Meet Jenna White

We recently connected with Jenna White and have shared our conversation below.

Jenna, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

As there are many of us that endured trauma, unsafe living environments, and growing up in poverty, you learn to become a survivor. I have found as a survivor, you have so many paths to choose when seeking survival, which for me, translates to safety and happiness. Two things I didn’t know as I child, but two things I observed schoolmates, friends, and neighbors bathing in and I wanted to find safety and happiness myself. With less of a fight or flight response in understanding I will survive, as I guess that didn’t always feel like that was the case. Getting into management at 16 years old, moving out at 17 years old and graduating early with honors, getting pregnant at 18, and being a single mom at 19, it was time to not just survive, but I need to show my daughter how to thrive, without struggling to survive. Because life is more about thriving, than surviving, if you allow it. And man, doesn’t if feel AMAZING! My resilience, comes from surviving that transitioned into thriving. To all of those that crossed my path in life, and showed me kindness, safety, genuine caring, and respect, those are who I attribute my resilience to. Many not even realizing how impactful they are.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am obsessed with the hospitality industry and for most of my life, that entailed restaurant management and leadership, until transitioning into the Oregon wine industry in 2017. Delivering hospitality from the heart that can positively impact a strangers day is what truly fills my cup. In my current “paid” role, I am the General Manager and Facility Manager of a boutique property in the Willamette Valley. With a small team, I wear all the hats. The way I love it! In addition to my role a the facility, I volunteer to support the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Association as a Board of Directors, Women in Wine (fermenting change in Oregon) on the Board of Directors, and the !Salud! Procurement Committee for Immigrant Workers and their families.

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?

1) A podcast that taught me how to embrace criticism and look at it as a reward versus an attack

2) Understanding your employees/team, are humans, not robots

3) It sounds silly, but going back to Kindergarten, we all need to “relearn” this as an adult, treat others the way you want to be treated

For me, the best way to embrace the challenges and obstacles, is to take them head on and know, that it’s ok to “relearn” the basics, as often, the basics are the functions we need to find safety and happiness.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

Gaining confidence to fully be my own boss and focus on pouring into opportunities that pour equally back into me.

Contact Info:

• Other: Instagram: valleygirlwv

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