Jenny Everything
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Jenny Everything

I’m Jennifer Brandel.

Here are some answers (in progress) to questions I couldn’t let go:

2024-current

  • Q: How might individual support organizations work more collectively —as a networked interstitium—to support democracy?

    • A: Democracy SOS - a network that curates initiatives, training and resources so media professionals can adjust, improve and re-imagine how they serve and empower the electorate.

  • Q: What wisdom is to be gained from a forced slowing down during a time of great urgency and existential threats both at home and in the world?

2023-current

  • Q: Could a newly discovered system in the body (the interstitium) provide the metaphor for what’s been missing in our mental models and economy and someday advance societal health?

    • A: TBD! But you can:

      • And take this survey if you're interested in being in conversation about this!

2015-current

  • Q: Could helping top-down institutions better listen and respond to the people they serve improve outcomes for all involved?

2019-current

  • Q: Could centering elections coverage on what the electorate wants politicians to be talking about as they compete for votes increase trust in journalism and efficacy of political reporting?

2020-current

  • Q: Do journalists have the support and training they need to adequately meet the needs of a polarized public in their elections coverage?

2022-ongoing

2012-ongoing

  • Q: Could flipping the model of journalism on its head so that the public has a say in what reporting is created expand the democratic imagination and improve outcomes for all involved?

2016-current

  • Q: If venture capital isn’t a fit for the values-based companies and founders we need for the future, what is needed to replace it?

    • A: Zebras Unite - creating the culture, capital and community for the next economy

  • Q I never could have dreamed to ask: Could a government adopt the principles of zebras unite into their economic strategy?

2018-2022

  • Q: How might a place-based civic learning community create collaborations with outsized impact?

2006-ongoing

  • Q: What are the conditions needed for women to be liberated and move their bodies without shame, judgment or sexualization while getting a great workout in?

 
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A Brief Bio

Jennifer Brandel is a serial entrepreneur and innovator who works between industries to address the same problem set: how to design systems that listen, respond and evolve with their stakeholders. Her curiosity and listening-based approach has yielded the kind of change that shifts sectors toward a co-creative paradigm. She is co-founder of Hearken, Zebras Unite, Civic Exchange Chicago, Election SOS, Democracy SOS and WBEZ’s Curious City.  Brandel received the Media Changemaker Prize by the Center for Collaborative Journalism, was named one of 30 World-Changing Women in Conscious Business, is a Columbia Sulzberger Fellow, an RSA Fellow, a member of the Guild of Future Architects and the National Civic Collaboratory.

Where I Play

Other ways you potentially found me. A curated list:

Affiliations

fRSA (Royal Society of Arts)

Sulzberger Fellow, Columbia University

Guild of Future Architects

National Civic Collaboratory

As Heard On

As Seen In

Public Speaking 101

If you’d like me to speak to your company, team, keynote your conference, etc., reach out to my agent: Gravity Speakers. On their site you can find links to past talks.

If you’re interested in working with Hearken to train or support your organization in engagement, get in touch here.

How you may have found me

Maybe we met through my absurdly talented husband, Aaron Wickenden or through my absurdly talented work wife, Mara Zepeda.

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Testimonials

“One of the most with-it ladies I know, someone who I feel like, you know, gets it.”
— Liz Mason, Manager, Quimby's Bookstore
“Jenny Brandel gave me the Heimlich maneuver in junior high because I was choking on a piece of popcorn while we waited for the bus to arrive to go to a basketball game. The PE / health teacher stood there looking at me choking with his eyes bugging out of his head... Jenny sprung into action.”
— Katie Berwanger Egan, High School peer
“Jennifer Brandel’s hands are, like, always sweaty. But it’s because she cares that much.”
— Alex Keefe, Assignment Editor & Reporter, WBEZ Chicago
“Jennifer Brandel and I met in a dark room full of dancing women where no one was allowed to talk. Before long, she put orange glasses on me and told me that a traumatic event that occurred when I was 18 years old was holding me back. Then she got me to talk about poop on the radio. All of this is true.”
— Kelley Clink, author "A Different Kind of Same"
“Jennifer Brandel is the type of conscientious, wonderful lady, who you swear must be a vegan, but then will chow down on KC’s best BBQ. Also serves excellent cleavage at the Oscars, and is able to somehow get Yo-Yo Ma to show up at your company event and play the cello. She is a shining star in a mud pit of cannibalistic pigs.”
— Linsday Foat, Content Director at The Rabbit Hole
“I’d like to endorse Jennifer for the skill of Brandel management. In this complex era, she has managed to maintain Brandel quality while leveraging against multiple platforms, with special skill at audio and social media. All the elements of the Brandel are consistent - look, price, packaging. The Brandel unique selling proposition is clear and distinctive. As a result, the Brandel has a very high recognition level among consumers, plus strong emotional connection for them and outstanding comparative value against similar Brandels.”
— David Kleeman, SVP, Dubit LTD
“She’s the Nikola Tesla of journalism.”
— Kristen Muller, Chief Content Officer, KPCC

Contact

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