Tucson-based Gadabout SalonSpas is a multimillion-dollar, mom-daughter enterprise.
Jana Westerbeke, co-president of Gadabout, worked with her mother and founder of the company, Pamela McNair-Wingate.
Westerbeke now runs the business with her husband, Frank. Coming full circle, Westerbeke’s own daughters, Wiley, 22, and Wagner, 20, work with her in the family business. Both hope to remain with the company in the future.
We asked Jana Westerbeke to share her experiences for Mother’s Day:
Q: What would you say has been the biggest benefit of working with your mom?
A: I was able to learn from her the entire process of owning and running a business and now I am able to live the whole process. I know that through every decision I make she supports the vision because she created the strong foundation and my husband, Frank, and I are building upon it.
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Q: What has been the most difficult part of working with your mom? Has there been any emotional pressure to take on her legacy?
A: The most difficult part of working with my mom has been separating business from family; every time we gather, every Sunday night dinner, every family gathering. So now, instead of trying to separate it, we realized that this is our family business and our life, so we have embraced it. Instead of separating, we are more aware.
My mom never pressured me to do anything. I grew up in the family business before I was responsible for it so I was able to create my own path and find my own success; then, I was able to blend her vision with mine.
Q: How do you feel Gadabout has benefited from your partnership?
A: We have a really great level of communication and support for each other and each and every person connected with Gadabout. I think it has helped us to create a great level of community and ‘family’ for our team.
Q: We obviously don’t always see eye to eye with our parents. How have you been able to work through times when you had different opinions?
A: She drew the line. My mom was always Pam when we were at work. This allowed us to separate work from home ... at work she was Pam and at home she was Mom. This allowed us to truly develop a professional relationship and I never thought of her as my ‘parent’ at work.
Q: How has working together affected your personal relationship with each other?
A: It has only strengthened it. I don’t think our relationship could be any better. We are friends, business partners, colleagues, mom, mother-in-law to my husband, grandmother to my children. She’s everything.
Q: How has your relationship with your mom affected your relationship with your kids at work and at home?
A: My mom gave me the skill and taught me how to communicate with my children while at work. She taught me how to create boundaries and how to uphold our relationship personally and professionally.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to a mother and daughter thinking about going into business together?
A: Don’t try to change each other. Don’t try to change each other’s vision. Listen to each other and be open to each other’s opinions and help support each other’s vision. She is your strongest influence. If you’re going to be business partners, it really is about communication. Don’t try to be right, just do the right thing.
Enjoy the journey, it’s the only one we have.
