2020 Magazine  is pleased to announce that our own Pro to Pro Editor, Deborah Kotob, was nominated in the Mentor category for MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN OPTICAL BY Vision Monday Magazine

Deborah Kotob, ABOM, NCLE

Director of Education and Training Development
Jobson Health Information
Hopkinton, Massachusetts

CHOSEN BECAUSE… “Her insights into optics, especially new technologies, make the information easy to understand and embrace. Deb is dedicated to educating all opticians, from novices to those with years of experience. She shares her passion and excitement for the field in a way that ignites those feelings in others.”

Deborah Kotob creates continuing education courses, editorial content and oversees 20/20 Magazine’s educational content for Pro to Pro. She considers her major accomplishment at Jobson to be enhancing the 20/20 Pro to Pro education learner experience while adding value for the CE sponsors.

She said, “Learners, especially younger generations, are seeking digital interactive online options, accessible from their devices, whether tablets, phones, or laptops. 20/20 Pro to Pro CE sponsors receive the added value option of presenting education on their new technology via an interactive and responsive online delivery platform.”

Kotob, got her start in optical as a Giorgio Armani frame representative for Luxottica, in San Diego. She went on to owning and operating two high-end optical boutiques, which she sold. She said, “My experience in frame sales and retail/business ownership paved the way for over 10 years with Vision Ease, which ignited two things in me: My love of optics and my love of training and content development.”

When it comes to management style Kotob, takes her cue from the book titled “Multipliers - How the best leaders make everyone smarter” by Liz Wiseman. “The author describes the difference between leaders that are diminishers versus those that are multipliers. Multipliers ‘amplify the smarts and capabilities of others.’ Suppose all managers thought like mentors, helping others fulfill their potential—imagine the untapped talent that would bloom.” Kotob, credits her success to her mentors who are many but feels that Andre White and Tina Lahti must be mentioned as each pulled her up and encouraged her to grow and both were instrumental in her achievements in optical.

SHE SAYS… “My favorite signature quotes include, ‘Worry is a debt paid before it’s due’ (Confucius). ‘The answer is always NO if you never ask.’ (Author unknown) and ‘Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.’ (Albert Einstein)”