Work History

I began my creative career in the art department on film sets before moving into still photography, where I worked as a food and prop stylist, art director, and eventually an editorial photographer.

As my photography career was taking off, I co-founded ban.do, a small accessories company that grew into a globally recognized lifestyle brand. Over twelve years, I served as Creative Director and later Chief Creative Officer and Ambassador, leading brand vision across product, content, and marketing. Our product offering spanned lifestyle goods, stationery, apparel, jewelry, and gifts. We operated across both wholesale and direct-to-consumer globally, partnering with artists, emerging brands, and large global companies.

In 2020, I stepped back from full-time brand leadership to recalibrate after a 25-year career and reconnect with a more personal, intuitive creative practice.

Also during this time, my friend Bri Emery and I co-founded Spider Spider, a creative think tank focused on developing frameworks that support neuroarts, imagination, and creative healing.

I now bring together my experience in creativity and business, along with the lived experience of the past several years, to help individuals and teams grow ideas, projects, and brands with clarity and purpose.

Other Projects of Note

Hosted Jen Gotch is OK… Sometimes : a candid podcast that explored mental health through honesty and humor.

Authored The Upside of Being Down, Simon & Schuster : New York Times bestselling memoir.

Collaborated with Bring Change to Mind to raise mental health awareness for teens and adults through speaking engagements and a fundraising collaboration with ban.do.

Skills & Experience

Creative Direction: Product & Editorial Photography and Video, Graphic Design, Product Design and Product Assortments.

Brand and Marketing: Strategy across products, email, social media, events, and campaigns

Products and Business: Line planning, direct-to-consumer and wholesale experience, business strategy

Creative Tools:
Procreate & Procreate Dreams
Adobe Photoshop & Bridge
Midjourney & ChatGPT
Paint, clay, plaster, thread, paper, pencils, markers, pastels, and hot glue