Jeanne Beker
Jeanne Beker is one of the most influential women in the fashion industry — in Canada and around the world. A long-time celebrity, Beker speaks on how she rose to the top of arts and culture media as the iconic host of TV’s Fashion Television, along with what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur.
Beker started her professional “show biz” career at just 16 years old when she moved to New York to study acting, and then to Paris to study mime. She joined CBC Radio in 1975 covering arts in St. John’s, Newfoundland before moving to Toronto three years later to work at CHUM radio. In 1979, Beker helped launch the ground-breaking series The New Music on Citytv, which she co-hosted for six years, and became a founding member of MuchMusic. Beker launched the legendary Fashion Television in 1985, which she hosted for 27 years, and which was aired in over 130 countries.
Speaking topics
- Jeanne Beker: Forging Her Own Path
From the outset of her career, Jeanne Beker was determined to “have it all.” She became a media trailblazer, known for keeping her listeners, viewers, and readers abreast of the shifting cultural landscape, reporting directly from the trenches.
In show business for 50 years now, Beker reflects on her distinctive multi-faceted, multi-media career as a fashion reporter, television personality, and creator of her own fashion lines. She accomplished all this while building her now internationally recognized brand — long before “personal branding” was a common buzz phrase — and raising her family.
Crediting her “nose to the grindstone” attitude and strong work ethic for her success, Beker recounts the highs (and lows) of her life and career thus far, inspiring her audiences to dream big.
*Available as a keynote or fireside chat
- Work Life Balance
From the outset of her so-called fabulous career, Jeanne Beker was determined to ‘have it all’. A highly successful multi-media journalist, whose life had been spent climbing the rungs of Canada’s success ladder—and making her presence felt globally via the internationally syndicated Fashion Television, which ran for 27 years in 130 countries—Jeanne had her first child in 1987, and a second one in 1989. With both babies, she took only a couple of weeks off work, largely due to an employer who threatened she’d lose her job if she was gone too long—an amazing job that she’d spent years cultivating for herself. Still, despite the incredible demands of her work, and a hectic, globe-trotting schedule, she managed to strike what seemed like a perfect work-life balance. Then, in 1998, her husband, who’d been her partner for 18 years, suddenly announced he was leaving the marriage. With two young daughters to raise, and still deeply in love with her husband, the shocking news was nothing short of devastating. But Jeanne managed to keep on going…. Her story of survival—continuing her life as a single mom, and finding happiness once again—is an inspiring one, and a timely tale of not only mastering a most delicate balancing act, but successfully juggling both a high profile career and family for the next two decades.
- Don't be Afraid and Never Give Up
As young Polish Jews, who lost their entire families in the war, Jeanne shares the inspiring story of her parents survival during the Holocaust. After the unspeakable loss and profound pain they suffered, they managed to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, and in 1948 immigrated to Canada. They didn’t know the language and had little more than the shirts on their backs but with dogged determination, hard work, courage and faith, they eventually re-built their lives.
“Don’t be afraid. And never give up.” was Jeanne’s father’s motto. Jeanne, who grew up listening to her parent’s relentless ‘war stories’, attributes her personal and professional success to her upbringing: It taught her about fearlessness, tenacity, dreaming, believing, hard work and above all, resiliency. She also credits her parents’ love of story-telling for her trailblazing career in media. “Our own honest, personal stories are the most precious gifts we can give one another,” says Jeanne.
Video clips
Speaker testimonials
Jeanne was absolutely amazing! She not only charmed the attendees with her warm and engaging personality, but she also delivered an incredibly powerful and uplifting speech. From start to finish, everyone in the audience was engaged, and we received nothing but positive feedback from those who were there. Not only did she show kindness to our small community, but she also spoke highly of Sudbury, making her the perfect speaker to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Luncheon of Hope in support of the Northern Cancer Foundation.
Jeanne Beker was an amazing addition to our Women as Career Coaches program. Jeanne’s keynote was unique, entertaining and spoke to both the students and career coaches in attendance. She brought an excellent mix of wit, humor and a genuine sense of self in articulating how you must remain fearless in pursuing your dreams. She is an excellent example of what happens when dreams, determination, and passion come together.