Jeanine Hall

Introduce yourself to our audience. Tell us who you are and what you are currently focused on.

Hi I'm Jeanine! The founder of Quant Solutions. We provide advisory and day-to-day financial operations services to creative business owners. For the past 3 years I have been focused on growing from a freelance bookkeeper/advisor to full fledged consulting firm providing financial operations advisory and cash management solutions as well as full-service bookkeeping to day-to-day financial operations support.

Tell us about your favorite Ellevate Network memory or success story. Why are you a member?

I'm always trying to meet people who inspire me! I love going to the monthly EC luncheons and hearing from other successful women business owners and executives. Having a network of hard-working, dedicated individuals is an invaluable asset.

How would you define your professional mission?

To make creative business owner's lives easier by handling their financial operations so they can focus on what they do best.

What qualities does it take for someone to be successful in your line of work?

Adaptability, perspective, and patience.

What is one of your most memorable career accomplishments?

The day I hired my first full-time employee and became a job creator! It was scary and I spent months crunching the numbers, but after I made the offer and she accepted I never looked back. My business is continuing to grow and it's the best feeling in the world watching my company grow beyond my individual capabilities.

What are some career challenges on your radar?

Creating and establishing a stable sales channel. Marketing/sales/PR have always been a bit of a mystery to me, and now I'm taking the steps so that my sales are no longer just word of mouth. This is when I have to have the right talent around me to implement a strategy that goes beyond my knowledge.

We’d love to hear more about your career path. What led you to where you are today?

I started off as a process oriented artist working in metal, fiber, and photography. I earned my bachelor's degree in Sculpture from the Maryland Institute, College of Art. After spending a few years creating and exhibiting by work in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, my journey steered me towards Carnegie Mellon University where I earned my Master's in Arts Management. After several years leading local non-profits and moving to D.C. I discovered that I truly loved keeping organizations internal workings running smoothly. After taking on a few clients in D.C. I realized that I wanted to be more than a freelancer. When my partner and I moved to New York, I made the decision to switch from selling myself as a freelancer to creating a consulting firm.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Knowing that my clients are no longer stressed about how/when they are going to pay their bills.

What legacy do you hope to leave through your work?

That finances don't have to be scary, and anyone can run a business with a good idea and elbow grease.

Who are your role models?

Dr. Mae Jemison.

She's a dancer. She got into Stanford when she was 16, earned her MD, had her own general practice. Applied to be an astronaut, got denied at first, they came back to her a year later, she almost turned them down, because she had moved on! Ha. Moved on from being an astronaut!! She did end up accepting the invitation and became the first black woman in space in 1992. She's run several of her own companies. She's just brilliant and she does so many different things. I'm just in awe.

What is your morning ritual?

After the typical morning tasks, I whip up a green smoothie and my lunch for the day while trying to run out of my apartment with enough time to make it to my first client by 9am.

What would you say your personal superpower is?

Juggling multiple disparate projects. I'm currently juggling: all my clients, keeping my employees on task, learning to speak Gujarati, and training to climb to Mt. Ararat in Turkey.

What does success look like to you?

I've got everything I ever dreamed I would have and more. I'm my own boss, I travel the world, I'm healthy, happy, and have a support network of friends and family that are there when I need them.

Is work-life balance a problem for you? What is one no-fail tactic you use to create balance?

Of course. I always have to juggle the two. There is no trick or secret, it takes hard work and an understanding of which needs deserve priority at the moment. Really it's the same as any good healthy relationship.

What advice would you offer future leading ladies wishing to break into your industry?

It's ok to say, "I don't know the answer to that, let me research it and get back to you". I mean really that's advice to any young confident up and coming leader.

What is the best career advice you ever received?

Be confident enough to ask for help.