Whatever you do, do it ferociously.

Diana Lind is a writer and urban policy specialist. Her book, Brave New Home: Our Future in Smarter, Simpler, Happier Housing, was published in 2020. Diana currently serves as the vice president of community and culture for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where she oversees the Arts and Business Council, the Young Professionals Council, and an initiative dedicated to making Philadelphia a more healthy and livable city. She has also held positions at the University of Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Next City, a leading social impact media organization.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
Jane Jacobs.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace?More companies could encourage men to take time off, rather than just give women more flexibility. More flexibility to do the “second shift” helps, but isn’t the same as getting more men to fully embrace their shared responsibility to their families.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
I’d ask the next generation for advice, rather than the other way around!

Susan Lowry is the vice president and director of sales enablement for JLL, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate firms. Susan was recently appointed as board president of Green Building United, the local affiliate chapter of the US Green Building Council, an organization committed to promoting the development of sustainable, healthy, and cost-effective buildings. Susan sits on the board of several organizations including Students Run Philly Style, the Philadelphia Real Estate Council, and the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Small Business Board, highlighting her dedication to improving our region across many different avenues. 

Danielle Massi, M.S., LMFT, is a master shadow work practitioner, best-selling author, and motivational speaker. She is the founder of the popular SELF(ISH)philly Conference and CEO of The Wellness Collective. Danielle has written for and been featured in New York Magazine, Shape Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Buzzfeed, and is a frequent guest on major news outlets and podcasts. She is the creator of The Shadow Seekers® Journal, and she has a new book releasing September 20th, 2022, with Union Square & Co. titled Shadow Work.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
Renowned neuroscience and psychology expert and author Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace?If we want to level the playing field, we need to change the rules of the game. I believe that means sacrificing the comfort that comes with fitting into a system that’s already in existence in favor of creating a new set of rules that we get to choose.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general?
My own fear. By pursuing entrepreneurship, I sacrificed the safety of fitting into a workplace structure that I don’t believe in, but doing so has afforded me an abundance of freedom to design a work environment where I can flourish.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Don’t feel like you have to follow the path that’s been laid out before you just because everyone else does. Forge your own path, no matter how fear-inducing that might be. Doing so will enable you to live life on your own terms.

Jocelyn Mayo’s career began as a registered nurse in 1995 after graduating from Frankford Hospital School of Nursing with a diploma in Nursing. Jocelyn went on to obtain a bachelor of science in Nursing from Allegheny University, now part of Drexel University, in 1997 and a master’s degree in Business Administration in Healthcare in 2012 from Eastern University. In 2004, Jocelyn Mayo started Pampering Plus Inc., a home care company that has been successfully caring for the individuals in Philadelphia and surrounding areas since its inception.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
Michelle Obama.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace? Removal of gender bias so women can be viewed equally as male peers.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general?
Being equally respected.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Stay focused and be patient as goals take time to achieve.

Representative Joanna McClinton serves communities in Philadelphia and Delaware Counties. In 2018 she became the first woman and first African American elected as House Democratic Caucus Chair, and in 2020 was the first woman elected as floor leader of either party in the House’s 244-year history. A lifelong resident of southwest Philadelphia, she earned a bachelor’s degree from LaSalle University and a juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. Before being elected in 2015, she was an assistant public defender and served as Senator Anthony Hardy Williams’ chief counsel.

Who is a woman that inspires you?
My mother, Shirley Chisolm, Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams… there are many.

What do you think needs to be done to level the playing field for women in the workplace? Pay equity and overall workplace fairness. Childcare and family friendly policies. Employers miss out on talent and efficiency when they don’t have policies that welcome women and mothers.

What are some challenges you have faced as a woman in the workplace/in general? Initially, I was struck by the lack of diversity in the legislature in terms of race, sex, and age. We’re making progress in creating the conditions for a more representative legislature, but historically the system has been largely set up by men for men.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
Get involved, have confidence, share your voice and perspective, and create a support system with your peers and support one another.