She Magazine June 2014 | Page 113

J ami Debrango-Palumbo wanted to be the boss and wear her dresses—and she has done just that. She broke the glass ceiling not by hiding her femininity but by embracing it. “I want to set the stage for more women leaders in the future.” Jami began working at the age of sixteen and has been going full-force ever since. Along the way, she has also found time to get married to her husband Joe and have two children—Luca, who is eleven, and Sienna, who is seven. How has she managed to strive in both her professional and personal life? “I embrace being a woman, which means strength in heels.” Jami’s first job was at a new store at her local mall called “Express.” Though she was not old enough to drive, she did not let that stop her. She found a ride to the open interview, and the rest, as they say, is history. “I did not come from an affluent background. My mom worked three jobs, so I was very motivated to start learning what opportunities and jobs were available.” Jami worked for the company through high school, college