Meet Jenna Rodriguez

We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenna , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from the women before me and the challenges that shaped me.

I grew up in a home where I watched my mom do everything she could with what she had. We were on food stamps and Section 8, and I saw firsthand what it looked like for a woman to hold a family together while carrying the weight of the world. Watching her struggle didn’t make me hard — it made me determined. I wanted better, not just for myself, but for my future family, for the little girl I used to be, and for the woman I was becoming.

That foundation built my fire.

Then life gave me even more reasons to grow. I became a mom at 17. I didn’t have a roadmap, a safety net, or the luxury of falling apart. I had a baby depending on me, so I learned early how to create strength where there was none, and how to keep going even when I was scared or exhausted. I got my GED, went to college and worked hard from there.

My resilience is stitched from all those moments — the long nights, the heartbreaks, the healing, the moving states alone, the starting over, the rebuilding, and the choice to rise every single time and also loss.

I lost my brother and mother 6 weeks apart in 2018. I was battling clinical depression before they passed, oversleeping losing my hair, myself. When they passed something is my brain changed. I can’t tell you if it was from the shock of loss but it put a fire in me again and I truly learned the meaning of tomorrow is never promised and I started living with more purpose.

It’s what turned my pain into purpose and my creativity into a business. Picnic Chemistry exists because of that resilience — because I wanted to create spaces of joy, connection, and intentional healing, even though I wasn’t raised around it.

My resilience comes from my mother’s fight, my son’s future, my faith, my grief and the promise I made to myself: to break cycles, to build something beautiful from nothing, and to never let where I started limit where I’m going.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the founder of Picnic Chemistry, an experiential event brand rooted in intentionality, connection, and the belief that small moments can create big change — the butterfly effect of togetherness.

What makes my brand special is that it’s not just about picnics. I create curated, meaningful experiences — from romantic dates and birthday celebrations to healing workshops and community events, proposals and so much more. I want to help people slow down and reconnect, and have meaningful moments.

What excites me most is watching people soften and truly be present. My setups help couples reconnect, friends bond, families celebrate, and individuals feel seen and supported. It’s joy with intention.

Picnic Chemistry is growing — expanding into intentional date planning, hotel/Airbnb room décor add-ons, women-led brand collaborations, and a new podcast centered on entrepreneurial storytelling and the things we “carry in our picnic baskets.”

At its core, Picnic Chemistry is a movement: creating spaces where connection, healing, and joy are the main characters.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey the most were self-belief, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

1. Self-Belief
I had to develop the mindset that I was capable even when I didn’t have the perfect circumstances, resources, or support. Becoming a mom at 17, starting over in a new state, and building a business from scratch taught me that belief is a skill — one you practice daily. My advice: start small. Keep promises to yourself, celebrate each win, and let evidence build your confidence.

2. Adaptability
Life changed on me more times than I can count — financially, emotionally, professionally, and as a mother. I learned how to pivot fast, stay creative, and make something out of nothing. Adaptability becomes easier when you stop fighting the season you’re in and start asking, “What is this trying to teach me?” Lean into the lesson instead of the fear.

3. Emotional Intelligence
As a behavioral health support specialist by day and an entrepreneur, emotional intelligence changed everything for me. It helped me communicate better, lead with empathy, build deeper connections, and make decisions from a grounded place instead of a reactive one. For those starting their journey: slow down, listen to yourself, understand your triggers, and learn how your emotions guide your choices. EQ is a superpower in business and in life.

These qualities didn’t come from perfection — they came from experience, mistakes, healing, and choosing to grow through every challenge. And the beautiful part is anyone can develop them with intention and consistency.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

A book that deeply influenced my growth is “Super Brain” by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph Tanzi. It taught me that the brain isn’t fixed — it’s adaptable, trainable, and constantly responding to the choices we make.

I actually started to read this when I was battling depression and was trying to heal myself without medication.

One of the biggest takeaways was learning to lead my brain instead of letting my brain lead me. That mindset helped me break old patterns, build healthier habits, and approach life with more intention.

The book also reinforced the power of the mind-body connection — reminding me that my thoughts, environment, and self-talk shape my emotional well-being. It encouraged me to become more intentional, more present, and more in control of creating the life I want.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.PicnicChemistry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picnicchemistry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/picnicchemistry

Image Credits

@picnicchemistry