My path to Nourished Leadership

By Jenn Urso

In 2016, while sitting on a beach in Koh Lanta, Thailand, I reflected on my life’s direction.

I had recently been promoted to Vice President at an insurance lobbying association in Washington, DC. Though excited, I felt uncertain about the future.

In the sand, I sketched three words: Truth. Wisdom. Freedom.

I thought about my career-driven friends, many of whom were overextended and frustrated by work. I, too, felt disillusioned—not with my company, but with a rigid, linear work system that often clashes with happiness, health, and freedom.

How could something that takes up a third of our lives feel so at odds with a fulfilling existence?

This inquiry led me to take a six-month career break in 2018 to travel across countries and cultures. Through conversations during my journey, I saw a shared frustration with work’s demands—and yet, a deep hope for meaningful careers and lives.

Afterward, I became a certified coach to help professionals design careers aligned with their values, ambitions, and quality of life. Having worked with over 100 mid-career professionals, I’ve observed recurring themes:

The link between career satisfaction and overall well-being

The need for empowered control over what we can influence

A softer, more strategic way to lead and do business

Careers that nourish rather than deplete

These insights inspired me to create The Nourished Leader Way—a framework to help professionals thrive by aligning their work with their values, fostering well-being, and redefining success in a way that nourishes both their careers and their lives.