Meet Jen Polt | Authenticity Warrior & Confidence Coach for Women in Midlife

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jen Polt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jen, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I’ve always lived by the motto “Great things come with great risk.” It’s my way of gut checking myself–how BAD do I want this? Am I willing to take the chance without knowing if it will work out? Will I live with regret if I DON’T bet on myself?

Risk has been a thread throughout my entire life–when I moved across the country in my 20s with $500 in my bank account and no job, when I left a role at the top of my game to move across the country again–and more recently, when I walked away from a 25 year career in Sales Leadership & Training to become a solopreneur and start my own coaching business at age 52. I had the big, stable corporate job with the big salary and all the benefits–and I was MISERABLE. My work had become focused on executing other peoples’ initiatives and visions, and I felt discouraged and demotivated.

Longing for a creative outlet, I turned to Social Media and started to create content. To my surprise, I built a following and three years later I left my company and went all-in on a new career path–as a full time coach and content creator focused on confidence for women in midlife. Three weeks later, I found out I would not have the support of my partner in this stage of my journey and I panicked. But I’m grateful for the timing, because my fear of losing security may have prevented me from rolling the dice on myself.

Yes, there have been those “what have I done?” moments–it hasn’t always been easy. But, I’m so proud that I pushed on and took this chance on myself. The regret I would have felt if I hadn’t…I know I couldn’t live with.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I like to call myself a professional hype woman–more specifically, I’m an image and confidence coach for women in midlife. I create online content, I coach individuals and group workshops, and I’m a public speaker.

I was very intentional with my brand–I saw a lot of creators & coaches my age that had great content–but I didn’t RELATE to them. There were too many conversations about looking 10 years younger and 10 pounds thinner, a lot of glam rooms and dream closets. I wanted my content to FEEL different–like if your best friend was an influencer. So, I speak to my community that way–I’m honest, silly, and sometimes foul mouthed (I’m from New Jersey, it’s in my DNA). And I let them in on ALL sides of my life–the highs and the lows, the times when I’m flying high and the times I’m riddled with imposter syndrome. I want them to really KNOW me…not just some curated version of me.

My authenticity is the fabric of my brand, and I learned that the more I leaned into that sometimes messy version of me, the more invested my community became in my work. The biggest compliment I get is when someone who has followed me for a while meets me in person or books a coaching session with me and says, “you’re exactly like who you are online!” I believe that my vulnerability and authenticity has created space and safety for the people in my community to be just as honest about themselves, and witnessing my journey has given them inspiration to go after their own dreams–at any age.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in DC now, and I love the variety of experiences available in this area. I love to get out of the city and go to a winery or on a hike at Great Falls, walk the streets of Old Town Alexandria, or catch some live music from the lawn seats at WolfTrap. In the city, a moonlight tour of the monuments is a must, a cocktail in one of the many speakeasies is always fun, and a show at the Kennedy Center are part of my DC “must sees.”

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For sure, my shoutout goes to my Instagram community. There are a lot of negative perceptions about social media and the superficiality of it–my experience has been just the opposite.

My community is full of the most uplifting, empowering cheerleaders. They have laughed with me, cried with me, celebrated me and encouraged me. So many–I call them my OGs–have been with me from the beginning and have watched my journey for the past 4 years–from my start as a part time creator to deciding to take a chance on myself 3 years later and start my own brand and company. They have buoyed me through the loss of my dog, a dear friend, and an unexpected divorce. They have stuck with me through it all, and I can’t thank them enough.

I never call them my followers–they are a part of me. Sisters, brothers, family, community…those words are better.

Website: https://glossedworld.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/makingupforglossedtime

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferpolt

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/makingupforglossedtime

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/MakingUpForGlossedTime

Other: threads: https://www.threads.net/@makingupforglossedtime

Image Credits
Images 1, 5, 6, 7:
Credit Amanda Ghobadi, The Branding Babe