Jen Brown is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Engaging Educator. Through EE, her pedagogical approach of Improv as Continuing Education has reached over 25,000 people – all non-actors! Since 2012, Jen has given three TEDx Talks on the power of Improv, grown EE to two locations in NYC and Winston-Salem, NC and recently began The Engaging Educator Foundation, a 501(c)(3) which offers free and low-cost Improv workshops for educators, at-risk adults, teens and students on the Autism Spectrum. Currently, Jen happily resides in Winston-Salem with her husband, who she met while teaching an improv class – and no, he wasn’t the best person in the class, in fact, he was the worst.

Click to tweet: .@jenoleniczak is sharing her story to inspire you on Women Taking the Lead https://womentakingthelead.com/231 #inspiration

Playing Small Moment

When Jen started Engaging Ed, she was also a museum educator, working at different museums part time. Any time Jen was asked about her “improv thing,” she would downplay it into a hobby. After about two years, someone pointed out that she had a logo and a brand, and that pushed her to embrace Engaging Ed for what it really was, her business.

The Wake Up Call

Jen was working with a collaborator at the time, so she could continue to say yes to various projects. An old acquaintance of Jen’s called, wanting to hire Engaging Ed for team building. When Jen presented this idea to her collaborator, he blew up at her and retaliated with name-calling. After this altercation, Jen took a huge leap and moved to Winston-Salem, away from New York and her collaboration.

Style of Leadership

Jen is type A, creative, and likes control over situations to a certain extent. It takes her a minute to delegate,  but she often pushes those around her to creatively meet goals in their own way.

What Are You Excited About?

Jen is excited about the customer service-centric workshops she has started to teach with Engaging Ed. These trainings teach people to listen better. In improv, listening is everything.

Jen is also very close to sending her book off for publishing . This book is not just for actors, it shows how improv ties into the goodness of life.

Current Business Challenge

Jen is always looking for ways to show that Engaging Ed is different, that she is different. Jen may not be the first to take improv and tie it into business, but what they do at Engaging Ed is different.

Leadership Practice

Before Jen opens her computer, she makes a written list of what she is working on.

Advice For Younger Self

“Hang in there, kid.”

Inspirational Quote

“You aren’t pizza. You won’t please everyone.”

Links

Twitter: @jenoleniczak or @TheEngagingEd Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheEngagingEducator Website: www.theengagingeducator.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDBbmyWo3KYSHAcgtFYKfFw

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Resources

Private Facebook Community: Chat, share and collaborate with other women in the community!

Accomplished: How to Go from Dreaming to Doing: A simple, step by step system that gives you the foundation and structure to take your goals and make them happen.

The Accomplished Community: A community of entrepreneurial Type A women uniting to achieve their biggest goals with confidence, integrity and a sense of humor.

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