Jennifer Parr, co-host of the Winning Women Podcast, shares her transformative journey of transitioning from a high-powered corporate role to embracing family life and ministry. She emphasizes the importance of redefining success for women, advocating for a balance between career aspirations and family responsibilities. The discussion highlights how softness can be a powerful influence, dispelling the myth that vulnerability equates to weakness. With insights on communication and mutual support, Jennifer and her husband Allen present a heartfelt perspective on personal growth and faith-driven success.
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insights INSIGHT
Softness Is Strength, Not Weakness
Women are created with a softness that is powerful, not weak.
This softness enables influence in any room without needing to be loud or hold high titles.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Leaving Dream Job for Family
Jennifer left her dream corporate job to be a more present wife and mother.
She struggled with redefining success from career achievements to family influence.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Make Career Shifts Joint Decisions
Decisions about career shifts must be made together by husband and wife.
The woman should not feel forced but called to make such life changes.
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This episode of FamilyLife Today features a deeply personal and insightful conversation with Jennifer and Allen Parr, centered on the concept of redefining success for women, embracing God-given influence, and the power of softness without weakness. Hosted by Dave and Ann Wilson at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) event, the conversation takes place in a relaxed, makeshift studio, giving it an authentic, heartfelt tone.
Jennifer Parr shares her emotional journey of stepping away from a high-achieving corporate role—her dream job at her dream company—to fully embrace her role as a present wife and mother. She candidly discusses the identity struggle and internal wrestling that came with surrendering a position she had worked hard to attain. With two young children and a growing ministry alongside Allen, Jennifer felt a divine calling to shift her focus from corporate success to family and faith-driven influence.
Throughout the discussion, Jennifer highlights how women are inherently created with a softness and tenderness that is not synonymous with weakness. Instead, it’s a quiet strength—a powerful form of influence that doesn't demand the spotlight but transforms every space it enters. The Parrs discuss how stepping into that softness, rather than bristling at it, has allowed Jennifer to thrive personally and within their marriage and ministry.
Allen supports Jennifer’s journey, noting how her stepping back not only brought more peace to their home but also improved her overall well-being, including healing from insomnia and anxiety. The couple explains the importance of shared decision-making, heart posture, and recognizing each person’s capacity in different seasons of life.
The conversation also dives into the struggles women face when they feel the need to "do it all", often out of fear, control, or past trauma. Jennifer openly acknowledges how fear rooted in “what ifs” about her husband’s potential absence or failure to provide drove her initial resistance to leaving her job. The panel reflects on how fear, pride, and anxiety can distort our understanding of roles within marriage and family life.
The tone turns humorous and vulnerable as Dave and Ann share a story from their past—complete with corded phones, hotel mishaps, and a memorable line from Dave telling Ann to "cut it off"—illustrating the all-too-relatable dynamic of a wife jumping in to "fix" what she perceives her husband can’t handle.
The episode wraps with a discussion on healthy communication in marriage, including when to speak, when to stay silent, and how to approach difficult conversations with humility and prayer. Jennifer emphasizes that surrender-driven success—rooted in trusting God—is more fulfilling than any worldly achievement.
FamilyLife Today®