about & contact
I'm on a mission to spark and amplify wonder.
Why Wonder?
I agree with Einstein, who advised that “the important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
Projects
Dark Places
A meditation on how to leverage wonder to grieve, reconcile, and heal.
Out of Office NYC
A weekly round-up of experiences designed to spark and amplify wonder, curated for curious New Yorkers.
Big Bang Brooklyn
A community for fun-loving, deep-thinking, meaning seekers with weekly hackathon-like gatherings.
Missed the memo
A speaker-series designed to spark wonder and introduce you to delightfully obscure hobbies and passions.
Moms who hobby
Leveraging our 3cs (curation, community, and consistency) to help moms feel truly free in their free time.
Why Wonder?
Why architect wonder, of all things?Wonder is where a deeper connection (to ourselves, to others, to nature…) begins.Wonder helps us tap into our loving instincts, our creative impulses, and our higher selves.Wonder inspires. Guides. Humbles. Calms. Opens.Wonder is the gateway to awe, fun, love, and purpose.Wonder is an antidote to polarization, loneliness, and burnout.Wonder focuses our attention and attunes us to the present moment.Wonder is always possible.You can learn more about my projects below, or read more about what sparked my interest in wonder here and more about me here.
Hi!
I'm glad you found me here. First, since this as close as I'll get to handing out a business card, you should know that am an enthusiastic bridge builder on a mission to spark and amplify wonder.In addition to designing wonder-full experiences and products, I advise and partner with communities that aim to connect us (to each other, to ourselves, and to nature).And on a more personal note, this poem—written after someone told me my spirit animal was a bird—best captures who I am:What is the species of birdRestless as the sea,With colours that hide an inner nerd,And an imagination that runs free?A bird on a quest to make others feel know,But ultimately at peace, dancing along.Above all, searching for new sights to see:That is the bird most like me.
Aside from being a nerdy bird, I am also:
🇨🇦 a Brooklyn-based Canadian
📖 an author
📸 a photographer
🎞️ documentary filmmaker
🧑🧑🧒 a mom
😔 an orphan and a cancer-survivor
🐛 a nature-worshipper
☕️ a coffee lover
🙅♀️ a recovering MBA/tech employee
🧐 passionate uncovering people’s passions (the more obscure the better), and
🚴♀️ an adventurer (once upon a time, I cycled from Cairo to Cape Town, backpacked solo across Central and South America, and raised my toddler in South East Asia).
If you'd like to collaborate, please fill out this form and I'll get back to you!
"Jen leads with positivity and heart -- she cares for her teams and wants what was best for everyone, professionally and personally. Through this, she helps mitigate stress, and helps keep things in perspective throughout the year. She is a huge support!"
-Jessie, OR
"Jen's kind, yet authentic attitude meshed well with my own personality. She has a sense of urgency and drive that I admire. She always looks for ways to help the team find wins, and encourages them when they are struggling all while being realistic and straight-forward."
-Amanda, NJ
"Jen's always got a pulse on the larger vision while also being able to quickly execute on the smaller details. She's thoughtful in her approach, data-driven, and adapts to fit the style of each individual and team she works with. On top of all that, she's a lovely person to work with!"
-Beth, NH
"Jen has been a great mentor, friend and someone who holds me to high standards. Working with Jen has been the best part of my job."
-Swara N., Toronto
"Working with and getting to know Jen has been a privilege. She is one of the kindest, most conscientious, thoughtful and dedicated people I've ever known."
-Jess B., D.C.
"JDS always knows how to make you feel valued and heard in all interactions"
-Jess G., Phoenix
"JDS has a calm about her unlike anyone I have ever met. Her coolness under pressure, ability to lead without saying anything, and her kindness will always stick out to me as some of the many qualities that make her unforgettable."
-Laura A., Atlanta
"From the moment I met JDS it was clear she was one of the kindest most special humans on the planet. Regardless of how crazy things were, she always took the time to check in with me and see how I was doing. She genuinely cares about every single person on the team, and their well being."
-Allison M., D.C.