Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Bunk.
Jen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My academic training is in I/O Psychology and I received my PhD in I/O Psychology from UConn in 2006. After that, I did what most folks do after they get a PhD – I got an academic job. I was a college professor for almost 10 years and I loved it. I enjoyed teaching, mentoring, doing research, and providing service to the community. But I was one of those “weird” academics who was always involved in tech projects – building websites, creating online courses before it was a thing, etc. During my years as an academic, I was also vicariously living through my husband’s career journey as he was moving up the ladder in various technical leadership positions. One thing led to another and it was time for me to move on from academia. This coincided with my husband’s need to move on as well. He went on the job market and landed a job in Boston. We were in Pennsylvania at the time but it was always our dream to move back to Boston – it was where we met when we were in college. (He was at Northeastern and I was Brandeis. I picked him up on AOL in 1998. And we fell in love with each other and with Boston.) So – off to Boston we went. He started his new job and I slowly but surely transitioned out of my academic position and started my own business. So I am one of those “crazy” people who gave up a tenured academic position and dove into the wonderful world of entrepreneurship! 😉 It’s been a wild and amazing journey and I LOVE it. I’m currently a career coach for tech managers. I am living my dream – in Boston! – and have to pinch myself sometimes. 🙂
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been a long and winding road and I’ve learned to let it be. Beatles references aside, yes, there have been struggles. It’s part of being an entrepreneur. If you’re not stretching the boundaries of your comfort zone, you’re doing it wrong. My first big struggle was with marketing. Except I didn’t know I had a “marketing” problem in the beginning because I didn’t know about marketing! I thought, “Hey, I have this online course. People will buy it!” No one bought it. That was a low point. After spending hours and hours designing an online course, launching it, putting it out there in the world – baring my soul – I made ZERO dollars. That made me take a long, hard look in the mirror. What am I missing? I talked with lots of people and the message became clear: I needed marketing help. After a few months, I found the marketing help that was the exact right fit for me and, about 6 months later, my business REALLY took off. I made my first sale. And my second…and on and on. Do I have it all dialed in yet? No. As my business grows, I’m confronted with bigger and bigger challenges. But I don’t want to play life on the easy level. Bring on the challenges!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jen Bunk Ventures – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I help tech managers upgrade their careers so they can command premium salaries of at least $200k/year without working their butts off 50+ hours/week. In short, I’m a career coach for tech managers. My brand is the People Stack. So, more broadly, my mission is to help tech companies build a better people stack. Because tech is easy. People are hard.
I am most proud of my clients. They are badass, but sometimes they don’t see it. I help them see it and they accomplish amazing things for their careers and for the tech community.
What sets me apart? I guess you’d have to ask my clients. 🙂 Are there other career coaches who specifically focus on helping tech managers to command premium salaries who have a PhD in I/O Psychology and who know what it takes to move up the ladder in the tech world? Maybe. But they’re not going to do it the way I do b/c I’m me and they’re them.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Best: It’s approachable. It’s walkable. It was love at first sight. I still get goosebumps when I’m walking in Somerville and see the Back Bay skyline – especially the Prudential. When I was in college visiting friends at BU and we’d wander the city in the wee hours of the morning, we were never lost. Just walk towards the Pru.
Least: The Green Line makes me motion sick. Not the other ones. Just Green.
Contact Info:
- Website: jenbunk.com
- Email: jen@jenbunk.com
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBunky
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbunk/
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.
