"It's not what you know or who you know, it's who likes you."
There is not much, if anything that Jennifer Lechte can’t do.
And if she hasn’t done it yet, and the opportunity presents, you can be assured that she will eventually succeed with the utmost grace and poise.
The Early Years
Born and bred in Mooroopna and raised as a boarder at one of Melbourne’s most elite private girls schools, Jennifer Lechte certainly knew how to raise the bar with every endeavour undertaken. And it is no wonder why, when learning about her journey and the benchmark that was set higher than most from the beginning.
“It was never said that I had to be top of the class, but it was clearly expected. My father was a pharmacist and ran the Goulburn Valley hospital pharmacy in addition to two other pharmacies. My mother was a strong, dominating, champion sports woman and very much admired and respected throughout the Goulburn Valley. Both parents were high achievers however my mother was my biggest motivator as I wanted to be better than her, to please and impress her. Anything she put her mind to she was the best.”
As expected, the apple did not fall far from the tree. Jennifer excelled at school and was eventually accepted into law school, only to find out her dream of being a barrister would not come to fruition simply because she was a woman. Undefeated, she decided to be a PE teacher instead.
“I was 22 and started off teaching at North Paddington Comprehensive school in the UK. I was in the gym one day with about 200 students and a young girl threw a hard medicine ball at my head. I confronted her and she replied, ‘We need to fight.’ So, I agreed and laid down the rules ‘No gauging, no biting and no hair pulling.’ The students created a boxing ring for us and with everyone watching, we fought, and I won. After that, whenever I asked the students to do something or come to training, they did it. I was constantly challenged but at the end of my 2 years there, I knew I was strong enough to do anything.”
Jennifer continued on to teach at Melbourne Grammar and Camberwell Girls Grammar however it was at Templestowe Technical school that her career in football marketing began…by pure chance.
A Passion For Footy
“I organized a footy clinic with Fitzroy Football Club and at the end of the session, I pointed out to our Fitzroy visitors that all the kids were wearing Richmond jumpers, so I questioned them why they weren’t more involved. Their response was, ‘If you think you’re so smart, why don’t you come and market our football club?’ Despite them saying this in jest, I accepted the challenge immediately, assured them it was a done deal and that I was coming. I did not give them the chance to back out of their proposal.”
It took Jen five years to gain momentum at Fitzroy Football Club, but like everything else she put her mind to, it grew into a success. The club eventually played in the final four and she remained tenacious in her pursuits, knowing exactly what was needed to make the club successful.
In addition to her strong marketing capabilities, Jen’s sporting skills and background also held her in good stead.
“I could see at Fitzroy the footballers were still playing ‘kick-to-kick’ at the time… so I called Gary Wilson, and we talked PE teacher to PE teacher, not woman to man. I suggested he go and watch some hockey or women’s netball where you pass the ball to the space in front of the player with the indication of going left or right, not pass the ball directly to the player. Although it was taken on board, it was also followed up by a gentle reminder that I was not allowed to criticize the coach. How did they expect me to make money for the club when they were still playing kick-to-kick?”
It wasn’t until 1983 that the now-late John Elliott invited Jennifer to move to Carlton Football Club. “Initially I didn’t want to as I was on a mission to continue building up Fitzroy however, he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
So, Jennifer continued to excel and amongst other strategic feats at Carlton, set up the renowned ‘Presidents Men’.
“It was probably the most admired, respected and powerful business organization in Australia” states Jennifer.
“There were 55 Presidents men who at the time were paying a large sum of money to be a part of it and attend 9 home games, and they didn’t necessarily barrack for Carlton either, they just had to be part of it for business; stockbrokers, bankers, would be’s, could be’s. It was amazing to be a part of, it was wonderful.”
Melior - Shierlaw Avenue, Canterbury
Impact Sports Marketing
However, at the end of 1989, Jennifer decided it was time to leave Carlton and set up her own marketing company, Impact Sports Marketing. Here, she attracted many high-profile clients such as the Australian Cricket Board and the Melbourne Arts Centre where she set up the philanthropic group ‘Arts Angels’ for Richard Pratt. Jen also worked closely with Head of the TAC, Leon L’Huiller and gained exclusive sponsorship for the 1991 Motorcycle Grand Prix.
“Leon especially was a great mentor. He taught me the importance of attention to detail and courage and I’m very grateful to have worked with him.”
By 1992, Jennifer joined forces with her husband Peter Lechte, a high-end property expert with over 45 years in the industry behind him. However, to this day, she still looks back at Carlton with great fondness.
“In my opinion, I don’t think Carlton will ever be like that again. It was an era in itself.”
And although for some, being a woman working in football at the time was as every bit of difficult as one could imagine, Jennifer makes a point that she herself received nothing but respect at Carlton in particular.
“It also helped that I had earned my stripes in the industry.” She states with great satisfaction. And that she had.
Lechte Corporation
Jennifer is now co-director of Lechte Corporation with husband Peter and son Christopher Paul.
“Christopher has exceptional skill in feasibilities, management, and all areas of property development and over the years has become the driving force that has helped take the business to another level.”
For more than 25 years, this multi-million-dollar family business has been collaborating with the best in the industry to deliver exceptionally high end, design-rich developments in prominent locations such as Drewery Lane, Melbourne, Canterbury, West Melbourne, Hawthorn and more. It has a reputation as one of the most established and highly regarded property development companies in Melbourne synonymous with buildings of superior location, lifestyle, aesthetic design and investment performance.
When Jennifer and Peter commenced working together, they also worked closely with joint venture partner, Geoff Lord, as well as Gil Hoskins who was an actuary.
“They were great partners and we enjoyed working with them for years and years”
“In order to be successful, you don’t need to have the ability to do everything yourself, you just need to employ the people who have the ability to do it; the very best people you can possibly employ. Also, it’s not what you know or who you know, it’s who likes you. You have to be trustworthy, and you have to trust and work with trustworthy people. Trust could not be more important. I’m so lucky to deal with so many wonderful people who I really admire and genuinely like and trust.”
The Marker - Roden St. West Melbourne
When Jennifer is not scoping out new projects or collaborating on new residential masterpieces, she enjoys going to the gym, walking, golf, attending the opera and reading. However, the most important time is that spent with her family.
“I just love my family. When you walk into the room at any of our family functions you can just feel the love; there are hugs and so much love between us all.”
“Spirituality is also particularly important to me and since my 50’s, it has become essential to my being. During my time at Fitzroy, someone came to me and said the following, which became key to everything I do …
“Whatever you vividly imagine, ardently desire and enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.”
I have that in a frame on my desk and now I start every day strong, with a short 5–10-minute meditation, because whatever you think about comes about. Then I just go out there, be myself, strong and confident and do my work.”
