Maggie Moran, a trailblazer in public relations and political strategy, recalls refusing to be rattled during an eight-hour job interview with U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in the 1990s.
At one point, Lautenberg asked her how old she was. Moran told the senator, who was then in his 70s, that the question was out of line and countered with one of her own: How old was he?
She was 22. And she was hired.
Moran went on to serve as state director for Lautenberg from 1998 to 2000 and managed his successful 2002 election. Some questioned whether she was qualified for such a role. Moran dismisses that outright. “The truth is nobody is qualified for the job until they get it and start doing it,” Moran said.
Now founder and CEO of Moxie Strategies, Moran joined two other top women in their industries on stage at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association‘s annual Women Business Leaders Forum on Thursday to share leadership lessons. Each spoke with candor and confidence.
Arlene Quinones Perez, an equity partner at DeCotiis, FitzPatrick and Cole, recalled how she used to be overlooked when she entered a room with a male associate. She urged the audience to “stop asking for permission.”
“Open the door, walk in, sit down and say what you need to say,” she said. “Know that you are enough.”
Lauren Nathan-LaRusso, co-host city manager and general counsel to the New York New Jersey 2026 World Cup Host Committee, said it’s important to know your weaknesses and your strengths while staying focused on long-term goals. Her father’s advice still guides her: “Just play the ball.”
“Don’t get distracted by the pitcher, the catcher. Just play the ball,” LaRusso said. “If I let the voice in my head dictate the next step, I would not be where I am.”
