Hey, I'm Jennie.
I'm a creative entrepreneurial type and have led a pretty nomadic life by most people's standards. Last I checked I'd lived in over 40 homes and three continents. Lately I've found myself with one foot in Bedford with my dog Misty and the other in Brussels with my partner Adam though it's looking increasingly likely I'll be spending more time there. Keep on scrolling to find out more!
My story
I was too scared to follow my heart
I spent my whole life right up to my mid 20s wanting to be an actor. I loved being on stage. I loved performing and connecting with an audience more than anything in the world and I was really good at it. So what happened? I got scared, and at the time I didn't have the right support network to help me navigate a system that seemed intimidating and inaccessible. I put my dreams into a box and told myself I didn't need them anymore.
Then I met Abram and focused on his dreams instead
For a long time I felt very lost. I couldn't seem to find anything else that excited me or filled me up as much as performing did. Until one day I met a jazz trumpeter from New Orleans called Abram. I fell in love pretty much on the spot. He was everything I wanted to be and more: brave, passionate, creative and talented. To this day he's still one of the most extraordinary and inspiring musicians I've ever met.
But I was still scared. So I decided to focus on bringing Abram's big dreams to life. Little did we know we were racing against time. Abram became ill during a 20 date tour and had to go to A&E. He died two weeks later from cancer on Saturday 9th June 2012. Life as I knew it ended for me that day and I had to begin again.
After Abram died I built a music charity in his name
I spent the next 11 years pouring my heart and soul into the Abram Wilson charity inspiring, connecting and opening doors to the music industry so that minoritised young talent could realise their creative potential. You can find out more about it HERE
I raised over £1million and wrote a children's book
This allowed me to positively impacted the lives of thousands of young people and musicians meeting and working with some incredible people along the way.
I was listed in WISE100, a national index recognising the top women in social enterprise, and won a Talent Award from WACL (a membership body of female leaders in advertising and communications).
I even wrote a children's book about my experiences called Becoming Brave published by Little Tiger Press in August 2023 and reviewed by The Guardian.​
In order to leave something behind you have to leave
I'm a creative entrepreneurial type. I'm at my happiest when I'm bringing people together, making connections and being in that space of imagination, creativity and possibility. After 11 years at the helm it was time for me to step down and begin again.
It felt scary (and a tiny bit exciting) but it always does when you need to be brave.
I took everything I'd learned and started something new
Since stepping down as CEO of the Abram Wilson charity in 2023, I've been exploring playful approaches to achieve meaningful outcomes. Using methods including LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, I leverage research showing how play enhances learning, creativity, social engagement, and wellbeing while reducing stress.
I'm now focused on achieving serious outcomes playfully. ​I combine my skills as a creative, educator and facilitator with my experience as a founder and CEO, coach, mentor and strategist to help clients in a diverse range of settings feel more engaged and emotionally resilient, build trust and connection, embrace risk, and plan and innovate effectively, especially in a crisis.
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