Life at OPENLANE Women’s History Month Edition: Q&A with Brooke Jenne, HR Manager
As Women’s History Month draws to a close, we’re proud to feature Brooke Jenne, a returning Waybuilder with a decade-long journey at OPENLANE. Read about her growth, advice for new Waybuilders and more.
What has your journey at OPENLANE looked like?
I started with OPENLANE ten years ago as an HR business partner. I eventually started supporting several different locations and became an HR manager. In 2021, I had an opportunity for a position somewhere else and ended up leaving. I was back within three months.
What fueled your decision to come back?
I realized the grass was not greener on the other side. It made me appreciate OPENLANE even more than I already did — how we operate as an organization and the integrity behind the treatment of our people. As an HR leader, that is incredibly important to me. So when I saw an opening, I reached back out. My old coworkers at OPENLANE were like, “Yeah, do you have someone you recommend for the position?” And I was like, “Yes, me!”
It’s awesome that it worked out that way. Since being back at OPENLANE, what’s one thing you’re most proud to have accomplished?
The relationships I’ve built that have allowed me to help individuals develop in their own career and in their own skill sets. To me, that’s one aspect of the job that’s very fulfilling. Working with our people and challenging their thought processes, how they think about things, how they make decisions and so on.
What do you like the most about working at OPENLANE?
I enjoy the change and the opportunity to be innovative. My position is not cookie cutter. There were some aspects of the job that I created by going to my manager and saying, “Hey, I think doing these three things will really benefit the business.” The response was always, “Sounds good. Go for it.”
Then the constant change — change and evolvement are intertwined, and that is where true innovation lives.
What is one piece of advice for newcomers to the company?
Be patient with yourself in the learning process. Especially if you’re someone that likes to know all the answers. It’ll take time to learn the business, build relationships and gain the knowledge you need.
What does Women’s History Month mean to you personally?
Any time that we’re celebrating any area of people, whether that’s a different race or religion or gender or whatever the case is, I think it’s important to celebrate strengths and accomplishments. With Women’s History Month, there’s a long history of not having the same rights and that hindering our ability to achieve certain things. So the progress that we’ve made and how far we’ve come is something to be celebrated. It’s not perfect. But we’ve got to spotlight the wins while continuing to lean into the positives.
What is your favorite part of celebrating it?
Hearing women’s stories. Focusing on them and how they became successful while hearing their struggles, too. It’s not only about their success, but also the hurdles they’ve overcome. You can look at somebody and think they have it all figured out. Then you hear their story, and see there is so much additional context and struggle leading up to that success.
Tell us about the work that Women@OPENLANE does and the importance of this group to you.
Connecting individuals. Creating a space for women to help other women. It’s an additional way for women at OPENLANE to feel supported and seen.
