Jessie Brown wanted to be a writer. She was an English major doing an MFA in creative nonfiction when she lost both of her parents and realized she had no financial safety net. So she did the practical thing and went to law school.
That pattern, choosing the safe path over the one that actually fit, followed her for the next two decades. It picked her practice area. It kept her in litigation long after her body was telling her something was wrong. It even had her enrolled in a backup master's program while she was already building the business she actually wanted.
Today Jessie is a coach and retreat facilitator working with attorneys at every stage, from brand new associates to partners planning their exit. She's also a trained forest bathing guide, sound healer, breathwork facilitator, and meditation teacher, and she leads nature-based retreats in Sedona.
This conversation is about what it takes to finally stop letting fear pick your life for you.
In this episode we cover:
- Why she chose law school after losing both parents and having no safety net
- The senior partner who told a room of young female associates the truth about how she "had it all"
- The annual review where she offered to resign and was told to hire a second nanny
- Leaving, staying home, moving across the country, and sitting for a second bar exam on her own dime
- The deposition that made her physically ill and changed her practice area
- Stepping down from the partner track and taking a pay cut to do work that fit her
- The Clifton Strengths result that finally explained why everything felt so hard
- Being the unofficial office therapist for her entire career and what it was telling her
- The safety-seeking part of her that picks every path, and how she learned to spot it
- What actually happens to a nervous system on a retreat, and why in-person still matters
Connect with Jessie Brown:
Website: jessiebrown.org
Email: jessie@jessiebrown.org
LinkedIn:
Jessie BrownPodcast:
AlignedWork with Erin Gerner: Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity, and what's next, helping them redefine success on their own terms.
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Stay connected with Erin Gerner:
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What is Powerhouse Lawyers?
Are you an ambitious attorney who wants to build a life and career that you cannot wait to wake up for? Then you're in the right place.
Welcome to Powerhouse Lawyers, a podcast for the Powerhouse in each of us.
I am your host, Erin Gerner. A former lawyer, wife, mom, and life coach, and I am on a mission to empower women in the law to define success on their terms, by leveraging their unique superpowers to help them win in both law and life. Join me each week to hear inspiring stories, real talk, and practical tips.
You need to redefine the toxic narratives that are keeping women overwhelmed, trying to do it all. You are worthy and capable of building a life and career that you have always wanted, and I'm here to empower you along the way. So if you are ready to practice law differently, let's go.