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

Alright, Jenny thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career.

I had a couple of fantastic teachers in grade school that I think set the tone for me feeling empowered to follow my creativity. My fourth grade teacher started class every morning my playing (on the record player!) Cat Stevens’s song Morning Has Broken. I guess this could be considered a small thing, but for me, it was huge. Besides being a beautiful song, hearing music before a day full of schoolwork just centered and calmed me. Mr. Minarck, our teacher, was an athlete and an incredibly sensitive human. I remember that he read us inspiring stories from the newspaper now and again, and he’d choke up, exhale and say, “Children, this is a very powerful story.” It was incredible to see an adult exhibit that kind of emotion. He normalized feeling deeply for many generations of fourth graders!

Reading, music, and empathy were a powerful part of my education, and the idea of banning books, cutting arts programs, and things that help children express and expand their view are critically important, and it’s up to all of us to work together to make sure our kids have everything they need to flourish.

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.

People have shared their stories with me since I was very young. I grew up as a reader, a climber of trees, a curious child who, like one of my favorite writers, Annie Dillard wrote, wanted to “explore the neighborhood.”

As a professional writer with more than 20 years experience in the creative industries, I’ve had the pleasure of listening, observing, asking questions, and writing the stories for hundreds of businesses, brands, non-profits, and entrepreneurs across the U.S. and around the world.

The work I do and the people I do it with and for give me the unique opportunity to learn new things constantly, to dig deeply into subjects, geographies, and causes I may not have otherwise known or explored. At its best, the work I do is about seeking out purpose and passion, revealing their essence, and sharing it with the world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In 2009, I was laid off from my job (part of the economic down turn) and lost my Dad. It felt like the ground was slipping out from beneath me in so many ways. Eventually, I reached out to my networks of friends and former colleagues and with their support, built up my freelance practice and found my footing again, both personally and professionally. I like to think that my Dad also played a supporting role in those early days, as I struggled to understand who I was without him. I continue to be grateful for and lean into the friends and creative community that held and nurtured me during that time and hope I’ve been able to do the same for them.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I strive to be a lifelong learner. So, rather than thinking there is some destination to reach, I try to live and work in a way that embraces the ongoing pursuit of knowledge and experience. Can I live and work in a way that follows my own curiosity? I think that’s the place from which some of my most rewarding moments flow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jennybadman.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/jenny_badman/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-badman-9698198/