We recently connected with Jennifer Zimmermann and have shared our conversation below.
Jennifer , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
My mother was a true entrepreneur, a spirit she inherited from her own family. She came to this country from the Dominican Republic at the age of 16. Her own mother, my grandmother, was a school teacher, and my grandfather was an entrepreneur as well. My mother later opened her first business, a children’s boutique, when I was in third grade. By the time I was in sixth grade, she’d had two businesses that failed, but instead of giving up, she decided to pivot into an industry she knew nothing about: motion picture camera houses.
She started working under my godfather, and a few years later, she bought his business in NYC. She tragically passed away in 2021, and I remember her always saying that this business was what allowed our family to have the opportunities we had growing up. Today, Cinemavision is still open and continues to be a part of the storytelling industry. It’s because of her that I’ve learned to lean into my fears, understanding that taking risks is an essential part of being creative and pursuing your passions.
The first major risk I took was deciding to get divorced. My son, was only four years old at the time. I was scared, but I knew my life would be completely different today had I not made that decision. At 36, I had three semesters left to complete my bachelor’s degree. In 2016, I graduated from Rutgers University, and two weeks later, I started at New York University, Silver School of Social Work, graduating from their accelerated program in 2017.
While attending NYU, I had an employee-based internship in Mental Health and Addiction Services for adolescents and families. However, I constantly felt unsatisfied and yearned for more challenge in my career. After 13 years in mental health services, I decided to walk away and pivot into education. I found myself at an all-boys private school and took a $25,000 pay cut. This was another risk, as I eventually wanted to work in a public school district and have a private therapy practice. Working at the private school helped me reconnect with what I truly wanted out of my career.
In 2020, COVID and the lockdown began. I would never suggest starting an education career during a pandemic! Not only did I have to start a new career, but I also had to relearn what education looked like. At that point, a school counselor I had worked closely with in the clinical world reached out. She said she was going to retire and encouraged me to apply for her position. I thought about it, and on the day before the application process closed, I submitted my application. I went through three rounds of interviews and found myself in a public school system, making more than I had lost when I began this journey. The risk was high because I needed to survive, but the gain was much greater, and I’m now working with people I love dearly.
Then, on January 12, 2021, just a couple of months into my new role, I received a phone call at 7:30 a.m. I found out my mother had been killed. My world turned upside down. I was then faced with many decisions that required further risk-taking, and that’s exactly what I did. It was then I realized the school district I was in, and currently am in, took a risk on me and supported me with immense love.
My family, especially the children, were devastated. We had to sit my son, Sebastian, who was 10 at the time, and my two 14-year-old nephews down to tell them what happened. I took a risk and decided to tell them, at their young ages, what had happened to their grandmother.
From 2022 to today, I’ve been working tirelessly on processing my grief and continuing to take risks that lead me to healthier places. A year ago, I decided I needed an infusion in my career and started a podcast. Originally, I wanted to discuss dating and relationships, something I’d always wanted to do. And of course, like anything new, you start, you stop, you go back to the drawing board, and you identify things that don’t work.
In April 2025, I decided to rebrand my podcast and its nature. This is when I connected with various creatives, from music to beauty and wellness influencers, to authors of poetry and memoirs, and musicians —all the art forms that allow people to share their stories. It was then I thought to myself, “Wow, these conversations are ways people tell their own story.” Part of art is the creative process and a story coming to life. Creatives create for different reasons, but I found that there is a common thread: it helps us connect to ourselves, and it allows people to connect with us through our art form. It is only through taking risks, over and over again, that I’ve found courage to place myself in vulnerable situations, allowing me to connect with my truth.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
If you were to ask the people closest to me, they’d describe me as strong, self-expressive, unflinching, resilient, honest, self-aware, unapologetically myself, a deep thinker, genuine, bold, and magnetic. These qualities aren’t just descriptors; they’re the foundation of everything I do.
Despite the saturated field of podcasting, I’ve chosen to step into this new world. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked as a therapist in various capacities, honing communication into my art form. My life experiences have been my greatest teachers, gifting me with what I now consider pearls of wisdom.
Unscripted_2.0 is more than just a podcast; it’s a platform where I connect with other creatives who bravely share their unique experiences and vulnerabilities. This journey has also allowed me to cultivate and share my own creativity with the world. The conversations on Unscripted_2.0 are always honest, unfiltered, and genuine.
My core message to listeners is this: you can live the life you envision, even despite the most extreme circumstances. I aim to create a space where creatives can openly discuss what truly led them to create. Often, it’s through their unique circumstances that a disruptor transforms into a powerful change agent.
Ultimately, I want to be known as someone who created impact in the world, rather than letting the world change me.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
For me, the most powerful strategy for growing my clientele has been staying authentic and relatable. It’s incredibly liberating to allow myself to be misunderstood, freeing me from the burden of trying to be someone I’m not. A valuable lesson came from a recent podcast guest: once your decisions stray from your core “why,” you risk losing the very mission of your purpose. I’ve learned that opinions about my work are irrelevant to me. Instead, I trust that my genuine authenticity is what naturally attracts people to my work and me. Where I once felt reserved about my unique spirit, I now embrace it fully, recognizing it as a gift to share with the world.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What’s genuinely helped me build my reputation in my market is consistently making decisions that are in the best interest of the client, the student, or the project I’m working on. I’m someone who never shies away from hard work; there’s no task I’ll say no to. I truly believe I’m not better than anyone else.
Whether working on teams or leading them, it’s crucial to demonstrate that a good leader or team player always maintains integrity by continually circling back to “the why”—why we’re here and what we aim to accomplish. This commitment ensures that authenticity, which I believe is my magnetic quality, remains at the core of every endeavor.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Unscripted_2.0
- Linkedin: Jennifer Zimmermann
- Other: Unscripted_2.0 can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Unscripted 2.0 is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Photo credit: Cindy Ralat. @ralatsocialside
Location: The Creators Loft JC