OVERCOMER | Jen Wasem

My friend Jen, man have we the stories to tell. I actually met Jen for the first time at Atlanta Bread Company in Rogers. She was applying for a job with the same organization I worked for and wanted to know more. Let me tell you, this woman has taught me a lot of street savvy. I don’t know that I’ve ever asked the organization I was applying to or done my research to reach out and sit down across the table from a stranger to ask the questions I need to know to find out if this is an organization for me. Over the time we worked together and then as we have continued our friendship beyond that, I’ve learned tons about how she has bounced back from adversity, how she fights fiercely for those she loves, how she commits herself wholeheartedly to the things she’s passionate about. She is thoughtful and gives great gifts, she has offered “been there done that” advice about being a boy mom. She has been vulnerable and let me into the hard places, but as a grown-up what I think she has taught me most is how to fight for herself.

In a room full of executives, she will say what everyone else is thinking. She will always bust up the status quo for something better. She is self-motivated and a fighter. She is raising 2 cool dudes who are following her lead and leading others. They have big hearts for big causes and I’m grateful for our occasional guac dates and how she lets me peek into her world from time to time.

I share with you, my friend Jen.