We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Briskin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.
Jennifer, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
The biggest risk I have ever taken was walking away from a thriving business to start Listening Tree Healing Studio—a venture built purely on intuition, passion, and a deep belief in its impact. Over 25 years ago, I took a similar leap, leaving behind a successful career in Human Resources at General Electric, where I had stock options, a great salary, benefits, and an incredible team. I founded HR Innovations from the ground up because I wanted to specialize in what truly lit me up—organizational development and coaching—rather than staying in a broad HR role that included areas that didn’t inspire me. That risk paid off, leading to a rewarding career, a prestigious client roster, and financial success. But deep down, I always knew there was another calling waiting for me.
Now, I’m taking that leap again. I am leaving behind the security of a lucrative business and trusted clients to build something entirely new—one that merges my lifelong skills in coaching and mentoring with my deep love for health, wellness, and energy work. Listening Tree Healing Studio is about serving creatives, particularly young artists who often don’t have access to the resources, support, or guidance they need. This is not about financial gain; it’s about creating an affordable, meaningful space where emerging musicians, songwriters, and creatives can find balance, confidence, and clarity. I trust my gut, and it tells me this work will create a ripple effect—a legacy that extends far beyond me. Betting on myself and my purpose, once again, is the biggest risk I’ve taken. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jennifer, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those just getting to know me, I’m a coach, mentor, and energy healer dedicated to helping creatives thrive—personally and professionally. My journey has been anything but traditional. I spent decades in leadership development, coaching, and consulting, helping executives and teams thrive in corporate environments. After leaving a senior HR role at General Electric, I started my own successful business, HR Innovations, where I specialized in organizational development. While I built a thriving career coaching executives and developing leadership programs for Fortune 500 companies, my heart has always been drawn to mentoring and guiding creative people—those forging their paths in industries that often lack structured support. That calling led me to launch Listening Tree Healing Studio, a business dedicated to helping creatives find balance, confidence, and clarity in their artistic and personal lives.
At Listening Tree Healing Studio, I combine my expertise in coaching with my passion for energy healing, intuitive guidance, and holistic well-being. I offer one-on-one coaching, workshops, and immersive sessions tailored to musicians, actors, songwriters, and other creatives, helping them navigate challenges like anxiety, self-doubt, career uncertainty, and burnout. Many of my clients are incredibly talented but struggle with organization, confidence, and self-advocacy—whether managing their time, setting boundaries in the industry, or preparing for high-stakes conversations with labels or managers. My work blends intuitive coaching, practical career strategies, and energy alignment to help them own their power, remove creative blocks, and step fully into their potential.
My deep understanding of the creative and corporate worlds sets me apart. I bridge the gap between structure and flow, helping emerging talent develop their artistry and navigate the business side of their careers with confidence and clarity. I also believe in accessibility—many young creatives lack the resources to invest in personal development, so I strive to offer affordable pricing and free workshops to make this work available to those who need it most.
What I’m most proud of is the ripple effect of my work—the transformation I see when a struggling artist gains confidence, a songwriter steps into their voice, or a young actor lands a role after learning how to manage their energy and mindset. Listening Tree Healing Studio is more than a business; it’s a movement to empower creatives at the deepest level, offering them tools they won’t find anywhere else. If there’s one thing I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know, it’s this: You are not alone in your creative journey. There is a way to align your artistry with success, confidence, and well-being—and I’m here to help you get there.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is saying “yes” to opportunities that aren’t truly aligned with who I am today. For years, I took on work and clients out of obligation—whether it was not wanting to disappoint someone, feeling like I “should” say yes, or simply because the paycheck was hard to turn down. But I’ve learned the hard way that just because an opportunity is lucrative doesn’t mean it’s the right fit. If I don’t pause and ask myself, Does this serve me as much as it serves them? I end up in situations where the work feels heavy, draining, and misaligned. I’ve had assignments that looked great on paper but left me feeling depleted because the clients weren’t fully invested, or the work no longer reflected the direction I wanted to grow in.
