Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Natalie Jenkins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Natalie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

My latest venture Anywhere But Home started with a post.

One afternoon I jumped on Threads and shared something honest. I love working remotely but I desperately needed to get out of the house. I shared that I wanted to challenge myself to work from a cafe or cute coworking space once a week. I wasn’t trying to start a business or testing an idea. I was just being real.

And then hundreds of people responded.

Comment after comment said the same thing:
“Yes.”
“Same.”
“I’m losing my mind at home.”
“I need a change of scenery.”

That moment felt bigger than a social media post. It felt like proof. So instead of letting it live and die on the timeline, I created a group chat. And I gave it a name I had been toying with for months: Anywhere But Home. I didn’t know when or how I would use it, but it all came together in the most amazing way. Just a space for people who felt the same way to connect, and they showed up.

That’s when I realized this wasn’t just about productivity. It was about people craving community in this new era of remote work.

I shared what was happening with my longtime friend Rebekah (we’ve been close for over 20 years) and she immediately said, “I’ve been feeling the same thing.” She loved the heart behind it. We’ve always understood each other deeply, so inviting her to build this with me felt natural. It wasn’t a business decision first, it was a shared conviction.

Building Anywhere But Home together has been especially meaningful because we’re not just co-founders, we’re lifelong friends who genuinely care about how people experience belonging.

The validation came quickly. The response to that single post showed us there was a real, unspoken need. Remote work has given people flexibility but it has also increased isolation. People don’t necessarily want structured networking events. They just want to not feel alone while they work.

The logic was simple:
• Remote work is growing.
• Loneliness is growing.
• Informal, low-pressure gathering spaces are shrinking.
Now here we are, 230+ laptop warriors later in our steadily growing community of chosen co-workers.

Anywhere But Home is really about restoring rhythm and connection. We curate weekly coworking meetups across the DMV at local cafes and we keep it welcoming, consistent, and intentional.

What excites me most is that this didn’t start as a perfectly packaged idea. It started as honesty, and honesty created community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

For those who may not know me yet, I’m a strategic communications and brand builder at heart, and a community curator by calling.

I’ve spent more than eight years helping purpose-driven brands, founders, and organizations clarify who they are, refine how they communicate, and build systems that allow their work and impact to be amplified. Through my agency StrateJenk, I’ve supported entrepreneurs, nonprofits, creative teams, small businesses, and institutions with brand strategy, messaging development, marketing frameworks, campaign planning, digital strategy, and executive positioning.

I got into this work because I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of brand identity and impact. Also, I love people and I love helping others shine their light as brightly as possible.

Over the years, my work has expanded beyond just building brands. In this season, I’m really excited about the work we are doing to bring people together with Anywhere But Home.

The problem we’re solving is subtle but powerful: modern isolation. Remote work is efficient, but it can quietly disconnect people from rhythm, creativity, and belonging. We’re building with intentionality and without intensity. We’re building consistency, culture, and comfort. That middle ground matters and we have tons of new things coming down the pike that we can’t wait to share with our community members.

Personally, what I’m most proud of is the fact that everything I build, whether it be the a brand strategy or a coworking community, is rooted in care.

I care about how people experience work.
I care about how founders experience growth.
I care about how communities experience belonging.

The main thing I want potential clients, collaborators, and community members to know is this: I build for purpose. If you’re doing the same, we’re aligned!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

We met in kindergarten.

We were both homeschooled and attended the same group classes, and on the very first day, I was crying. I didn’t want to be there. I was nervous, overwhelmed, and fully prepared to have a terrible time.

Rebekah, on the other hand, was calm.

She saw me crying, walked over, and basically adopted me on the spot. She took me under her wing, made sure I felt included, and stayed close that entire day. We’ve been locked in ever since.

Over the years, we’ve grown up together through awkward phases, big dreams, faith shifts, career pivots, and becoming women. There’s a deep level of trust and understanding that only comes from decades of shared life.

When Anywhere But Home started gaining traction and I told her what was happening, she immediately understood the heart behind it and was all in. Inviting her to build this with me wasn’t a strategic partnership decision it was honestly instinct

We know each other’s strengths, balance each other well, and most importantly, we genuinely care about people in the same way.

There’s something really special about building a community-centered business with someone who has been part of your community for over 20 years.

In a way, Anywhere But Home reflects how our friendship started. Someone noticing someone else feeling alone… and choosing to step in. That’s still the spirit behind everything we’re building.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

There are 3 books that one of my first mentors told me to read shortly after I began my entrepreneurial journey that stuck with me:
– The E Myth by Michael Gerber
– The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven Scott
– Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Contact Info:

• Website: https://natjenk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejenkins___?igsh=MWprcTF2OXFrZ3g5Yw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nnjenkins?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app