Resilience and Mentorship: Jo-an Lantz on Keys to Leadership Success

For Jo-an Lantz, resilience and mentorship are at the heart of impactful leadership. In this interview, she shares her approach to guiding others and building future mentors, while also offering advice for women with top career ambitions—develop diverse skills, network strategically, and let your personal brand reflect your goals. Find out what it takes to rise to the top while empowering others along the way.

Jo-an, please describe what your profession is.

Jo-an Lantz: “I am President & CEO of Geiger, the world’s largest family owned and privately held promotional products distributor headquartered in Lewiston, Maine, USA. We have international headquarters in London, and Senden, Germany.“

You have just acquired the Brandelity Ltd and WER GmbH. What is your role in Geiger’s global expansion?

Jo-an Lantz: “We have a robust global, mergers and acquisitions team that evaluates opportunities for us internationally based on our business needs. My role in this process is lead from the strategic standpoint and decide on the ‘what, where and how’ we may want to participate in a country outside the US. That can come in many forms, from acquisitions like you’ve mentioned above, joint ventures or strategic alliances. We seek out opportunities for growth that best fit the needs of our global customers.“

Who’s next on your wish list?

Jo-an Lantz: “Geiger is dedicated to continuing its global expansion with many more joint ventures and acquisitions’ ahead. We have a growing number of large, multinational corporations who seek to recognize and reward on a global basis so it is key that we have a presence where they need it most.“

Speaking of sustainability, impact and empowerment: What gives you purpose?

Jo-an Lantz: “As a family-owned business, it is a matter of respect. Respect for people and environment.  What we build today impacts the future we leave behind. Our deep commitment to protecting the environment is not just for our business, but for future generations.“

What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received – and from whom?

Jo-an Lantz: “I have benefited from a number of mentors and coaches in my career. Every person has contributed to my career path. Some of the best advice I have received is to invest in myself, and invest more. Also, to connect with individuals who have achieved success in their careers and learn as much as I possibly can. Every person I am in contact has something I can learn from. The key is to ask questions and listen.“

Comfort Zone or Danger Zone – Where do you feel more comfortable? Where do you achieve more?

Jo-an Lantz: “As a leader, you have to be comfortable in both. I do believe crisis breeds opportunity and we have seen throughout our business history how quickly we can change, adapt and pivot when it is the only option. I believe you accomplish more long term in the comfort zone when you create an environment that fosters collaboration – but there’s nothing like a short term danger zone that can quickly turn out a new process/function/product.“

Is there an empowerment mission on your agenda? Not only for women but also for the next generation..

Jo-an Lantz: “At Geiger, we strongly believe in empowerment and education. We have a partnership with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute where employees can take continuing education courses in a variety of subjects like data and analytics, project management and achieve various levels of accreditation from certifications to a Master’s degree.
I am also proud to be a founder of PPAI’s Women’s Leadership Event now in it’s 20^th year and going strong. I was also incredibly proud to be a part of launching the first Women’s International Leadership Council at the 2024 Global Executive Network in Vienna this year.“

What do you offer to empower employees? Are there any events, consultings, trainings, networking?

Jo-an Lantz: “We are longtime leaders in the promotional products industry and have been key members of creating and participating in many educational and networking sessions.“

What do you consider to be leadership competence?

Jo-an Lantz: “A core competency I deeply value is coaching and developing mentors. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to lift others up, sharing our knowledge, experience, and values to help them grow along the way.“

From your point of view: What should women look for in their career planning to prepare them for a top position?

Jo-an Lantz: “Women should focus on building diverse skills, finding strong mentors, and staying resilient. It’s key to network, advocate for yourself, and turn challenges into opportunities. Stay adaptable and make sure your personal brand reflects your goals.“

Do you have a talent problem in the U.S.? If so, what challenges do you see in recruiting and retaining them?

Jo-an Lantz: “As a promotional product distributor, we do see talent challenges in the U.S. Finding skilled professionals who blend creativity with industry knowledge is no easy feat. Retaining those talented individuals requires more than just competitive pay; we strive to foster an environment that emphasizes growth, innovation, and a strong sense of community to keep our top performers engaged and motivated.“

Keyword New Work: let’s talk about digital and location-independent working, job sharing, mentoring and work-life balance.

Jo-an Lantz: “We’ve been embracing remote work well before 2020, recognizing its benefits for both the company and our team members. While many roles thrive in a remote setting, some functions truly need to be in the office. We prioritize connection, offering various engagement opportunities for both in-office and remote staff—from holiday celebrations and seasonal gatherings to community outings. Bringing everyone together fosters personal connections, boosts job satisfaction, and enhances retention.“