Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennfer Bell.
Hi Jennfer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As an Atlanta native, life has truly come full circle. I now reside back home in Collier Heights, caring for my 94-year-old mother — a role that has added profound meaning to this chapter of my journey.
My dance career began as a teenager at Northside School of the Performing Arts, where my love for performance first took root. My visual arts ability lead me to study Commercial art and advertising at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. My creative passion led me on a career path taking me from working in Atlanta to Bermuda, New York, Europe, Japan, Miami, and back home again. Along the way, my career evolved from dancer to choreographer and creative director. I broke new ground as the **Developer and Choreographer of the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team**, served as **Guest Choreographer for the L.A. Laker Girls**, and later as **Director and Choreographer for the Miami Heat Dancers**, where I led a full program revamp. I also became a high ranking fitness competitor with Ms Fitness USA in the mid 90’s, going on to coach other women towards success in competitions.
But behind the spotlight, life presented its own choreography of challenges. I endured years of hospitalizations due to uterine fibroid tumors, suffered a stroke that temporarily impaired my speech and cognition, and later survived a near-fatal case of septic shock. Each experience tested me deeply — yet also awakened a powerful sense of purpose.
Those trials became the foundation of my work in resilience. I became a certified fitness trainer, nutrition consultant, and life coach, realizing that my years in the performing arts had already prepared me to master mental, emotional, and physical endurance. The discipline, creativity, and determination that shaped my performing arts career became the same tools I would use to rebuild my life — and help others rebuild theirs.
Today, as a **Resilience and Life Reinvention Strategist**, I use my personal story and professional expertise to guide high-achieving women through transitions such as grief, divorce, health challenges, empty-nest syndrome, or simply the desire for change. I’ve been the “big sister” and coach to many, helping women define success, wellness, and joy on their own terms.
My journey — from center stage to recovery, and from recovery to reinvention — continues to remind me that resilience isn’t about bouncing back to who you were. It’s about rising into who you’re meant to become.
Alright, 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?
I’m grateful to say that while my journey hasn’t been entirely smooth, it has been richly filled with opportunities, experiences, and joy. Choosing the path of a creative, self-employed professional has meant constantly learning how to navigate job gaps, competition, rejection, and the physical and mental discipline required to perform at a high level.
As my health began to interfere with my career, I was challenged to reinvent myself. I learned to channel my creativity into new avenues, expanding my work to include fitness, wellness, and personal development. Even after suffering a stroke that left me unable to speak, I committed to my recovery — spending weeks relearning how to form words before receiving professional therapy. That period tested me, but it also reminded me of the power of patience, faith, and self-work.
Later, when I faced a near-fatal bout of septic shock, I knew my life had been spared for a purpose — to use my reclaimed voice to inspire and guide others through their own battles with adversity.
I often tell my clients and audiences: God can save you, doctors can treat you, and friends can support you — but it’s up to you to recover. That truth continues to define both my work and my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Shift and Thrive Concepts?
As a Resilience and Life Reinvention Strategist, speaker, and coach, I help individuals and organizations navigate change, overcome setbacks, and cultivate the resilience to thrive — personally and professionally. My work combines inspiration with practical, actionable strategies for managing life’s transitions with purpose, confidence, and emotional strength.
My career began in the performing arts, where I served as a professional dancer, choreographer, and creative director. That foundation in creativity and discipline now informs my entire approach to coaching and speaking. I understand what it means to perform under pressure, reinvent yourself after change, and find your rhythm again after life’s unexpected turns.
Through Jennifer Bell Speaks and my brand extension, Shift and Thrive Concepts, I offer a range of services designed to support midlife women, caregivers, entrepreneurs, and professionals who are ready to redefine success and align with their next chapter. My offerings include keynote speaking, wellness and mindset workshops, eBooks, self-assessments, online courses, and my signature 90-Day Reinvention Mastermind, which guides participants through a structured process of self-discovery, realignment, and transformation.
What sets me apart is the way I merge my creative arts background with wellness and resilience coaching, blending lived experience with professional expertise. I don’t just teach resilience — I’ve lived it. Having survived life-altering health challenges and major career transitions, I bring authenticity, empathy, and credibility to every stage and session.
I’m most proud that my brand continues to serve as a hub for transformation, offering accessible, empowering tools that help people recover from burnout, rediscover their identity, and rise stronger after life’s disruptions.
Ultimately, my message is this: Resilience isn’t about bouncing back to who you were — it’s about rising into who you’re meant to become.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success, to me, means living in alignment with my purpose — knowing that my work has genuinely and positively impacted someone’s life. Financial success is simply the tangible reflection of that purpose, but true fulfillment comes from knowing I’ve helped others rise, heal, and grow. I’ll feel most successful when I can look back and see that the people whose paths crossed mine are better, stronger, and more inspired because of it.
Pricing:
- Complimentary Shift Clarity Assessment
- Resilient and Ready to Shift Guide and Workbook- $9.99
- Learn how to earn money online through the Digital Marketing Course- $497 w affordable financing available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jenniferbellspeaks.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbellatl/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbellatl/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenniferBellAtl
- Other: https://shiftandthriveconcepts.store
