Industry Insights
HOW JENNIFER LECHTE RAISED THE BAR IN FOOTY, FAMILY AND PROPERTY
BY SANDRA LOGIUDICE
“It’s not what you know or who you know, it’s who likes you.”
high achievers however my mother was my biggest motivator as I wanted to be better than her, to please and impress her. Anything she put her mind to she was the best.” As expected, the apple did not fall far from the tree. Jennifer excelled at school and was eventually accepted into law school, only to find out her dream of being a barrister would not come to fruition simply because she was a woman. Undefeated, she decided to be a PE teacher instead. “I was 22 and started off teaching at North Paddington Comprehensive school in the UK. I was in the gym one day with about 200 students and a young girl threw a hard medicine ball at my head. I confronted her and she replied, ‘We need to fight.’ So, I agreed and laid down the rules ‘No gauging, no biting and no hair pulling.’ The students created a boxing ring for us and with everyone watching, we fought, and I won. After that, whenever I asked the students to do something or come to training, they did it. I was constantly challenged but at the end of my 2 years there, I knew I was strong enough to do anything.” Jennifer continued on to teach at Melbourne Grammar and Camberwell Girls Grammar however it was at Templestowe Technical school that her career in football marketing began…by pure chance. A PASSION FOR FOOTY “I organized a footy clinic with Fitzroy Football Club and at the end of the session, I pointed out to our Fitzroy visitors that all the kids were wearing Richmond jumpers, so I questioned them why they weren’t more involved. Their response was ‘If you think you’re so smart, why don’t you come and market our football club?’ Despite them saying this in jest, I accepted the challenge immediately, assured them it was a done deal and that I was coming. I did not give them the chance to back out of their proposal” It took Jen five years to gain momentum at Fitzroy Football Club but like everything else she put her mind to, it grew into a success. The club eventually played in the final four and she remained tenacious in her pursuits, knowing exactly what was needed to make the club successful. In addition to her strong marketing capabilities, Jen’s sporting skills and background also held her in good stead. “I could see at Fitzroy the footballers were still
There is not much, if anything that Jennifer Lechte can’t do. And if she hasn’t done it yet, and the opportunity presents, you can be assured that she will eventually succeed with the utmost grace and poise. THE EARLY YEARS Born and bred in Mooroopna and raised as a boarder at one of Melbourne’s most elite private girls schools, Jennifer Lechte certainly knew how to raise the bar with every endeavour undertaken. And it is no wonder why, when learning about her journey and the benchmark that was set higher than most from the beginning. “It was never said that I had to be top of the class, but it was clearly expected. My father was a pharmacist and ran the Goulburn Valley hospital pharmacy in addition to two other pharmacies. My mother was a strong, dominating, champion sports woman and very much admired and respected throughout the Goulburn Valley. Both parents were
12 –August / September 2022
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