Jennie Wedd

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT JENNIE WEDD

Empathy and a deep curiosity about human nature have always kept humans at the heart of my “why.” My career began in international NGOs and human-rights advocacy, where I learned that empathy and systems thinking could drive real change, but also how burnout can silence even the most passionate voices. That experience shaped how I lead today: guided by empathy, grounded in strategy. For nearly a decade in social impact leadership, I’ve worked across local nonprofits, global NGOs, and national entrepreneurship. At Venture for Canada, I led our Marketing & Partnerships department, scaling a national charity reaching students, startups, and ecosystem partners. Along the way, I learned to bridge diverse worlds - corporates, nonprofits, post-secondaries, Indigenous partners, government agencies, VCs, startups, and students. Basically: humans from every corner of the entrepreneurial landscape :) I fell in love with Canada\'s entrepreneurial ecosystem because of this. The humans: resilient, forward-thinking, endlessly creative. I believe our ecosystem can change the world when we work together, share resources and show up as we are. This inspired me to create Zen Jen: a consulting + creative studio helping humans & brands design joy-led lives, careers, and businesses that feel as good as they look. Guided by a nudge from my higher self to slow down and reconnect, Zen Jen is both my identity & business, reflecting my belief that joy and authenticity are the most powerful forms of leadership. Through this, I partner with purpose-driven startups in fractional strategic leadership, currently leading growth strategy, capital readiness, and scalability at GreenBirdi, a sustainable e-commerce startup. Together, this work forms the foundation of my portfolio career, blending consulting, coaching, and unconventional definitions of growth + success. This journey has taken me from Vancouver to a digital nomad life across Latin America, inspired by its warmth, creativity, and emotional richness. Seeing how community and Indigenous wisdom coexist offers endless lessons in living with heart and a slower rhythm of life. Outside of work, you can find me chasing what I call PJMs: Pure Joy Moments, often with a camera in hand and by the ocean - swimming, kayaking, or learning (+ embracing failing!) to surf 2025 Reads- The Courage to Be Happy - The Uncertainty Advantage - Meditations for Mortals 🤓 Personality Insights (for self-discovery geeks like me!)- Enneagram: 7 - MBTI: ENFP - Human Design: Generator Languages: English | French | Spanish