Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer (Jenn) Pipe.
Jennifer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I reached a point in my professional career when I knew cubicle life was robbing me of all my positive, creative energy and it was negatively affecting my home life. I knew deep down that I was no longer meant to be someone else’s employee and I was going to have to forge my own path. I took some time to reflect, do some soul-searching, and ask myself some deep, powerful questions: What were my natural gifts? What brought me joy? If money was not a consideration, how would I want to spend my days? Who did I want to be of service to? What did the world need?
I decided that I wanted to build an enterprise that was going to lift other people up. Art-based empowerment was going to be my niche. In order to transition from employee to entrepreneur, I spent almost two years taking classes and working with a coach. The Self Esteem Through Art program launched in 2011 as a small, local program for adolescent girls. The feedback from parents and children alike was overwhelmingly positive. Word started to spread and I soon began running after-school classes through my town’s recreation center.
The program continues to grow each year—new classes, new demographics, new delivery mechanisms for teaching. Fast forward to 2016 and I began leasing my own space in Holliston, MA; space I currently hold today. Today’s programs include girls, boys, women, groups, and private clients, among others. I am fresh off a beautiful and restorative women’s retreat I ran in Rhode Island. I feel so fortunate that I am finally living my purpose and I get to wake up each day and do work I truly, deeply love!
Has it been a smooth road?
Walking away from a full-time income and benefits without a replacement is NEVER easy. It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I can say with conviction that many of the challenges I encountered early on were self-inflicted.
There was a lot of fear back then—fear of failure, fear of not living up to expectations, fear of not being able to pay the bills and make a living, and even fear of success. There were some self-limiting beliefs at play. I struggled to set adequate prices for my programs. I listened to the advice of people who had no business giving me advice.
I also struggled to manage my time adequately early on. This has been one of the most humbling and grounding experiences of my life and I wouldn’t change it for anything! The strong foundation of self-awareness I created by persevering through those early challenges has been invaluable to my business.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Self Esteem Through Art – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Self Esteem Through Art is on a mission to positively impact the world through the healing combination of community and creativity, specializing in art-based empowerment for all.
My studio is a safe, judgment-free space where both children and adults learn to use art-based activities as both healing and personal growth tools. My classes (in-person and online) educate, enlighten, and connect women and children to each other, and most importantly, to themselves!
Imagine how powerful and impactful it is for a child to have a place s/he can go to after school to unwind, fit in, create, and be authentically her/himself. My studio is that place. Imagine being a woman who has lost pieces of herself along the way, stifled her creativity, and answered the call of everyone else’s needs but her own. My studio is the place local women come to feel loved, unblocked, and empowered.
It is a place where people of all ages finally give themselves permission. Imagine feeling lost as a teenager and then you finally find a place that helps you feel good about yourself again and you begin to thrive instead of surviving. My private clients experience that regularly. The world will kick you in the teeth repeatedly—we are constantly fed messages of ‘not enough.’
I am most proud of the fact that my programs are an oasis and my studio is a sanctuary. I have worked incredibly hard to be a safe, creative, and cathartic space where people of all ages and stages can come to get away from it all and give themselves the gift of creativity.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I grew up in Boston and I am a lifelong resident of Massachusetts. I love Massachusetts because it is such a progressive place to live and work. We have access to so much: world-renowned hospitals, highly ranked education, beautiful coastline, ethnic diversity, progressive standpoints on equality and human rights. We are the birthplace of so much and I work to take very little for granted!
I moved out to the suburbs when I was in my 20s. It was a shock to the system initially, but I have grown to love the suburban lifestyle and being an entrepreneur in a tight-knit community. Holliston is a small dot on the map, but it is a mecca as far as the arts are concerned. There are so many options for parents to choose from and I am honored that my program is the first choice for so many families.
If I were to affect change about one thing, in particular, I would like to encourage more families to actively invest in the social/emotional wellness of their children (and themselves). The digital age is often detrimental to the well-being of children and children need tools to counteract the pressures of a digital world.
I would also like to encourage more parents of boys to nurture their creativity and give them an artistic outlet. There is no such thing as a non-creative child—we have to stop perpetuating that stigma.
Pricing:
- After-School Programs run from $30-$40 per session. A series averages $199-$399, depending on the length.
- Women’s Programs average between $275-$350 per multi-class series.
- Private clients start at $75/hour.
Contact Info:
- Address: 358 Woodland Street Holliston, MA 01746
- Website: https://jennpipe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennpipe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfesteemthroughart
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennpipe/
Image Credit:
Kerry McCaffrey Photography
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
