Q&A with Jennifer Hollinshead, Forty Under 40 Winner 2020; Founder and clinical director, Peak Resilience, Age 38
What is responsible for your work ethic?
My sense of justice. I see so much unnecessary suffering in our world and it motivates me to keep pushing for change. Working with such an incredible team of humans definitely motivates me too.
What is your guilty pleasure?
I’m working on not feeling guilty when experiencing pleasure!
What is the best book you would recommend?
I just listened to A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott.
Now that you’re entering your 40s, what goals have you set for yourself?
Saving for retirement should probably be on the list. More generally, to continue helping people understand the world, themselves and their limitless potential.
Choose one of these five childhood career dreams: Rock star, star athlete, prime minister, astronaut, detective.
Neither. I wanted to be a doctor and you could find me watching graphic operations on TV as a kid.
Name your happiest place.
The shower. It’s a place of peace when I need to get away from being a mom/business owner.
What was your toughest business or professional decision?
Taking on an unimaginable amount of debt to finance the opening of our dream office, when we didn’t have the revenue to back it up. My belief in my team and our purpose made it a bit easier to put everything (literally our home) on the line.
Advice you would give your 20-year-old self?
The sooner you practice not caring what other people think, the better.
What is your best habit?
I love getting up super early and prepping for my day when I’m the only one up. This translates into me getting teased for going to bed around... 8 p.m.
Tell us one improbable fact about yourself.
Despite the success of my business, I got fired from every single serving job I had. I always forgot the ketchup or spilled on guests.
Best piece of advice ever received?
Feel the fear and do it anyway.
What career highlight are you most proud of?
Our grand opening party for family and friends when we opened our new office. That was March 6, 2020. We closed the office on March 13 for the first wave of the pandemic. What a roller coaster.
