Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jennie Milton

Jennie Milton shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Jennie, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately the wind is lighting me up. When it starts to blow, I grab my kites and head outside. Kitesurfing has been my passion for more than twenty years, and I still feel like a kid at Christmas. There is nothing like clipping in, feeling the lines go tight, and letting Mother Nature become the engine. It is play and presence at the same time. I tune in to the weather, the water, and the sky. Flying kites makes me feel grounded and free, one with the wind, and completely alive.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
G’day, I’m Jennie “AdrenaJen” Milton. I’m a champion snowkiter and kitesurfer turned keynote speaker and coach. My brand, AdrenaJen, helps people build real-world courage and take action using the same playbook I used on big mountains and in heavy surf. After multiple brain surgeries, I feared I would lose my identity as the adrenaline-loving athlete. Instead, I found a new arena. Public speaking gives me the same surge of energy and focus that I feel dropping into Alaskan lines or riding big waves. Now I share the stories and science behind courage, turning fear into fuel for leaders, teams, and women in transition. Through my talk “Ready Mindset Go,” workshops, and my I BE WEAR empowerment apparel, I teach practical tools that make courage a daily habit. I am currently working on a short book and a series of live and online programs that help audiences forecast challenges, adapt fast, and celebrate wins. My mission is simple. Help people feel braver today than they did yesterday.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me I am releasing is the old identity that says I only count when I am the toughest athlete in the room. That version was fueled by perfectionism, lone-wolf grit, and the belief that courage only “counts” on steep faces and big waves. It served me well and kept me alive in wild places. It also kept me small in other ways. It hid my scars. It made me chase invincibility instead of intimacy, impact, and joy.

I am keeping the courage, the discipline, and the love of wind and weather. I am letting go of the need to prove myself through pain. I am releasing the pressure to do it alone. In its place, I choose visibility, service, and storytelling. I choose a microphone over a mask. My new arena is the stage, where the same adrenaline becomes fuel to help others move from fear into action.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Yes. Even though I love living in the United States with my husband, I quietly miss my Australian winters. I miss Thredbo, guiding in the backcountry, and teaching snowkiting. Those were golden days of running a small mountain business, helping people discover the joy of gliding across the snow while a kite tows you on skis or a snowboard. Every August and September, when the southern mountains turn white, a part of me longs for that rhythm of early starts, wind checks, and wide open alpine bowls. It is a season of my life I will always treasure.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Windy days are not “bad days.” They are gifts. Most people see wind as a nuisance, but I see pure possibility. Wind is an engine for play, a teacher of focus, and a powerful natural energy we can harness, from kites that lift the soul to turbines that power communities. The truth I hold is simple: wind brings joy. Very few agree with me, but every gust still feels like an invitation to fly.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
After three brain surgeries in 2024, I asked myself this often. If I had ten years left, I would stop anything that steals joy or time. I would stop people-pleasing, perfectionism, and saying yes out of obligation. I would stop busywork, doom-scrolling, and stress loops that live rent-free in my head. I already stopped drinking alcohol to give myself the best chance at a long, healthy life, and I would keep cutting habits that dull my energy. I would stop postponing adventures, stop delaying calls to family in Australia, and stop talking harshly to myself. What I would keep is simple. Time with the people I love, moving my body, flying kites, and sharing my stories on stage to help others find courage. I would live each day as if it mattered, because it does.

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Image Credits
Photo: Adrenajen

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