We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Schwartz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

Taking risks is about getting out on the skinny branch of life, doing the things that feel most hard and allowing yourself to grow out of your comfort zone. Risks are also the things that make life worth living…let me explain!

The term “risk” we associate most with decision making from our headspace, weighing pros and cons and taking analytical action. And there’s massive value in taking risks instead from our heartspace. If we think of risks as going after our dreams and truest desires in an intuitive and open hearted way, we allow ourselves to come from a more authentic and purposeful place. I’d go so far to say that whatever you want most, you’ll need to take a massive risk to receive it!

From a career perspective this could be simply talking with a colleague about salary transparency, interviewing to enter back into the workforce after a break or sharing with your boss about your desire for a promotion and your plan to step more into your leadership. From a more personal perspective, this could be telling someone you’ve been on a few dates with that you’re excited about them or sharing with a friend that you were hurt. Taking risks requires us to get vulnerable, be courageous and share ourselves deeply.

Leaving a successful career as a Creative Director in advertising to become a Certified Professional Coach and launch my own business felt like a massive risk. Even though creating a purpose led business was one of my greatest dreams, it still felt like a big scary mountain that I had no idea how to climb!

The more risks we take, the more we grow our capacity and create more of what we truly desire. Every single time you take a risk that’s meaningful to you, celebrate it, no matter the outcome! The fact that you took that risk and shared your desire is a massive win!

Remember, the brain will absolutley talk us out of taking risks way more than it talks us into them. The heart has a different energy and an intuitive knowing that leaves space for our deepest desires.

I work with people everyday to take risks, share their desires out loud, and create meaningful aligned action towards their most beautiful, connected and sacred lives!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I’m a life and professional coach and even more importantly I’m a creative seeker, intuitive practitioner, embodied dancer and strive to live curiously from an open heart. I’m deeply passionate about the work I do in my business because for years life felt so freakin’ hard! I had achieved much success in my career, but my soul felt completely malnourished. In most people’s eyes, I had the perfect “dream job”– flying all over the country and crafting up the next big idea. In reality, I felt like I was drowning, working endless nights, canceling dates and plans with friends and booking out conference rooms to cry. So when people come to me now and say they’re surprised with feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or uninspired because they’ve always been high achieving, I absolutely get it!

The work that I do with people is like diving into the deep end of the pool! It’s inviting people to tap into their intuition, go after the things they most desire, and getting curious about what those desire even are.

It’s a deep honor to do the work that I do, to explore people’s deepest fears and their biggest dreams to create their most beautiful and sacred life!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I live in NYC but also have spent some time in LA.

My favorite spots in NYC is definitely Central Park and the West Side Highway. This city has such amazing energy and then feeling the expansion in Central Park. It’s twists and turns are so amazing and feels like an oasis in the middle of Manhattan.

In LA Santa Monica has been my home base. I loved Sunday afternoons at Ecstatic Dance on Venice beach, exploring the trails of Temescal Canyon, and meditations on Zuma Beach! Those are some of my favorite things!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I choose to shoutout my mom, Renée Todres, who was my biggest cheerleader in life. She was the first person to say, I can do whatever I set my mind and heart to. She helped me set up a booth when I was 7 at a town fair to sell my handmade jewelry and filled our house with my artwork. She loved how creative I am and most importantly helped ME love that creativity too.

She taught me so much, but most of all to find joy in all parts of life. She was a big guiding light for me to let life be fun, especially when you have no idea what you’re doing. I think of my mom everyday, as she passed away 2 years ago and I am grateful to have had her in my corner for so many years. Thanks mom, I love you!

Website: https://www.jenniferschwartz.coach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferschwartz__/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-schwartz-coaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.schwartz.coaching/

Other: I have another business called “Create + Lead”, specifically designed for the next generation of leaders in the creative industry who want to create more everyday balance and intention in their careers. My co-founder, Kim Tice and I run group coaching cohorts called “The Engaged Leader”. The next one kicks off in January 2023 and the website is: https://www.createandlead.co/

Image Credits
All photos taken by Jenny Moloney. Thank you for adding her name/site to the image credits! https://jennymoloney.com/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.