From Google Exec to Speaker: A Story of Courage and Perseverance with Jenny Wood

Mar 25, 2025

Jenny Wood, a former Google executive turned public speaker and author of "Wild Courage," shares her remarkable journey of transformation. She discusses the emotional challenges of leaving a secure job to embrace entrepreneurship. Jenny highlights the importance of persistent self-improvement and the battle against imposter syndrome. She also emphasizes using her book as a tool for engagement and meaningful connections. Listeners gain insights into personal branding, pricing strategies, and the power of authenticity in both speaking and writing.

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ADVICE

Internal Testing

Test your entrepreneurial ideas internally before leaving your job.
Create something valuable for your company first to assess your enjoyment and potential.

INSIGHT

Money vs. Values

Evaluate your relationship with money and its value relative to other priorities.
Weigh the importance of family, schedule flexibility, creativity, and passion against financial gain.

ANECDOTE

Scarcity Mindset

Jenny Wood's background as a third-generation Holocaust survivor influenced her scarcity mindset regarding money.
Despite financial comfort, she struggled with the fear of running out of money, highlighting the impact of upbringing on financial perspectives.

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“If you are thinking about doing something long term, test it internally, be an intrapreneur, right? Go create something amazing for your company and see if you enjoy doing it.”

Jenny Wood's transition from a high-flying Google executive to an influential public speaker is nothing short of inspiring. After spending eighteen years at Google, Jenny chose to follow her passion for public speaking, resulting in a story of passion, relentless improvement, and the power of authenticity. She joins us today to share her experiences, the nitty-gritty of making it as a speaker, and the wisdom she’s garnered along the way.

One crucial element of Jenny’s approach is her dedication to constantly improving her craft. By working with a keynote consultant and continuously analyzing her presentations, she shows that learning and adapting are key to success in speaking. Jenny is also candid about dealing with imposter syndrome and the challenges of leaving a secure job, demonstrating that courage is essential when facing the unknown.

Furthermore, a significant part of Jenny’s strategy has been leveraging her book, Wild Courage, as a tool to establish her voice in the market. She uses it not just as a revenue source, but as a means to spark meaningful conversations and draw connections with her audience. Understanding the business side of speaking, from setting fees to engaging with speaker bureaus, is another area where Jenny offers valuable insights.

Jenny’s journey highlights the importance of embracing one's unique voice. Her story teaches us that success is about being true to oneself, learning from failures, and continually striving for excellence. For those starting out in speaking, Jenny’s experience is a beacon, showing that with dedication and strategic planning, a fulfilling speaking career is within reach.

You’ll learn:

Jenny’s speaker pricing strategy
About Jenny’s book launch
Multiple revenue streams and book profitability
If books are necessary for personal branding
Jenny’s transition from corporate to speaking
Challenges of entrepreneurship
Overcoming fear and uncertainty
Combating imposter syndrome
And much, much more!

“There was some level of high net freedom that was appealing to me of just being on my own.”

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