20 Questions With Jenny Coates, President, Boathouse Sports

Jenny Coates is the president of retail at Boathouse Sports, a premium crafted outerwear brand known for its made-in-the-USA team gear and apparel. Jenny is also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! With 25 years of experience in retail and CPG, Jenny’s career began at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and has spanned diverse industries and companies of all sizes, from large public firms to small private enterprises. In this member spotlight, we asked Jenny a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
   The last two books I finished were both fiction, though I usually try to go back and forth. They were “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore, and Elin Hilderbrand’s last Nantucket novel, “Swan Song.”
2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
   I love the hybrid work model for many reasons, not the least of which is the way it can improve work/life balance by eliminating long commutes. My favorite tip for hybrid meetings is something that I read in an article from HBS: everyone should have their own camera on. Those who are in person should have sound off and use the room mic. This setup has made our hybrid meetings more inclusive and productive, ensuring that no one feels left out of the conversation, regardless of their location.
3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
   I didn’t take myself seriously and I made decisions based on fear. I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted in a career, nor did I consider what my unique strengths were and how best to leverage them. I floated from place to place based on what was easy or convenient for a long time. And I made choices on the job based on fear of not being liked, instead of having the courage to stand up for myself and assert my voice as an equal.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
   I won’t lie, I enjoy being in charge. The hardest moments are those when I have absolute conviction in my clarity of vision or strategy and feel I’m not being successful in gaining support and true buy-in. In those moments, I focus on open dialogue, patience, and finding new ways to build consensus while staying true to the overall vision.
5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
   Actions speak louder than words; trite, but true. I never ask of my team more than I’m willing to give myself. And I strive always to create an environment of psychological safety, where we can make mistakes together, learn together, win together and not live in fear of “blame.” Plus, we have fun! At my previous company, many of us were stocked with nerf guns and you never knew when you would need it …
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
   Today and every day, I am inspired by many amazing women. The first face that jumps to mind when asked this question is Hillary Clinton. I think of an article about her in The New York Times from 2016 in which the author said “… I’m so tired, and every woman I know is so tired. I cried because I don’t even know what it feels like to be taken seriously — not fully, not in that whole, unequivocal, confident way that’s native to handshakes between men. I cried because it does things to you to always come second.” I don’t know many women who cannot relate to that sentiment and I look to the way Hillary has persevered as inspiration. And, while I’m not sure she yet qualifies as a woman, I’m inspired by my niece. She is four years old, and the other day when reminded to “listen to her mama” she replied calmly, “Nah, I’m going to listen to myself.” And while this might be (super) frustrating in the short term, my niece’s unshakable self-confidence at just four years old reminds me to nurture that same spirit of self-assurance in myself and in other women around me.
7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
   I’m excited to see how the industry will continue to prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing, especially in manufacturing. Working for a company that proudly produces its products in the USA, I know how important it is to maintain high standards of quality and integrity. As more consumers seek transparency and local production, I believe we’ll see a shift towards more brands embracing domestic manufacturing. This not only strengthens local economies but also allows for better oversight on environmental and labor practices. I’m particularly excited about how innovation can enhance both sustainability and the performance of made-in-the-USA products.
8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
   I always try to determine whether this person will be someone who hides mistakes and blames others, of if they will be someone who is unafraid to raise their hand for help when they need it, hopefully with at least a few ideas to kick things off. Two things I cannot tolerate on a team are blame and selfishness.
9. What’s something you learned about yourself in the past year?
   I’ve learned the importance of resilience and adaptability. This past year has been full of unexpected challenges, but it has reinforced my ability to pivot quickly while staying true to my long-term vision. I’ve also realized the value of taking time to focus on what truly matters, both professionally and personally.
10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    “Pivot” with Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher. I had Prof. G in business school and from minute one of class one, I knew if he ever started a cult I would join it.
11. What values are most important to you?
    Integrity, practical optimism, a sense of humor, and teamwork
12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I’m a strategic thinker who is passionate about bringing innovative, high-performance products to market. But beyond that, I’m deeply committed to building a culture of collaboration and integrity. I believe that relationships are at the heart of any successful business, and I work hard to ensure my team and partners feel valued and empowered.
13. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
    When I’m not working, I have notifications turned off and I make a conscious point not to mindlessly open email and Slack to see what’s there. When I’m on vacation, I delegate one person who will know how to reach me and, most important, knows what would I would consider essential vs. what could wait. I used to have a strict two-phone system that I only recently abandoned due to the hassle of carrying around two devices. I wish iPhone would create a way to have multiple user profiles on one device …
14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    I am tough, supportive, uncompromising, and tired.
15. What’s your favorite app?
    Three apps that I cannot spend a day without are Duolingo for my Irish lessons, podcasts, and The New York Times games.
16. What do you do to recharge?
    I enjoy workouts that leave you juuuust this side of nauseous.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    I hope my biggest accomplishment is still ahead, but I’m proud of building teams that trust each other and consistently deliver exceptional results.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    I hate that I’m even saying this, and my hope is that the next generation of leaders might not even understand this sentiment, but to consciously think and act like “a man” and do not let anyone gaslight you. That said, you must put in the work to back it up! Go to the office, foster relationships across teams and across levels, and get your face and name out there in the wider professional network.
19. What gets you up in the morning?
    A triple oat milk latte and a brisk walk with my dog.
20. What do you like about being a member of Women in Retail?
    One lesson I’ve learned over and over, with very few exceptions, is that women help women. I find everyone in this group to be engaged, interested, interesting, and invested in supporting and building up this community.