HEY, I’M JENNA — AUTHOR, SPEAKER, AND STORYTELLER.

From Minnesota to Hollywood

I grew up in a small town in Minnesota with big, audacious dreams — the kind that didn’t quite fit where I came from. But I chased them anyway, and they led me to Los Angeles, where I built a career as an actor and producer working on television shows and award-winning films for platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and iTunes.

On camera, I learned the power of story — how a single scene can change how someone feels about themselves or the world. Behind the scenes, I learned what real resilience looks like — staying calm in chaos, leading with heart, and finding solutions when nothing goes according to plan..

Those years in Hollywood shaped everything I do now as a writer and speaker. The medium has changed, but the mission hasn’t: to tell stories that make people feel seen, spark possibility, and remind them that even in the hardest moments — there’s always a way forward.

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Speaking Around the World

As my career evolved, I began sharing my story with others — first at local events, then across the country, and eventually around the world. Every audience reminded me of the same truth:
Stories don’t just inspire us — they connect us. They give us language for what we’ve lived through and courage for what’s ahead.

Now, my keynotes center around Aggressive Optimism® — my framework for what I call Real-World Resilience. It’s not about ignoring what’s hard; it’s about learning how to face it and move forward with purpose. Whether I’m speaking to students or corporate teams, my goal is the same: to make resilience feel possible, not abstract — and to remind people that hope isn’t a feeling. It’s a skill you can build.

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Writing My Story

That message first found its home in my book, Aggressive Optimism® — part memoir, part manifesto, and all heart. It began as my way of processing trauma and turned into something bigger: a reminder that resilience isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about building forward.

What started as one story became a movement — proof that when we share honestly about what’s hard, we give others permission to do the same. Writing the book taught me what I now teach on stage: that hope isn’t fragile, it’s a muscle — and the more we use it, the stronger it gets.

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Today

Now, I’ve woven together everything I’ve learned — small-town beginnings, Hollywood production, global speaking, and authorship — into one mission: to help people find possibility in every situation and move forward with resilience they can actually use.

You’ll find that mission in my writing, my talks, and my upcoming Aggressive Optimism® Resilience Tour — a nationwide initiative bringing tools for mental health and hope to students and communities.

Because when stories, structure, and purpose come together, transformation doesn’t just happen on stage — it happens in real life.

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What I Stand For

+ Truth Matters.
I’ve learned that honesty — the real kind, the uncomfortable kind — is the starting point for every kind of change.

+ Hope Takes Guts.
Optimism isn’t pretending everything’s fine. It’s choosing to believe in what’s possible, even when things fall apart.

+ Clarity Is Power.
The world will always hand you noise. Finding your own focus — and protecting it — is an act of resilience.

+ Integrity Over Image.
There’s a million ways to do anything. The right one is the one that’s honest — the one that actually works for you, not just looks good from the outside.

+ Stories Connect Us.
When we tell the truth about what we’ve been through, we give other people permission to do the same. That’s how belonging begins.

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I don’t teach people how to bounce back. I empower them to move forward — with purpose, creativity, and optimism they can actually use.

My role isn’t to tell people what to think or do. It’s to offer new ways of looking at what’s hard, new tools for finding what’s possible, and new language for conversations that matter. Sometimes that happens through a story on the page. Sometimes it’s on a stage. Either way, my work is about helping people see the possibilities right in front of them — and build the courage to step into them.

And no matter who you are or where you’re starting from — you’re welcome here.

Every story deserves to be told. Every dream deserves the chance to thrive.