Meet Jennifer Newberg

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jennifer Newberg. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jennifer, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I’ve learned that – while not always -purpose often rises out of pain. That was certainly the case for me. In May 2024, my husband died suddenly of a heart attack while we were on vacation in Greece. He was 49. One minute we were sleeping, and the next, he was waking me up to say something was wrong. Within 10 minutes, he was gone.

In the months that followed, I tried to return to my job with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization I deeply believed in. But no matter how meaningful the work was, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being called to something else – something more personal.

After some soul searching, and pulling from both my professional background and what I’ve learned through my own recovery from alcoholism, I came to a truth I couldn’t ignore: when you’re in deep pain and feel alone, community is everything. That belief became the foundation for It’s Lifey – a company I started just a few months before my husband died. The name reflects something universal: no matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you’ve been through, life gets lifey. It’s not linear. It’s messy and beautiful and painful.

My purpose now is to build welcoming, honest, and healing communities for people navigating major life transitions – starting with widowhood. Because no one should have to go through the hardest parts of life alone.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

For the first 25 years of my career, I worked as a communications and partnerships executive in both the for-profit and nonprofit worlds. I’ve led mission-driven campaigns for brands like T-Mobile, Purina, Dove, and Planet Fitness. Through that work, my superpower has always been connecting people—building authentic, value-based relationships that make an impact.

During that time, I also went through my share of curveballs: divorce, blending families, addiction, widowhood. And while I haven’t faced everything, I’ve come to believe one truth across the board: connection changes everything. Whether it’s someone walking the same path or someone who’s made it through, talking to someone who gets it can make all the difference. The antidote to loneliness is connection.

That’s why I founded It’s Lifey, a company designed to help people navigate life’s hardest transitions – like grief, loss, divorce, empty nesting, and other moments when “life gets lifey.”

At its core, It’s Lifey creates warm, welcoming spaces – both in-person and virtual – where people can connect with others who “get it.” Through support groups, retreats, and connection circles, participants share their experiences, find comfort in community, and begin to heal through meaningful connection rather than isolation.

Whether you’ve lost a spouse, gone through a major life change, or are simply feeling alone in your current chapter, It’s Lifey is here to remind you: You don’t have to go through it alone.

To date, I have created support groups for widows and hosted a widow retreat. Both have accomplished exactly what I hoped – the women who attended them became a community of widow sisters, and now rely on each other daily through texts and phone calls when they need each other.

This Fall (2025) I will continue by hosting 4 more support groups and another retreat. I am also building a training called Pain Into Purpose, where I will help other people – just like me (not a therapist or a coach) – build communities in their hometowns. My goal is to connect thousands of people to others with shared experiences so that they never have to feel alone. All the information on my upcoming groups and retreats can be found at www.itslifey.com

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Community-Mindedness
As an only child, people often assume I must have been lonely. But my childhood was full of connection. My mom was a teacher who brought her students home when they had nowhere else to go. I was always encouraged to bring a friend along – on vacations, to dinner, anywhere. And both of my parents were incredibly social. I was exposed early on to what real community looks like, and I learned that being “alone” doesn’t have to feel lonely.

That shaped who I am today. When I became a widow, the first thing I did was seek out other widows. And when I started It’s Lifey, I didn’t start with a business plan—I started with people. I had 46 conversations in two months across every imaginable industry. I’ve joined women’s entrepreneur groups and continue to build community wherever I go.

My advice: Don’t wait until you’re “ready” or “have something to offer.” Just reach out. Even if it’s uncomfortable. The right people will meet you there – and you’ll go further with them than you ever could alone.

2. The Courage to Ask for Help
I’ve always understood the power of asking for help, but I believe it happens in three stages:

First, becoming aware that you need help.

Second, having the courage to ask for it.

And third – and maybe the hardest – being open enough to receive it.

Even after 25 years in sales and marketing, when I launched this business, I sat down and got honest: What do I know, and where do I need support? Then I asked for it. Sometimes that meant hiring help, sometimes it meant phone calls or advice. But either way, it required humility.

My advice: You don’t have to do everything alone. Get clear on where you shine, and be brave enough to let others help you in the places you don’t.

3. Openness & Vulnerability
I’m a sharer – sometimes to a fault! I’ll share my snacks, my opinions, or my story (even when people don’t ask). Over the years, that openness has sometimes gotten me in trouble. But more often than not, it’s been a superpower.

Sharing my story – especially the painful parts – has created deep connections. It’s helped others feel seen. It’s reminded people they’re not alone. I truly believe a problem shared is a problem cut in half.

My advice: Vulnerability is a strength. It might feel risky, but when you speak your truth, you give others permission to do the same – and that’s where real healing, connection, and growth begin.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Absolutely – yes, yes, and yes.

As I’ve shared before, I believe deeply in the power of community. And community isn’t possible without partnership. In my past roles – whether I was in PR aligning brands and editors, or at the Boys & Girls Clubs creating meaningful collaborations between companies and nonprofits – my work has always centered around connecting people for a shared purpose.

And now, with It’s Lifey, partnership isn’t just important – it’s essential. I even built a whole page for it on my website!

So who am I looking for?

First, I’m looking for a true partner in running this business.
Someone who has also navigated life transitions and is passionate about helping others do the same. Someone who’s willing to share their story and lead with vulnerability. Ideally, they bring a more operational mindset to complement my visionary one. I know where I thrive – and I also know I need someone with structure, systems, and the heart to help scale impact.

Second, I’m looking for mission-aligned partners who can help amplify the message.
This includes content creators, organizations, and communities that reach people going through grief, divorce, caregiving, empty nesting, or any other “Lifey” moment. These partners already have trust and connection with their audiences – audiences who are craving real, relatable community.

And finally, I want to build a network of everyday people like me.
People who have been through something hard and want to turn that pain into purpose. People who are ready to lead local support circles or retreats, share their wisdom, and remind others that they’re not alone.

If that sounds like you – or someone you know – I’d love to connect.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Stephanie C. Olsen Photography

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