We were lucky to catch up with Jen Bosworth-Ramirez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My mom was an immigrant from Colombia who came to the US at 15. She threw herself into making a life here in the states, and then threw herself into creating a good life for me and my sister when she had us. She taught me the value of being a self starter, a go getter and someone who can be counted on to get the job done. She never gave up. She passed away at 67 from triple negative metastatic breast cancer and I was her caretaker while she was sick. I learned so much about her during that time and although it was so hard, I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it brought us so much closer as mother and daughter and it was a beautiful time as well. My father was the only child to a hard working single mom. He was raised on Chicago’s Northwest side in a one bedroom apartment. His mother, my grandma was the kindest, most loving woman I have ever met and she was instrumental in my wellbeing as a child. My mother was always working and it was my Grandma Helen who took care of me and my sister while my mother was away working My father went from stealing cars to selling them and then went back to school and got his PhD in Psychology. He taught me never to give up, and to be compassionate with myself and others. He is one of the reasons I went back to school and got my MA in Counseling Psychology and became a therapist. I have a BFA in Acting, and both my parents were hilarious people who had a fair for performing. I am so grateful for them both. My father passed away at 65 years old and I miss both of my parents dearly, but I am so glad they taught me what they did while they were on the planet.

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

Like many Latinas I do many things! I am a Communications Specialist, an Writer and an Actor. I blend my work as a trained mental health professional, a writer and a performer to help companies, organizations and individuals to tell meaningful stories and create impactful and inspiring branding and messaging. I also help folks pitch their work, and hone their public speaking skills. I am also a screenwriter. I am mostly focused on writing television these days but have also written essays for publication and am about to embark on a journey to write a YA novel about a young girl who turns to a coven of Vampires to try and save her mother from a terminal cancer diagnosis. As an actor I have appeared on TV and film, as well as in commercials and on stages around the country. My one woman show, WHY NOT ME, which I wrote and starred in, enjoyed 3 successful runs in Chicago and was the breakout hit of the New York International Fringe Festival. One weird, fun fact about me is that from 2001-2006 I worked as the Office Manager for Academy Award Winner Nicolas Cage! It was a wild, fun time and I learned so much about the entertainment industry. My job at his Saturn Films has helped me navigate my career and my life here in Los Angeles.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I thought that it was someone else’s job to “pick me,” “help me” and “choose me.” I was under the mistaken belief that my career depended on being “championed” by someone with more “power” than I had. As I got older and gained more experience, I learned this was NOT true and I had to go about unlearning this false belief. I am responsible for my career and my life. This living is an “inside job!” Yes, people can help, support and mentor, but ultimately it’s my job to achieve my goals and dreams. I wish I had learned this when I was younger, but I wasn’t ready to learn this until I was, and I now I do know, so I am living my life in a different way.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My life has been a series of pivots! I feel like I am pivoting on the daily some weeks! And that’s OK. I studied at a fancy theatre conservatory and thought I would move to LA and become a famous actor (we all did.) Insteady I moved from Chicago to LA, worked at a bookstore, then was tapped to work for Nic Cage’s company, then became a Licensed Professional Counselor, which led me back to acting and ultimately writing for television and film! And then I realized I could help other folks to harness their creativity and storytelling prowess so I began to work as a Comms Specialist, sort of by accident. LIfe is about being flexible for me. In all ways! Mentally, physically, career wise, relationships. The more I can stay flexible the more I seem to feel better about my life, my work and how I can be of service to others! Flexibility is key!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jenbosworthramirez.com
• Instagram: @missjenbosworthramirez
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.bosworth3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbosworth-ramirez/
• Twitter: @missjenbosworth

Image Credits
Johnny Knight Photography Karine Simon Photo Photography Joe Mazza Photography