Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Leone.
Hi Jen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
To stand as the person I am today was a life marked with adversities but also incredible wins amidst those hardships. To understand how I became the woman/entrepreneur/speaker/
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were innumerable obstacles; however, the reoccurring struggle was the continuous confrontation with whether or not I’d give myself the permission to think differently and make self-governed choices, regardless of what my family, external environment, or society programming was reflecting back to me.
The challenges I faced as an entrepreneur have really been rooted in the unconventional path of creating a business and brand without a foundational framework. Navigating the endless setbacks that pop up on any entrepreneurial path can be scary at times when the weight of the whole thing rests on your shoulders.
The challenges I faced that brought me to the place where I stepped into the role of a speaker and writer was a 38-year process.
My early life was marked by a pivotal moment—the divorce of my parents during my second-grade year. Raised predominantly by my single mother, who battled her own demons of alcohol addiction and unresolved trauma, my journey commenced with these early adversities, laying the bedrock of my resilience and determination in the face of life’s challenges. At the tender age of 11, my experience with suicide would begin when I bore witness to my older sister, Aimee, age 14, survive her first suicide attempt. Then as a high school freshman, my experience with death would begin when my childhood friend, Rocco, died on New Year’s Eve in 1996, struck by a train while under the influence of alcohol. These early experiences planted the seeds of anxiety, panic attacks, and a haunting fear of mortality within me, but would be the very challenges that laid the foundation for uncovering my strengths throughout life. During the remaining years of high school, my journey took a challenging turn as I found myself frequently skipping classes and, ultimately, barely managing to graduate. As I walked the tightrope between adolescence and adulthood, the experiences during these years would shape me in ways that transcended mere academics.
At 18, I embarked on a journey to craft my own unique education. In a world where many were tethered to classrooms and textbooks, I set my sights on the vast canvas of life itself. I understood that the experiences that awaited me outside the halls of academia would be my true instructors, so I ditched the college path and set out to carve my own. During these years, I remained in constant motion as an entrepreneur, riding the highs of my success yet simultaneously deeply entrenched in the depths of grief and sorrow. I was confronted with the abrupt loss of my mother, then step-father, followed by the heartbreaking tragedy of my only brother, who ended his life in a Motel 6, all within four years.
Shortly after in 2019, when within a single year, I was plunged into a whirlwind of even more life-altering experiences. I learned that I was expecting my second child and at the same time, faced the heart-wrenching choice of closing my entire business, which led to the total loss of income, financial stability, and a sense of purpose. Then, as the year ended, my world would shatter when my only sister tragically ended her life. Life itself had transformed into my most potent curriculum, complete with instructions that were clear: I must undergo a deeper transformation.
These heart-wrenching experiences became the catalyst for not only a profoundly deeper confrontation with death but an immersive journey, an initiation into the deep corners of my inner landscape—a place very few spend their time awake. This metamorphosis unfolded within the depths of my body, my emotions, my mind, my energy, and the very bloodline that courses through my veins. Emerging from these experiences, I forged an uncharted pathway forward, evolving into the woman I stand as today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Professionally, I stand in multiple roles, but if I were to pick a single label that resonates most with me, it would undoubtedly be that of an artist. My journey as a creator has always been a reflection of my life experiences — the essence and passion that drives any artist. In the professional sphere, I manifest these artistic qualities through my roles as an entrepreneur, speaker, writer, commercial photographer, and portrait artist.
AS AN ENTREPRENEUR.
At 24 years old, I was featured in The NY Times and Associated Press for pioneering the first luxury pet hotel in Philadelphia. By 30, my next venture, The LB Brand—the first lifestyle brand for modern motherhood—exploded and was among the likes of celebrities like JLo and Gwen Stefani, along with mothers worldwide, and was featured in outlets like DailyMail, OK! Magazine, People, Instyle, E!, Zoe Report, and many more.
In the early days of Instagram, back in 2012, I single-handedly started the cultivation of an online community of over 28k individuals. My community wasn’t just a passive audience; it thrived on deep connections and collaborative efforts with like-minded mothers across the globe. I used my platform as a beacon of empowerment, inviting women to step into and define their unique motherhood journeys. Long before the term “influencer” gained popularity, The LB Brand stood at the forefront, crafting a visionary framework for people to collaborate and connect. My products became highly sought-after symbols of liberation, valued not only for their practicality in the everyday lives of moms but also for their symbolic role in significant national movements such as “The Women’s March” and the “Me Too” movement. My uncanny ability to connect and inspire others set me apart. In 2018, my journey led me to a remarkable milestone—the opening of my flagship store at the hip and iconic Ponce City Market in Atlanta.
AS A SPEAKER.
My life’s journey thus far has endowed me with a wealth of embodied experiential wisdom, which I generously share with the world. My powerful message revolves around the art of becoming the master architect of your own life experiences, a skill that often remains visibly absent in the realm of our societal structures and traditional education, inadvertently leaving society unprepared for the internal challenges of a person’s life. I serve as a transformative bridge beckoning my audience to journey inward, even as the world around them reaches ever outward. Cultivating one’s relationship with their own sovereignty stands at the helm of my message.
My mission is to enable others to navigate the depths of their own inner landscapes amidst a world that is focused outwardly. Through my story, individuals learn to not only navigate this external frenzy but also uncover the profound riches within themselves. My role as a bridge is nothing short of transformative, facilitating a deeper connection with one’s own essence while mirroring back the portal of one’s true power within.
AS A COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER.
I cater to a diverse clientele spanning various industries, with specialized expertise in architectural and interior photography, portraits, and bespoke content creation for businesses and brands. My work has been featured in publications such as ADPRO, Atlanta Magazine’s HOME, The Business Journals, Luxury Portfolio International, and more.
My journey as a photographer has been largely self-guided, and in previous ventures, I’ve worn the dual hats of creative director and commercial photographer. This unique blend of experience equips me with an understanding of impactful imagery. In my view, we inhabit a visual-centric culture where photographs serve as a universal language. A question I consistently pose to my clients underscores this belief: What message does your current visual identity convey to your target audience because it matters. I absolutely love working with clients to elevate their visual content with impactful imagery that will radiate on any platform.
AS AN ARTIST.
I channel my life-long love affair with portraiture and create heirloom portraits that are reminiscent of traditional portrait painting. Although I’m not a painter in this lifetime, I’m convinced I was in another. My fascination with portrait paintings spanning the different centuries has been alive in me since I can remember. When I walk into a museum and find them hanging, it’s like time stops (and so do my feet) because I can stand there for hours soaking in everyone. I have a unique process that allows me to create personal works of art for my clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My two sons.
Authentic human connection.
The feeling of standing in my own power and truth.
Portraits.
Dancing.
Deep belly laughs.
Wide open spaces.
Animals.
Laying on the grass in the sun.
A good dose of loaded cheese fries and my morning coffee – separately of course!
Contact Info:
- Website: 1. Speaker Site: www.jen-leone.com
2. Commercial Photography Site: www.houseof88.com
3.Writer & Storyteller Site: www.thelastmatriarch.com
4. Portrait Artist Site: www.jenleoneheirloomportraits.com
Image Credits
Images are mine – Jen Leone Olan Mills produced kids photo of me with my brother and sister.
