We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Jen Rafferty. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jen, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
I feel joy everyday! For me, joy is a choice, so I choose to look for it and be present with it as much as I can. Sometimes it’s that first sip of my morning coffee, sometimes it’s a walk outside, a chat with a friend, or bedtime chats with my kids. Joy is everywhere if you’re available to find it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Jen Rafferty, founder and CEO of Empowered Educator. My journey started in the classroom as a middle school music and chorus teacher, and although I absolutely loved my students, over time, I saw how deeply stress and burnout were affecting not just me, but my colleagues and our entire school community.
That experience lit a fire in me. I wanted to change the way we think about education, to create schools where people come first and where teachers and leaders feel supported, valued, and are equipped to thrive. So, I went back to school myself, earned my PhD in educational psychology, certifications in emotional intelligence and neuroidentity evolution, and launched Empowered Educator.
What makes Empowered Educator unique is that while it’s rooted in neuroscience and emotional intelligence, it’s also incredibly practical and heart-centered. We help educators and school leaders reconnect with their purpose, restore their energy, and rise into empowered leadership through keynotes, workshops, and our signature programming.
At the end of the day, my mission is simple: to create generational change by helping educators reclaim their joy and lead with clarity, compassion, and courage. Because when teachers thrive, students flourish, and that ripple effect has the power to transform entire communities.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Perfectionism and people pleasing has been a big part of who I had become. This is certainly common for many people, and had served me well most of my life (or at least I thought). The thing is, when your brain learns these adaptive behaviors, they are subconscious, which means as you get older, you are often unaware that these are the root causes of the decisions you make and the behaviors you exhibit. For me, engaging in my own personal growth and development has allowed me to see that people pleasing and perfectionism no longer serve me. In order to become the woman I want to be, I get to choose to let go of what other people think because what I’ve learned is that what other people think is none of my business. I now show up as a fully authentic version of myself which ultimately best serves my family, my friends, and my work in this world.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For me it wasn’t always a clear, tangible fear. Instead it felt more like a disempowering belief, which is a sort of subconscious fear that I carried without realizing it. Deep down, I didn’t believe I could “have it all”.
I thought I had to choose to either be successful in my work, or fulfilled in my personal life, but not both. That belief shaped so many of my decisions, often keeping me feeling exhausted and overextended. The idea of wanting more felt selfish or completely unrealistic, and it held me back from dreaming bigger.
The turning point came during the COVID pandemic when I started to question that story and realized it was never actually true. Through my own inner work (and what I now teach through Empowered Educator programming), I’ve learned that we can absolutely create lives filled with joy, impact, and balance. Shifting that belief has truly been the most empowering transformation of my life.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
To me, a fad feels like a quick fix. I think in our fast-paced world of fast-food, fast-fashion, and short attention spans we rely on fads to address our discomfort, even if it actually requires more attention. It makes sense though. Our brains are wired to be pain-averse and the dopamine hits we get from sugar, impulse shopping and scrolling on social media create a short-term band-aid for a deeper issue. Instead of facing our uncomfortable emotions, we numb them instead with the latest fad. It feels easy and quick, but also feels shallow and short-lived. So we end up chasing the next fad leaving us ultimately feeling exhausted and unfulfilled.
On the other hand, a fundamental shift can happen when you take an honest look at yourself and decide that you are committing to doing the work on yourself that creates sustainable change. Often that means upleveling your emotional intelligence, and making decisions that align with who you want to be, (and giving yourself grace when you fall off the wagon so you can get right back on again).
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m fully present and when my mind and body are in the same place at the same time. Peace for me isn’t about everything being perfect or calm on the outside. Instead, it’s about the inner awareness that comes when I’m aligned with myself. I’ve learned that peace shows up often in small, ordinary moments where I can pause, take a breath, and remember that I’m exactly where I need to be and I am always on time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://empowerededucator.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenrafferty_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenrafferty/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empowerededucatorfacultyroom
Image Credits
Loving My Company
Amanda Christine Miller
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