Jeanne Rowzee Integrating A Healthy Work-Life Balance
Jeanne Rowzee is a successful trial lawyer, consultant, and animal rescuer currently living in Maryland. Born and raised on the East Coast, Jeanne earned her law degree from the University of Virginia in 1983 and spent several years working prestigious law firms on that side of the country before moving to California in 1988. Jeanne brought her passion for competition from the athletic playing fields into the courtroom with a focus on securities and white-collar criminal defense.
It is with that same passion that she founded her nonprofit, Homeward Bound, in Irvine California in 2001. Following the nation’s tragedy of that year, Jeanne felt compelled to give back. She jumped in with both feet, creating a network of volunteers to help educate owners and re-home thousands of animals. That kind of compassion cannot be contained, so when she returned to her home state a few years ago, she immediately began the process of opening a similar nonprofit on the East Coast. The Mid Atlantic Coastal Animal Rescue is in its early stages but expected to have the same success as her original.
Jeanne is currently a consultant with Bailey & Jennings, a firm based in Bethesda, Maryland. She devotes her time off to her rescue and to her family, helping to care for her parents and being a steady support for her children. She has found her joy in helping others through her professional career and creating families through her rescue efforts.
Tell us a bit about what you do.
I am currently working full time as a partner in a consulting firm, called Bailey & Jennings. I work as a business consultant with a concentration in finance; which is one of my college majors. The company is involved with commercial real estate and several other transactions. I’ve also been spending a lot of time organizing Homeward Bound, Non-Profit Animal Rescue Center. I was fortunate enough to have a great model out in California, so when it came to open the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Animal Rescue, it would essentially be an easier task than the first time around. I am just going through the process now of getting it up and running. I want to ensure it has the right structure and that in turn requires a lot of attention at the outset. I know once we have all the specifics worked out, like transport and geography, it’ll basically run itself.
What gave you the idea for animal rescue?
What really got me motivated was September 11, 2001. I, along with the rest of the country were deeply affected; some physically and mostly all; emotionally. At that time, I had a very successful law practice and a great family, but I felt the need to do something. I wanted to give something back. Animals have always been one of my passions in life and I felt compelled to focus my energy to help the animals to have a voice in society. I started looking into the big picture, and I found that small steps could make a big difference. For example, just providing education to pet owners on the importance of spaying and neutering. Sometimes it’s just a matter of transportation, as there are sometimes too many animals in one shelter. As there is a constant struggle to maintain space, before the animals can find their forever home. Therefore, Homeward Bound has held a special place in my heart, as we have been able to rescue thousands of animals over the years. Now that I have returned to the East Coast, I am creating a similar rescue center here.
What is your favorite thing about your chosen profession?
Initially, I was drawn to law because I have always been a competitive person. I was involved in athletics all my young life, even into adulthood. I wanted to be a trial lawyer because it’s the closest thing to an athletic contest professionally. I love the challenge and the research that goes along with the whole process. I was drawn to criminal defense because the cards are seemingly stacked against you. It’s difficult to even the playing field and prove someone’s innocence. I also have a focus on securities and those cases are just as intellectually stimulating. I love to be a part of the legal system. I love that no two cases are alike, which continues to make the process riveting.
What keys to being productive can you share with us?
In order to maintain productivity, it is important to stay organized and prioritize all your work daily or even weekly. For example, if I have eight boxes of case work to review, I’ll tell myself to focus on maybe four at a time. I have learned breaking bigger tasks down into smaller ones allows for better concentration and helps things seem less overwhelming. Once the smaller task is complete, it helps to encourage you to move onto the next step.
Tell us one long-term goal in your career.
Regarding my animal rescue, I have a goal to help end the large influx of homeless pets. I want to ensure that each are able to find a home for every adoptable animal out there. It’s not just about saving animals, it’s about the education and putting procedures in place, to reduce the overall number of homeless animals. We have had great success in the past, but there is still so much work to do. I feel like we can reach this goal within my lifetime, if individuals are continuing the work and focus on all that goes into it.
What’s the most valuable lesson you have learned through the course of your career?
I think at this stage in my career, I have learned the importance of taking time for yourself. When I was still young and learning, I would push myself too hard to get things done. In law, it’s called paying your dues. Fresh attorneys spend long nights working on their cases, forgetting to sleep or eat. It’s something that continues in the larger firms to this day and is considered the norm. Looking back on it, though, I realize that it’s not the healthiest lifestyle. Of course, you need that sense of dedication and you want to always present your best self and best work. This can still be done without adding more onto yourself. It took me a long time to come to that realization and I would highly recommend ensuring that you integrate a healthy work-life balance into your daily life.
What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?
Both in law and animal rescue, I think it is important to collaborate with others and learn from them. Always be open to educating yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from those who have been there. Anything worthwhile doesn’t happen overnight, so be prepared to spend time achieving your goals. Don’t be discouraged easily, you can sometimes get bogged down with small details, but keep your eyes on the results and keep pushing through. I think it is also very important to take time for yourself as you can. It’s hard to perform optimally and stay healthy if all you do is work. It’s not healthy.
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I love to spend time with my family. I moved back to the East Coast so that I am available to help assist my parents. I also spend a lot of time with my kids and my sister. I love to play golf, especially if the course is located close to the water. I also read voraciously just for fun. I love to travel and cannot want to visit as many new places as I can. I am also very involved in the Alumni Association at the University of Virginia, as well as the UV Parent’s Network, since my daughter is attending there now.
Name a few influential books you have read or websites you keep up with that you would recommend to the readers.
I read a lot, it’s one of my favorite things to do. One of my favorite genres is biographies and autobiographies. I love to learn about how someone became who they are and made the changes in the world they wanted to see. One of my favorites autobiographies is that of Katharine Graham; one of the first female publishers of a newspaper. She was the publisher of The Washington Post for over twenty years. I found a lot of inspiration from her memoir, which is called; Personal History.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff and keep the big picture in mind. Even when you’ve been up for three nights in a row and under stress that seems unimaginable at times; know that this too shall pass. Don’t look back with regret. Make the best decision you can make with what you have and don’t second guess yourself. Things are going to feel overwhelming at times, but the result will be worth all the effort. When you’re in the eye of a hurricane, you can’t see outside of it. If you take a step back, you can see the whole storm and realize there is calm on the other side.
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