Life and Work with Jen DeVore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen DeVore.

Jen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I did everything that was expected of me as a young woman raised in the “women can have it all” 1980s. I admired the powerful women I saw on sitcoms like Angela Bower on “Who’s the Boss” with their big shoulder pads and sky-high hairdos.

Lacking a powerful female role model in my life, I clung to those TV role models and mimicked them in my real life trying to “have it all.”

I graduated college – check!
Landed a high powered job – check!
(I worked at Kennedy Space Center managing marketing. I worked with astronauts & celebrities, put in 60+ hours per week.)
Earned a master’s degree at night while working at KSC to move up the corporate ladder- check!
Married Mr. Right (now) before I turned 30 to avoid the social stigma of being unmarried- check! (I had nothing in common with him.)
Eventually, I quit Kennedy Space Center to chase the money in a job I hated in pharma sales because my former husband told me to. – check!

Behind closed doors, the reality was that living a “good on paper” life gave me an unfulfilled career, a divorce, and tons of stress.

I felt like a raccoon with my arm caught in a trap. Have you ever felt that way?

Rock bottom came in 2013 when I was diagnosed with a tumor caused by endometriosis. The emergency hysterectomy was three months before my wedding to my second husband. We planned to elope to Paris and I was devastated.

I had four organs removed in three surgeries in two years from endometriosis.

One day, while recovering from surgery after surgery, I decided to give up “good on paper” and started making bold decisions in my life.

Started my own business helping other women achieve their full potential.
Got married in Paris.
Wrote multiple books.
Recently moved across the country from Florida to Colorado at 46 years old.

What I’ve learned helping people

What I’ve learned from speaking and coaching thousands of women is that not only are women today still people-pleasing and living “good on paper” lives, but now more than ever we suffer from unrealistic expectations due to social media forcing almost constant bombardment of what the “perfect” life is supposed to be like.

So, right now, let’s have a conversation about how to banish “being good on paper” and people-pleasing forever so we can have lives of greatness and step into our full potential.

I want the women I mentor to be empowered to live a bold and brilliant life on their own terms unaffected by media influences, family expectations, or spouses that don’t see their full potential.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Building a life and business I love has been full of challenges! My advice for young women who are just starting is, to begin with, the end in mind.

Think purposefully about the kind of woman you want to become and then take action every day on making that life happen.

Start small, but dream big.

Please tell us about Boss Women Rock.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Jen DeVore Richter enjoyed an achievement filled career as a marketing executive working for NASA at Kennedy Space Center, a Fortune 500 Pharma Company, and ABC TV.

But, after a life-changing health battle, she decided to reinvent her life and began a personal and professional mission to inspire and empower women to reach their full potential.

The results of this approach include reduced entrepreneurial burnout, financial magnetism, and being seen as an industry leader – key concepts which can lead to greater income, influence, and impact.

Jen is a multi-published author, professional keynote speaker, Business Breakthrough Specialist, and the Editor in Chief of the Boss Women Rock™ magazine and host of the podcast on iTunes.

She is a media contributor frequently appearing on TV, radio, and podcast interviews across the globe.

She is well-known for leading a movement for Rising Influencers and “Boss Women Rock” is fast becoming the mantra for women in business.

Jen’s fourth book Boss Women Rock: How to Go From Best Kept Secret to Sought After Expert is now available on Amazon.

There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
My advice for finding a mentor is to look for a leader who is doing what you want to do with your work and/or life.
Reach out to them and ask for guidance and then take their advice.

Join professional associations and get active.

“You can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar

Look for opportunities to share your gifts and talents with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jendevore.rocks
• Phone: (904) 382-7255
• Email: jen@jendevore.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jendevorerichter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BossWomenRockOfficial/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenRDeVore

Image Credit:
Personal photos

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