Jennifer is the founder of J. Wills Coaching, a leadership coaching and training firm where she works with individuals and teams at the intersection of leadership, emotional intelligence, strengths, well-being, purpose, and work-life harmony.
Prior to JWC, Jennifer was an attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more than 15 years where she worked with senior leaders and political appointees on national policies and regulations impacting manufacturing, retail and chemical industries.
Jennifer has also been faculty of international environmental law and policy and lead career coach at Virginia Tech’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability.
Once she discovered the power of nature in coaching, she became an ambassador for it. She loves taking people outdoors for coaching sessions so they can experience nature in this way.
Nature is her coaching partner. She developed a process called Nature Roaming™, during which she takes individuals and groups into nature to reflect on an intention, connect with nature and themselves, and devise a plan to grow from the experience.
With a master’s degree in leadership for global sustainability, she has a strong grasp of systems thinking. In addition, one of her superpowers is the ability to make connections between seemingly disparate issues.
She uses these to help connect or reconnect employees with the organization’s vision and mission and help employees appreciate the impact they have as individuals inside a broader ecosystem/world: within their industry; within the organization where they work; with their colleagues and teams.
She’s currently the Chair of the Board of an outdoor youth and conservation non-profit. Jennifer walks the walk — often outdoors!
She has aligned her career and personal life to her personal mission and she helps her clients do the same.
During her time as an attorney, she knew she was doing good for people and for the environment. But it was hard to see the impact. As a coach and trainer, she directly helps individuals and organizations make the world a better place.
Jennifer has a juris doctor from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in global sustainability from Virginia Tech, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Louisville.
She is an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and is certified to conduct EQi 2.0 assessments to help clients develop their leadership capabilities and emotional intelligence.