Creating Impact Through Storytelling

We met Jenn at a networking event and learned about what inspired her. We were moved by the work she was doing, and we wanted to support her efforts. Jenn, like so many other young women from her generation, is reshaping the future of every industry.

What was most inspiring about meeting Jenn was the story of how she created a path for herself based on her admiration for the work her grandfather and father had done. Her own stories of how she was inspired by the two of them reinforced not only the power of stories, but the magnitude of access, and opportunities.

In her own words Jenn explains what having access to Collab meant to her:

"#GoBeyond is an educational media company focused on highlighting and amplifying the achievements of women in STEM. Collab has been essential to our work with #GoBeyond, providing us a collaborative space to meet female inventors, media creators, and entrepreneurs. In addition to creating media content about women scientists, #GoBeyond hosts high school interns each semester to give students hands-on work experience and to help us craft content that speaks to and empowers a younger generation.

This initiative is supported by the Department of Education’s Futures and Options program. Collab is by far our student’s favorite place to meet, work, and learn.

I don’t know what we would do without the support of Adina and the team at The Collab-Orators."

We loved getting to know Jenn and her fellow collaborators and interns. You can read more about Jenn and the work she is doing below. We are excited to see her journey unfold into a fantastic story.

Jenn Halweil's fascination with technology and storytelling ma.y be a genetic predisposition -- her grandfather was part of the team that built the first major computer (ENIAC) led by Grace Hopper. Her father was a social worker who loved bringing home stories of his travels. From a young age, Jenn was instilled with a love of storytelling and problem solving. A nocturnal insomniac, her bed became a late night sanctuary stocked with a flashlight, an expansive Nancy Drew collection, and re-enactments of her favorite strong female protagonists. After devouring her elementary school's library, Jenn moved onto films and a pretty extensive Scientific American collection. In college, Jenn combined

these interests, studying media communication and electrical engineering. 

Jenn co-founded her first company in college. Legacy Event Planners was awarded the City of Raleigh's Community Service Award in 2010, for her work organizing a 20,000-person eco-arts festival that showcased diversity. Five years ago, she launched her consultancy, focused on helping socially and environmentally responsible businesses craft their storytelling message through commercials, testimonials, and social media content. She has worked with over two-dozen clients including ZipCar, mtvU, TanZ Group, and Lenovo. Jenn has also worked for the Department of Energy in their alternative fuel FredomCar Division, as well as Progress Energy in their Distribution and Renewable Divisions. 

Jenn has produced several short films and documentary projects, one of which won Best Editing as part of Campus MovieFest at Warner Brother's studios in LA, and another that recently screened at Cannes in 2016. Most recently, she was accepted into Youtube's Content Creator Bootcamp in NYC. She was offered a scholarship to attend the NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, but chose to enroll in Meisner training at the William Esper Studio instead. She has been nominated for Best Actress in the Secret Theatre's One Act Festival in 2013, and has had her work showcased at Cannes and the famous Chinese Theatre as part of HollyShorts Film Festival. Currently, Jenn is represented by American Talent Management in NY and MegaFlash Models in Miami.

In addition to her modeling, acting, and hosting responsibilities, Jenn currently provides storytelling and business development consulting for a number of green tech, fashion, and social good companies. Scroll down to the portfolio section to check out some of her work. 

Lastly, Jenn is thrilled to be producing a documentary highlighting groundbreaking and glass-ceiling-shattering science being conducted by women around the world. For more info on #GoBeyond visit www.GoBeyondTheSeries.com