Meet Jenn Willey
Jennifer Willey does more than just inspire when she speaks--she changes behaviors with well-researched insights and clear strategies that help others overcome fear and achieve their potential. Her wealth of experience on-air, on stage and on task as an entrepreneur and C-Suite executive ensures she will own the room with a unique, dynamic keynote that delivers actionable "a-ha" moments her audience will be anxious to apply.
Jenn customizes her material to meet your business goals and align with your event theme. Every talk integrates findings from Wet Cement’s proprietary Fearlessness at Work Survey, academic research insights, relevant material and lessons learned from Jenn’s professional career journey. Attendees will walk away with a renewed sense of purpose, a more “fearless” perspective and proven techniques to power growth for themselves and their companies.
Jenn is a member of the National Speaker's Association, national and New York City chapters. She is also an eSpeakers certified Virtual Presenter. Jenn speaks on a range of topics across Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Self-Leadership. Learn more about her signature talks below and check out her speaker profile on The Bash.
Jenn Willey is a preferred speaker of International Women's Day.
Jenn's Bio
Founder & CEO, Wet Cement
Jennifer Willey helps others conquer fear to drive growth. She shifts mindsets and behaviors through inspirational stories of her unique career journey, coupled with research insights. As Founder of Wet Cement, Jenn is proud to be one of only 50 U.S. CEOs leading a Disability-Owned and Woman-Owned certified business.
Jenn shares her mistakes, challenges, and lessons learned to inspire and provide actionable strategies for her audiences. Her career started at the age of eight as a child actor. She became certified as one of the nation's youngest Fitness Professionals, graduated to TV news anchor by 21, and then spent the next two decades leading sales, strategy and marketing at tech and media companies. Now as an entrepreneur, she’s built a new kind of mission-driven business empowering others to achieve their potential by developing the ‘Fearless Fundamentals’—Confidence, Communication, Connections, Control, and Culture.
Fueled by purpose and her own professional experience, Jennifer is committed to advancing inclusivity and gender equity. She created Wet Cement's gender equality practice, Advance Women at Work™ to design empowerment programs for women and modern leadership training for male executives. Jennifer is the first-ever Innovation and Inclusivity Advisor to Comexposium Japan and she is the Gender Equality Advisor for the DPAA as well as co-creator of its Women's Leadership Initiative, WE.DOOH. Her volunteer efforts are aligned with this mission; she contributes company time and profit to WorkingforWomen.org. Jenn was recently awarded the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber’s Women of Achievement for 2023.
Jennifer has a B.S. in Communications from Cornell University and a Diversity & Inclusion Certification from eCornell. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two sons.
Signature Talks
Culture
The Path to Fearlessness: A Journey of Resilience & Reinvention
Intended Audience: General
What if the only thing standing between you and success was your own mindset?
In this funny, vulnerable, and deeply relatable keynote, Jennifer Willey takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through her path to fearlessness—one filled with unexpected twists, cringe-worthy moments, self-doubt, and breakthrough lessons. Starting as an awkward kid on a 1980s TV show to becoming the youngest certified fitness instructor in the U.S., then stepping in front of the camera as a TV news anchor, pivoting into IT management consulting and finally, leading sales and marketing teams at innovative companies—Jennifer’s career has been anything but predictable.
But through every setback, reinvention, and period of self-doubt, Jennifer learned that adaptability, resilience, and confidence are not inherent traits we’re born with—they’re skills we build. Now, as an entrepreneur, global keynote speaker, and author, she shares how to overcome external obstacles and internal barriers with humor, heart, and a few embarrassing stories along the way. Jennifer reveals the mindset shifts that helped her embrace uncertainty, navigate challenges, and push past fear to create a career and life on her own terms.
Attendees will walk away feeling inspired, entertained, and equipped with actionable strategies to:
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Turn fear into fuel – transforming challenges into opportunities for growth
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Embrace change with confidence – thriving through reinvention instead of fearing it
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Silence self-doubt – replacing impostor syndrome with self-assurance
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Own their unique value – stepping into their power with boldness
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Find humor in the hard stuff – strengthening resilience with a little laughter
Being fearless isn’t about eradicating all fear—it’s about taking action in the face of natural anxieties. With the right mindset, you can build a career and life beyond what you ever imagined.
