Jennifer C. Einolf
Jennifer C. Einolf tells us that, “As the founder and CEO of Bold Whisper, I work with innovative, visionary leaders to design clarity, to enhance communication, and to harvest creativity–their creativity and the creativity of the teams with which they work. They hire me as an executive coach, as a team coach, as a communication coach, and as a facilitator–working in ways that unlock their potential as a leader and the potential of their partnership with their teams.I started my love affair with powerful questions a long time ago. Slowly, over time, I came to understand that that is the power of coaching and I fell in love with that as well.”
What were your early years like? Could you share a bit about your life before you began your coaching journey?
I prioritize learning. Because of that, I put myself through a lot of learning opportunities as I found my way to my calling. I have worked as an office manager for a religious institution, as a library assistant for an anthropology department, as a receptionist in a small real estate investment firm, and, for quite some time, as a commercial interior designer designing university, hospital, and corporate environments. I moved slowly toward coaching as I explored what is out there. And then, in 2016, I completed my coach training and began building my coaching practice.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
There have been several turning points. My father died when I was 12 and my life changed drastically. I had to learn to grieve, to grow, to be in a family with only one parent, a family that changed rapidly to a different sort of home. I met my husband in college and the two of us packed up a hatchback car after graduation and moved all the way across the country just for the adventure. We learned so much about the world, about each other, and about ourselves as we traveled across the country and then when we drove back after our year of adventure. My son changed everything again when he arrived. I had the opportunity to stay home with him for a few years and I built a home-based business teaching art. Nurturing my son and learning to run a business was a huge opportunity, challenge, and learning experience.. In 2015, I entered coach training and the process was personally and professionally transformational. I think life is a series of turning points. Some of them sneak up and don’t reveal their magnitude until you’ve passed through them. Some of them loom like cliffs and announce their magnitude with a roar. The only thing I know for sure is that they will keep coming.
Everyone faces unique challenges when starting an entrepreneurial journey. The most valuable lessons often come from understanding how these challenges are managed. Could you share the difficulties you’ve encountered and the strategies you’ve used to cope with them?
I am who I am because of the people who have taught me, nurtured me, challenged me, cheered for me, and advised me. It has been critically important for me to be in community with other coaches and entrepreneurs through formal groups like ICF and National Speaker’s Association and through informal groups of friends who connect at regular intervals and share the path. It took me five years to be able to clearly describe my ideal client. I’ve had to learn to make a website, to answer a request for proposal, to engage in sales conversations with integrity, to frame up offers with marketing and with agreements, to manage cash flow, to beta test new products, to make strategic decisions. Every achievement ushers in new challenges and opportunities and my life as an entrepreneur has been a beautiful chain of challenge, learning, execution, and achievement. Lather, rinse, repeat.
What impact do you feel you have been able to create with your work so far and how would you want to grow in the next few years?
I work with high-achieving, intelligent, creative, principled leaders and amazing, capable, innovative teams. It has been such a privilege to facilitate growth and to unlock potential for the people who are moving us all forward on this planet. I am motivated by a firm belief that if everyone knew their true value and then acted consistent with that value, lived into that, the world would be transformed. I want to continue to grow my company to expand that work–to impact more amazing humans as we work together on this planet to design the best possible future.
Would you like to share with our aspiring young women entrepreneurs the changes you would like to see in the world if given the opportunity?
There is much work to be done. I’m actually starting a revolution–the Ditch the Doom revolution. We are singing the doom narrative loudly–that we are past hope, that our challenges, our divisions are just too big. What will save us is what has always saved us. We need to sing the song of hope, to engage our courage, to harvest our creativity and to collaborate across community silos. The work that I do is my contribution to that–encouraging that, supporting the people who are engaged in that work, and hosting the conversations that open up those possibilities.
Women are increasingly becoming a powerful presence in workplaces worldwide, breaking through glass ceilings and reaching top leadership positions. What are your thoughts on women’s leadership today?
It is our time. We’ve been living too long in an unbalanced world that has discounted the feminine, the wisdom, the skills of women. It is time to right that balance, to inject the contributions of the missing half of the planet into our public life and our plans. There is so much danger in proceeding from one perspective. If we’re going to navigate the challenges of climate change, the divisions and pressures of global connection, the massive changes that technology is poised to deliver, we need everyone engaged. We need women to develop their leadership skills, to frame their perspective, and to learn to influence the conversation. We need to be courageous, to be persistent, and to be unstoppable. We also need to be loving, caring, and collaborative.
Your grit and determination are making a significant impact, serving as an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs. What message would you like to share with our young women leaders and audience reading this?
Yes, you can and should learn from others. Ultimately, you contribute the most when you design your own path–your unique way of doing business, your flavor of leadership, your voice. Take in the advice, process it, and shed everything that isn’t yours. Bring what only you can bring.