An Inspired Chat with Jean Criss of Metro New York

We recently had the chance to connect with Jean Criss and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jean, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
You offered up some intriguing ice breaker questions, and I’d like to respond to this one.

I do believe that I am walking a path. I am not wandering aimlessly without intention. I have been set on a mission not only to push myself to the limits but also to discover my inner creativity and share it with others in the universe. For years, although I was successful, I wasn’t living my dreams. I didn’t feel truly fulfilled in what I was doing. Then, after certain life events pushed me into starting a new career, I found myself actually enjoying the work—despite not expecting to.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not easy—mentally, physically, or financially—but I’ve learned to discipline myself in many ways: to focus on a vision, to meet client needs as well as my own, and to deliver what I believe is the right path to pursue.

So, the answer is a profound yes. I am walking a path of positivity and change, as strong leaders, changemakers, and creators do. I’ve found my inner spirit and am fulfilling those intuitions, turning ideas into real-life products and solutions.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Meet Jean Criss — Innovator, Creator, and Changemaker

I’m Jean Criss, a passionate entrepreneur, media producer, and fashion-tech innovator dedicated to empowering women and redefining the future where style meets purpose. With over 25 years of experience in media, technology, and fashion, I’ve founded four e-commerce companies and authored five books — all driven by creativity, innovation, and advocacy for women in business.

Throughout my career, I’ve created and designed a variety of brands and products — from cutting-edge technology to sustainable fashion — and I truly enjoy every craft and stitch in the process. My work spans digital media campaigns, large-scale marketing productions, mobile tech innovations, post-surgical and immersive intimate apparel designs, medical garments, wearable tech, gaming, and fashion-tech collaborations, all united by a focus on innovation, purpose, and empowerment.

Currently, I’m leading initiatives that bridge fashion and technology — fostering conversations and partnerships that inspire women to embrace AI, creativity, and sustainability as forces for positive change in our human-centric world.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before I found my love for computer science, technology and communications in college, I dreamed of becoming a choreographer and performing on Broadway. I imagined the rhythm of the city, the spotlight, and the magic of storytelling through movement. Even though life led me down a different path, I’m still always dancing in my head.

Art, to me, is a form of expression and storytelling — and I share my story in everything I create and celebrate. Whether through innovation, design, or technology, that same rhythm and passion continue to move through everything I do.

Whether performing in a local recital, producing client experiential engagements, or moving from the showroom to the runway — the show must go on. Living and breathing the arts has always been my way of channeling creativity and purpose. That same passion that once fueled my love for dance evolved into a drive for tech innovation — to build, inspire, and create sustainable fashion and media solutions. The stage simply changed, but the performance remains the same — still alive in the music, the rhythm, the expression, and the heart.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I think there were many times. An abusive marriage. Cancer. Health complications. A corporate layoff. Each of these experiences taught me valuable life lessons in their own way. Whether or not we ask for them, life has a way of presenting challenges that shape us. What matters most is being open to receive those lessons — much like being open to constructive criticism. You may not want to hear it at first, but in time, you realize it helps redirect your energy toward something more positive and purposeful.

Sometimes, we don’t get to choose the path we walk, but if you can find the road to resilience and stay grounded in hope and grace, you begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Every trial, no matter how painful, becomes part of your growth, strength, and transformation.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes — for better or worse, it absolutely is. I’m proud of the person I’ve become and everything I’ve accomplished, and I’m not done yet! I’m on a roll — overflowing with creative ideas and a passion for bringing them to life. I took my media and tech expertise as a global leader in the corporate world and put it to good use as an entrepreneur.

What I enjoy most is creating — putting ideas into play and watching them evolve into something meaningful. I recently debuted two new patented innovations: JeanetiX, the world’s first SMART wearable tech bra — a medtech device designed to detect both cancerous and non-cancerous indicators and accelerate breast recovery; and Pink Skins, designed for gaming enthusiasts and pink warriors alike. These join more than half a dozen patents I’ve developed over the past decade.

And I’m just getting started — I have a long list of inventions and projects ready to bring to market. Just fund me, and let’s get started! I welcome new collaborations and love sharing my wealth of knowledge with others who are eager to innovate, invest, fund, and grow in emerging markets to make a lasting impact.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
Perhaps that they won’t fully know all that I’ve accomplished — or all that I’m capable of. I’m not an introvert, but I am soft-spoken. I enjoy listening to others, understanding their needs, and learning when it’s the right time to lean in.

Sometimes, that can be mistaken for shyness or quietness, but in truth, I’m often observing, absorbing, and processing what I hear — letting it inspire my next creative idea or guide me toward helping others. My strength lies in listening deeply, thinking intentionally, and channeling what I learn into meaningful innovation and impact.

What do they say — don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, that’s me!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jeancrissmedia.com
• Instagram: @jean.criss
• Linkedin: jean-criss
• Twitter: @jean_criss
• Facebook: jeancrissmedia
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com › biz › jean-criss-media-new-york-city
• Youtube: jcriss0001
• Other: CrisscrossIntimates.com
  linktr.ee/jeancriss
  @crisscross.intimates (Instagram)
  jeancrissauthor (Facebook)
  crisscrossintimates (Facebook)
  CrisscrossIntimates.com/JeanetiX
  CrisscrossIntimates.com/Pink-Skins

Image Credits
I had professional photo shoots. Thanks.