Her Story
About Jannat
Jannat Bey has been a freelance writer for more than 20 years, building a career rooted in storytelling, reflection, and the exploration of the mind–body–spirit connection. She came to writing after an earlier career as a paralegal working across multiple areas of law, eventually realizing that certain legal fields felt emotionally draining and disempowering, particularly those tied to people’s living conditions and quality of life. That awareness shaped her long-standing commitment to work that centers humanity, healing, and personal agency.
Her life and creative voice have been profoundly shaped by lived experience and resilience. In 1990, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, requiring six months of hospitalization and a long recovery that included learning to walk again. The only lasting impact is chronic fatigue, which made traditional structured employment difficult but opened the door to a more flexible and meaningful writing life. She later faced a breast cancer diagnosis in 2000 and the loss of her mother in 2003, experiences that deepened her understanding of grief, survival, and the importance of listening to the body. Raised by a father who was a jazz arranger and bandleader who worked with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie and James Moody, she also developed a lifelong connection to jazz as both inspiration and emotional refuge.
Today, Jannat Bey continues to write with a focus on healing, awareness, and intentional living. Her earlier blog, 50 Shades of Jazz, explored how music can support emotional resilience and transformation, and she is now preparing to launch The Restorative Path, a platform centered on composing a life guided by health, authenticity, and inner wisdom. Through her work, she encourages others to slow down, reconnect with their bodies, and make choices aligned with peace, wellbeing, and personal truth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jannat
01What do you attribute your success to?
Being open and present in what is happening now and being flexible to fully aware of circumstances and making informed choices that works for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your heart and dreams. Be ready to adjust your plans for success rather than giving in or up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to follow your heart, and don't pay attention to what others think, because when you're listening to others, you're not listening to yourself. Whether you get support or not, support yourself. Don't worry about getting outside support, because I've learned that a lot of people might be jealous or envious, and it's not a real reason about what your capabilities are, it's more them than it is you. So you have to listen to yourself and not pay any attention. If they're not supportive or whatever, don't hang around them as much. You know, do other things with them that isn't the topic that you're dealing with. And don't rely so much on the external things in life. Rely more on your internal things, because that's your navigator. That's what's gonna get you through the hard times. Go ahead and try new experiences. If that doesn't work out, you know, figure out why that's not working for you, and then morph it into something else. But always look forward. Stop looking back. Because it's not productive for you to look back. It's always productive to look forward.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Creating a presence that reflects who you are. After that follow through with your plan and be open and flexible to make the appropriate adjustments as they arrive.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, truthfulness and endurance to live the life that was meant for you.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Washington
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.