I’m Jessica Penzias, a Professional Coach with a background as an award-winning playwright and a production associate on hit Broadway shows like Hamilton and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

I’m currently available for one on one coaching.

I hold a certificate in Professional Coaching from NYU and a degree in creative writing and theatre arts from the University of Pennsylvania, where I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude with honors.

My informal coaching career began supporting artists and theater executives as they navigated the intersection of business, creativity, and project management. Partnering with creatives to unlock their full potential inspired me to pursue a certificate in professional coaching and build a coaching practice. I soon discovered the skills that make a successful theater artist are the same that make a supportive coach –  active listening, synthesizing multiple perspectives, and crafting a story (or personal narrative). 

I partner with my coaching clients to break large goals down into concrete next-steps. In addition to helping clients cultivate skills around self-awareness, self-advocacy, and motivation, I specialize in managing difficult relationships and building communication skills. My goal is to help you tap into the underlying motivations that drive your work, so you understand not just the “what” and the “how” but the “why” behind your actions. 

Testimonials

  • “Jess is that incredibly rare person who knows how to perfectly balance creativity with execution. During our collaboration, she helped me to be expansive in building out my creative venture, and also strategic and structured in stewarding that venture into the world. When we started, I had a general but vague idea of the type of goals I'd like to accomplish. Jess was able to draw on her own creative background to make those goals clear and actionable. She helped to break down the steps so everything felt less intimidating, and provided a roadmap for continuous progress. I wouldn't have been able to take those first steps without her help, and our collaboration continues to evolve and grow. In addition to her guidance, she is also incredibly warm, thoughtful and engaging. I couldn't recommend her more highly.”

    Zach W.

  • “Jess is an incredible coach and I would highly recommend working with her. She helps you drive towards your goals by aligning on objectives upfront, synthesizing key themes from brainstorm, asking great questions to dig deeper into the why and aligning on next steps. I greatly appreciated Jess’s encouraging attitude as I navigated learning how to maximize my time and respond to challenges with a positive collaborative attitude.”

    Nicole P.

  • "I feel so lucky to have met Jess. Not only is she a wonderful person but she is an extraordinary coach. She approaches her clients with empathy and compassion. She understands people with an intuition and understanding that is hard to find. And she brings resources and tools specifically targeted around your needs. She is thoughtful in her approach and style, always being mindful of the client's goals and objectives. She does it all with warmth, kindness, and care. I worked with her through a challenging transition in my life and she helped me focus on my own intuition and potential. I always leave a session with her feeling hopeful and motivated, and with a new perspective. I highly recommend working with her."

    Sally B.