Classics - Put Your Oxygen Mask On First with Jenn Oliver

Influential U

In this episode of the Influential U podcast, host John Patterson chats with Jenn Oliver, Senior Director of Service for the Academic Division at the University of Virginia's HR Department.

Jenn, a self-identified Producer personality, shares her transformative journey from being overextended and burnt out to cultivating balance and alignment in both her personal and professional life.

Through her five-year study with Influential U, Jenn learned to prioritize herself, embrace the strengths and limitations of her personality, and engage effectively with others of different temperaments. She offers candid insights about her struggles, the cost of putting others before herself, and the profound shifts she’s experienced in her relationships, career, and identity.

Listen as Jenn discusses how embracing "gray areas," leveraging collaborative relationships, and valuing others’ perspectives have not only enhanced her influence at work but also strengthened her family life. This inspiring conversation is filled with actionable takeaways for anyone striving to navigate their personality in the transactions of life.

In this episode's talk, Drew Knowles and Kirkland Tibbels explore the power of saying “no” with clarity and grace, emphasizing how your aims and commitments guide what invitations, offers, and requests to accept or decline. Kirkland shares a Hollywood story highlighting the importance of respecting your offers and those extended to you. Learn why the ability to decline defines your success as much as the opportunities you embrace.

Podcast Bonuses:

Thrive

Code: 30Days

Jenn Oliver on LinkedIn

The University of Virginia

University of Virginia, Human Resources

Video: Why put your mask on first