Episode #543

From Google Exec to Speaker: A Story of Courage and Perseverance

With Jenny Wood

“If you are thinking about doing something long term, test it internally, be an intrapreneur, right? Go create something amazing for your company and see if you enjoy doing it.”

Jenny Wood’s transition from a high-flying Google executive to an influential public speaker is nothing short of inspiring. After spending eighteen years at Google, Jenny chose to follow her passion for public speaking, resulting in a story of passion, relentless improvement, and the power of authenticity. She joins us today to share her experiences, the nitty-gritty of making it as a speaker, and the wisdom she’s garnered along the way.

One crucial element of Jenny’s approach is her dedication to constantly improving her craft. By working with a keynote consultant and continuously analyzing her presentations, she shows that learning and adapting are key to success in speaking. Jenny is also candid about dealing with imposter syndrome and the challenges of leaving a secure job, demonstrating that courage is essential when facing the unknown.

Furthermore, a significant part of Jenny’s strategy has been leveraging her book, Wild Courage, as a tool to establish her voice in the market. She uses it not just as a revenue source, but as a means to spark meaningful conversations and draw connections with her audience. Understanding the business side of speaking, from setting fees to engaging with speaker bureaus, is another area where Jenny offers valuable insights.

Jenny’s journey highlights the importance of embracing one’s unique voice. Her story teaches us that success is about being true to oneself, learning from failures, and continually striving for excellence. For those starting out in speaking, Jenny’s experience is a beacon, showing that with dedication and strategic planning, a fulfilling speaking career is within reach.

You’ll learn:

  • Jenny’s speaker pricing strategy
  • About Jenny’s book launch
  • Multiple revenue streams and book profitability
  • If books are necessary for personal branding
  • Jenny’s transition from corporate to speaking
  • Challenges of entrepreneurship
  • Overcoming fear and uncertainty
  • Combating imposter syndrome
  • And much, much more!

“There was some level of high net freedom that was appealing to me of just being on my own.”

Want to know exactly how to find and book more paid speaking gigs?

Download our 18-page guide to the 6 proven steps you can use to book more paid speaking gigs in 2026!

About Jenny Wood

Jenny Wood is the author of the upcoming book, WILD COURAGE: Go After What You Want and Get It. In her 18 years at Google, she grew from entry-level to executive, and she most recently led a large operations team that helped drive billions of revenue per year. In 2021, she started a passion project within Google called Own Your Career, which became one of the company’s largest career programs in history with tens of thousands of people benefiting worldwide. Jenny’s writing has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Forbes. She is an FAA-licensed private pilot, a daily hiker, an improv student, a tap dancer, and a zucchini bread connoisseur. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two young children and her husband, Jon. She met Jon by chasing him off the NYC Subway, and the New York Times featured their story.

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