The Innovation Mindset: Embracing Creativity, Collaboration and Change
Intended Audience: General
In today’s fast-moving world, adaptability, collaboration, and innovation are essential for success. Many employees struggle with perfectionism, uncertainty while resisting change, slowing down progress and stifling creativity. Research shows that organizations fostering psychological safety and a culture of belonging outperform their peers, experiencing a 5x increase in productivity (Stanford) and 21% higher profitability (Gallup). To stay competitive and drive meaningful results, employees at all levels must develop skills to navigate uncertainty, embrace change, and build trust across teams.
This interactive workshop helps participants collaborate more effectively and overcome habits that hinder innovation. Attendees will learn how to adopt a progress-over-perfection mindset by participating in a rapid problem-solving challenge that highlights the power of action vs waiting for the “perfect” solution. Participants will engage in a reverse brainstorming exercise, identifying and flipping common teamwork pitfalls to understand collaboration best practices. A self-assessment and improv-based exercise help develop adaptability and resilience by reframing uncertainty as an opportunity for growth. Attendees also learn how to ensure their colleagues feel heard and valued. Finally, each participant will develop a personalized action plan outlining specific strategies to enhance their agility, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in their day-to-day roles.
Attendees Leave With:
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A practical framework to confidently navigate change and uncertainty.
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Proven collaboration techniques to break down silos, improve communication, and drive results.
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Strategies to overcome perfectionism and take action even when all answers aren’t clear.
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A personalized action plan to apply key takeaways in their daily work.
Self-Leadership
Evict the Impostor: Overcome Self=Doubt and Build Confidence
Intended Audience: All employees; Manager Version also available
Have you ever thought of yourself as a fraud or a fake, waiting for others to “find out” that you aren’t as smart or talented as everyone thinks you are? If you haven’t personally felt this way, your team members probably have. Our proprietary research reveals that 98% of professionals struggle with aspects of impostor syndrome, and it remains one of the most pervasive challenges in the modern workplace. Many professionals secretly lack confidence at work and identify with one or more impostor syndrome “types.” Employees are hungry for strategies to understand and overcome their limiting beliefs and self-doubt.
Imposter syndrome keeps high-performing, intelligent and creative people from achieving their potential while wreaking havoc on team dynamics. Left unaddressed, it can lead to costly outcomes for organizations, including higher turnover, and lower levels of innovation, productivity and morale. Those touched by the impostor wand withhold their best ideas, shy away from taking calculated risks and pursuing leadership opportunities, delay action, and burn themselves out. This workshop builds confidence, connections, and trust across your team so they can overcome roadblocks and reach their goals together
Attendees Leave With:
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A clear understanding of the triggers for impostor syndrome, why it matters, and how it impacts workplace performance and job satisfaction.
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Proven tools to reframe limiting beliefs, silence their inner critic and foster resilience.
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Strategies to advocate for themselves, embrace imperfection and get comfortable asking for help.
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Methods for managing team members who suffer from low self-confidence or impostor syndrome.
Build Your Personal Board of Directors: Advance Through Allies and Advocates
Intended Audience: General
The relationships you build throughout your career profoundly impact your professional growth and success. Research shows that individuals with strong networks of mentors, sponsors, and advocates solve problems better, are promoted faster, earn more, and are 23% more likely to advance in their careers (Center for Talent Innovation).
This actionable workshop gives participants a roadmap to create their own Personal Board of Directors—a network of trusted advisors who can help navigate challenges, provide guidance, and open doors to new opportunities. Attendees learn how sponsors, mentors, peers, allies, and protégés can impact professional development through mutually beneficial relationships. Participants identify their career growth needs and outline a plan to build a network of trusted partners who will share a vested interest in their future.
Attendees Will Leave With:
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A clear understanding of how a Personal Board of Directors can accelerate career growth.
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Professional development priorities and strategies to build meaningful relationships.
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A roadmap to identify and “recruit” board members and define their unique roles in supporting career goals.
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Practical tools and conversation starters to approach potential advocates and secure support.
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Prospective “Board Members” from interactive group breakout activities.
Sample Keynotes
Testimonials
Thought Leadership
As a successful entrepreneur, seasoned presenter, and gender equality advocate, Jenn has many opportunities to share her perspective across industries and channels. A high-profile thought leader, Jenn has been featured in a broad range of articles, podcasts, and events where she's shared her passion to advance women and help others "fear less."