After deciding to step away from this kind of work, I agreed to take on one final client, thinking it would be a meaningful way to close out this chapter. At first, everything seemed promising—the client was engaged, the work was important, and I believed I could help. But as time went on, something felt off. There were strange disruptions—team conflicts escalating in unexpected ways, emotional breakthroughs that didn’t quite lead to lasting change, and an underlying resistance that I couldn’t shake. While the work itself was valuable, I sensed a lack of true commitment to transformation, which made every step forward feel heavier than it should. Even outside the sessions, unusual obstacles kept appearing—mudslides disrupting my travel, bizarre weather, and a sudden, debilitating case of vertigo (a literal loss of balance). Looking back, I realize these were all signs from the universe, nudging me to recognize that this work no longer aligned with who I was becoming. In the end, the client faded away, and instead of chasing after it, I listened to the lesson: it was time to step into the next chapter of my journey fully.
Now, I approach every decision with deep intentionality. Before committing to anything, I get still, put my hand on my heart, and listen in. I have to practice what I teach—honoring alignment, trusting my intuition, and recognizing that when something isn’t the right fit for me, it’s likely not the best for them either. When I take on work that is truly aligned—for both me and my clients—the energy shifts. The work flows effortlessly, and the impact is profound. It creates a ripple effect, transforming not just their lives but mine. This shift hasn’t been easy; it requires trust, faith, and a willingness to say “no” when something doesn’t feel right. But I’ve found that by being intentional, I attract more of the right clients—those who are committed, ready for transformation, and aligned with the kind of work that lights me up. And that’s where the magic happens.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
A story that reflects resilience in my journey is my decision to reinvent myself—not just once, but twice—by walking away from successful businesses to start something completely new. The first time was when I left a high-paying corporate job at General Electric, turning down stock options, benefits, and stability to create my own consulting firm, HR Innovations. Despite the uncertainty, I built that business from the ground up, and it became highly successful. Yet, after decades of working with Fortune 500 companies, I felt a pull toward something different—something more deeply aligned with my soul’s work.
The second time was even more challenging. I had an established business, long-term clients, and financial security, yet I felt a calling I could no longer ignore. I knew coaching and mentoring were my gifts, but I wanted to integrate my passion for energy healing, creativity, and holistic well-being. Leaping to start Listening Tree Healing Studio was terrifying—I had to trust myself completely, walking away from a lucrative career into something unknown. I was shifting my entire business model and pivoting to an entirely different audience—from seasoned executives and corporate leaders to early-career creative talent in their 20s and 30s. These are young musicians, actors, songwriters, and artists navigating an industry that looks completely different from the corporate world I had spent decades advising. It was a massive leap of faith—not only learning to speak their language, understand their challenges, and connect with their unique struggles but also adapting to an entirely new way of working, from the technology they use to how they consume information and seek support.
Beyond just shifting the who of my work, I’ve also had to embrace the how—learning to step into my true self after years of presenting a version of myself that was polished for corporate spaces. For decades, I played the expected role—dressing the part, speaking the language, and showing up in a way that fit the high-powered executive world I had worked in since my 20s. But deep down, I’ve always been boho, music-loving, creative, intuitive—and now, I finally show up as my true self. This transition has been eye-opening for me and my friends and former clients who only knew me one way. Some don’t understand this evolution, but that’s part of resilience too—standing in your truth, even when others don’t see it yet. To fully step into this new chapter, I even bought a place in Nashville, putting myself at the heart of the creative world I want to serve.
One of the most profound lessons in resilience came when I faced external resistance and internal fear. There were moments when financial uncertainty tested my faith, I had to turn down work that didn’t align, and I had to fully commit to the belief that the right clients and opportunities would come. And they did. Today, Listening Tree Healing Studio is thriving, and I know that every step of this journey—every risk, every challenge, every moment of uncertainty—was necessary to bring me here. Resilience isn’t just about pushing through obstacles; it’s about having the courage to walk away from what no longer serves you, adapt to a new audience, and build something from the ground up—even when everything about it feels unfamiliar and uncertain. And most importantly, resilience is about giving yourself permission to be who you were always meant to be finally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.listeningtreehealing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferbriskin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ListeningTreeHealing/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-briskin-creativecoach/
Image Credits
Anna Haas at Anna Haas Creative in Nashville