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That desire to aid others with their medical Further research introduced her to the initially very wary of her involvement has
needs led to a rewarding 14-year career Institute for Integrative Nutrition where she become a big supporter of her work thanks
which Jen says became part time when she underwent training. to her persistence in reaching out to him.
and her husband, Scott, President of HIP “I sort of wound up marrying two jobs “He’s now referred me clients. It’s just been
Developments Inc., welcomed their son together, and voila, here I am,” laughs Jen, a matter of building trust with doctors and
into the world. The couple was introduced noting the transition into this field came naturopaths because I feel we all have a
approximately 20 years ago by Jen’s aunt very naturally since she had already been place at the table, depending on what a
who at the time was working with Scott at offering health-related advice to friends person’s needs are.”
a local bank. and family for many years but has now Building those community connections
“My aunt thought we would make such a expanded that service. “Word of mouth has and a network, plus finding mentors and
cute couple,” laughs Jen. “I guess she was been key for me. My friends have trusted allies, is important career advice that Jen
right at the end of the day.” my advice and now they’ve told their other truly supports and promotes, especially for
She made the difficult decision to give up friends, so in that sense, it’s worked out.” women entrepreneurs.
nursing full-time when their daughter was Since starting down this new career path, “Those kind of relationships tend to open
born but noted working part time for those she has worked for a wide selection of more doors,” she says, adding that ‘owning
first few years after giving birth to her son clients noting each situation is different in your voice’ is another important piece of
came with challenges. terms of scope and commitment. advice provided to her by her husband.

“I wasn’t in charge of my own caseload and “I want my clients to get better and move “Scott has always owned his own voice and
was always filling in for others,” says Jen. “It on with their lives and sometimes it might the passion of his vision, and I’ve taken
was hard to see the progress of the patients only take one or two visits to get things that to heart because when I was younger, I
because you weren’t in charge of their care in order, and maybe a check in again a didn’t own my voice and was nervous to go
and the rewarding part of nursing is seeing month later. Other times, it might be more against the grain and speak out.”
improvements.” of a long-term thing,” says Jen, who feels a Not being afraid to ask questions is
At this point, juggling busy careers had left connection to those facing long-term health something Jen says is essential, especially
the couple with a limited amount of time issues since her mother, who has COPD in her field, even if you’re uncomfortable
to be together as a family so Jen took on (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), doing it because the answers are worth it.
the pivotal role of stay-at-home mom, but underwent a double lung transplant and “The reality is, life is never perfect,” she
never lost interest in healthcare. Last year, now resides with her. “Every journey is a says. “There is lots you can control and lots
recognizing that her children – aged 15 and different journey.” you can’t; I can help to walk you through
11 – needed less of her time, she began Connecting with the local health what you can control when it all feels too
investigating potential health-related community through the course of overwhelming.”
careers. her work has proven to be another To learn more, visit
“I was just kind of fishing for the next journey Jen continues to navigate www.livingbetterwithjen.com.
thing, and I needed to be busy,” says Jen, and admits that some are ‘leery’ of
adding Instagram randomly brought health her work.
coaching onto her radar. “I never even knew
this was a career. But it centred on all the “The reality is, I’m on their side and really
things I love about nursing and it’s very am trying to enforce their orders and try to
personal and changes people’s lives.” make it work out for the person involved,”
says Jen, adding one local doctor who was

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