Meet Jennifer Simpson | Owner and CEO, Integrated Work

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

Hi Jennifer, what principle do you value most?
At Integrated Work we call our values Ideals because we see them both as something to steer by (our north star) and as something to aspire to–to keep us always striving to be the best version of ourselves. Before I stepped in to lead the company, I reviewed years’ worth of old mission/vision/values documents and interviewed all the staff to come up with these guiding principles, and then defined these clear, simple statements that are easy to remember, and to live by. As a leader, I also chose things that were meaningful to me and that I could commit to standing by, and standing for, no matter what.

Our ideals are:

Human, First
Heart of Service
Integrity, Always
Impact, Amplified
Growing Together
The JEDI Way

To me, taken together, the first of these mean that we know that we all do our best work in the world when we recognize that we are all human, first and foremost, that we approach our clients and our work from a place of care and a desire to contribute, and that we always do what is honorable–we believe that we can do well by doing good.

I’ve worked all over the world in all kinds of organizations and I’ve seen how badly wrong things can go when we forget these things.

The last of these remind us that by doing the first ones well, we get to make a bigger difference in the world, and that we get there by remaining devoted to our own growth and development alongside our partners and clients, and that, at the end of the day, we do what we do to make the world more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

These aren’t just nice words we hang on the wall–we live them day-by-day–imperfectly, as we are human too, and we always strive for better…

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My whole life has led me to the work I am doing now, though I could never have pieced together the trajectory from earlier points on my path. I could talk for days about this question and am always up for a coffee or lunch (via zoom or IRL public health conditions depending!) if someone wants more detail but here’s the gist:

We are already living in the future. The models of organizing and coordinating that worked for us in the industrial revolution (and before) won’t get us where we are going. At Integrated Work, we are working with the leaders who are already leading in a world that is interconnected and interdependent, and helping them to do more of what they do best, even better. We are helping people build and scale the future. That is never easy work–it requires courage, and daring, and an always-on curiosity about how to make tomorrow better than today, and the will to do it over and over again. That’s also what makes it fun, and worth doing!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So much depends on the interests of the person and the time of year. I’ve lived in Colorado for more than 25 years, and these are some of my favorites both in the city itself and around the state for those who have the time and inclination for a road trip:

Denver Art Museum (stay at The Art Hotel)
Coors Field (the fireworks game is extra-special)
All things LoDo or RiNo (do an Art Walk, check out the murals, browse a gallery or enjoy a cocktail)
The Botanic Gardens, Zoo, and/or Museum of Nature and Science
Meow Wolf
Elitch Gardens
The Aquarium and Children’s Museum

***

Glenwood Springs and Aspen
Buena Vista and Salida
Crestone
Steamboat Springs
The skiing is (really, truly) great everywhere–pick the venue that fits your family’s vibe, interests, and budget!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There have been so many people and organizations that have been meaningful to me on my journey–and perhaps unsurprisingly, some of my most potent lessons have come from the hard parts along the way as well as from the people and places who propped me up. I’ve had bad bosses and terrible clients and difficult relationships that have all helped me to stretch and grow (though I also believe there are kinder and more humane ways to get there), but the most potent support I have gotten over the years has come from my family, from the beautiful women I have grown to know and love through the Center for Nature and Leadership, Emerging Women, and SheEO, as well as from the rock-star team I have the honor of working with every day at Integrated Work. I also want to give an honorable mention to my best friend Emma who has been steadfast in her love for me since we were 15 and has walked a far more trying road than I have. She inspires me daily to make the world a better place.

Website: www.integratedwork.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/integrated.work/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/integratedwork

Twitter: https://twitter.com/integratedwork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/integratedwork

Image Credits
Nick Delgado Roma Velasco Bianca Roman Suzette Hibble