Episode 66: Riding a Career of Uncomfortable Emotions with Jenny Woo
Synopsis
Episode 66. In this episode of the Lifetime at Work podcast, host Greg Martin interviews Jenny Wu, founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company that produces emotional intelligence card games for both adults and children. Jenny, an expert in emotional intelligence with degrees from Harvard and UC Berkeley, and teaching experience at UC Irvine, shares insights from her varied career and personal life. The conversation spans topics such as the significance of emotional intelligence, balancing parenting and career, the role of university education today, and Jenny's journey from industry to academia. Additionally, they discuss the impact of parental expectations, the challenges women face in balancing motherhood and their careers, and tools for developing better emotional intelligence at any age.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:59 Jenny Wu's Background and Career Journey
02:08 Mind Brain Emotion: The Human Skills Game
04:19 Inspiration Behind the Game
06:07 Early Career and Transition to Human Capital
16:01 Balancing Career and Parenthood
21:02 Understanding Emotional Intelligence
24:06 Learning Emotional Intelligence as an Adult
25:35 Recognizing and Addressing Blind Spots
26:10 Practical Examples of Emotional Intelligence
28:47 The Importance of Feeling Heard and Valued
31:32 Navigating Academic and Professional Growth
34:47 Launching a Business Through University Support
36:10 Improving Higher Education
39:47 Balancing Support and Independence in Parenting
41:54 The Role of Discomfort in Personal Growth
45:12 Final Thoughts and Resources
Background and Key Links
Jenny started her career in a variety of HR style roles including Deloitte and Chevron
Variety of roles at universities including UC Berkeley, UC Irvine and Harvard
Founder of Mind Brain Emotion, emotional intelligence games for children and adults