Her Story
About Jennifer
My career has taken many twists and turns from where I started. I went to St. John Fisher with a double major in psychology and sociology, then immediately went to the University of Buffalo and got my Master's in clinical social work. I practiced clinical work for 4 years, spending time at Crestwood Children's Center and the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Strong Memorial Hospital. I was very driven and very success-focused, and I spoke to a variety of leaders, including a career counselor, and made a decision to make a major shift and pivot into sales. I spent about 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry - sales, sales management, sales training, and sales leadership development, and that's what made me really fall in love with developing people and impacting others. And I have been in the L&OD field since. Now, as Director of Learning and Organizational Development for Nestle Health Science. I lead a team and am responsible for driving the learning and development strategy. A big piece of my job is strategy and collaborating with our cross functional and global partners to identify different initiatives through our Operational Master Plan and activate programs. I'm currently working on three major initiatives: a change management, a mentor program, and leadership development programs. I'm a lifelong learner and constantly trying to look at cutting-edge trends. I just signed up to go to the International ATD Conference, I read constantly, and make learning a commitment.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jennifer
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a blend of grit and tenacity that keeps me pushing forward, even in the face of obstacles. Paired with an unsatiable drive and deep passion for what I do, these qualities continually fuel my progress and growth.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay relentlessly curious and never stop investing in my own growth. When you combine that mindset a willingness to take bold, thoughtful risks, the path forward has a way of opening up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Have confidence in yourself and believe deeply in your ability to shape your own path. Lift others up as you rise, because empowering the women around you strengthens everyone. Don’t be afraid to take risks, embrace failure as a lesson, and use each experience to fuel your growth. And remember—you don’t have to have it all figured out at 20; keep reinventing yourself, stay open to learning, and give yourself permission to try new things.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Digital fluency and AI represent one of the biggest opportunities in the Learning & Development field, unlocking new ways to personalize learning and accelerate capability building. The real challenge is getting people to buy in, learn how to leverage AI confidently, and embrace the shift. When we help individuals see the value and capitalize on these benefits, the impact is transformational.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Work ethic is probably my biggest value - a constant striving to give 110% every single day. My second value is to be bold and courageous, and to constantly try new things and think outside the box. And my third value is to be a steward of learning. I believe in constantly learning, whether that's through feedback and improving and learning from your failures, or whether it's more active learning on the job or classroom style, through peer mentors, or whatever it might be. I'm a lifelong learner and I don't think I'll ever stop learning.
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