Today we’d like to introduce you to JenDina Bowers.
Hi JenDina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started with Chemistry 101, when that “D” hit my transcript, it broke my heart and crushed my dreams of becoming a medical doctor. Today I thank God, because he knew what he was doing; me and other humans’ bodily fluids do not mix well. But you know what did mix well? It was my empathy with what other people are going through. I switched from Medicine to Psychology, focusing more on cross-cultural psychology and how people show up in social settings, rather than clinical psychiatry. That was my jam! I could read when people were striving in their best form and when people were struggling to survive. I’ve done studies on sporting events, student culture, parenting, and workplace safety.
Once I graduated, I entered the social services workforce and served various populations, backgrounds, and circumstances. What I began to realize is that people thrive when their environments equip them with the aspects that promote a sense of safety and belonging. I dug further to discover how those environments are actually created and learned that it’s through policy and administration.
I got my Master’s in Public Administration with a discipline in Social Work and Economics. I interned for the State House and focused on housing and workforce policy development, critical aspects of creating safety and belonging. Simultaneously, I was an Organizational Development Manager of a social service agency and birthing what’s now Sky Infiniti. I could not have done any of these things if I weren’t in a more curious mindset than a furious one.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When stepping into my new chapter of entrepreneurship – internally and externally, I’ve faced many challenges. I will highlight two major obstacles I had to learn to manage.
The first thing I had to learn (and continue to instill) was “I am enough.” Healing into my own self-respect and self-compassion, came with many losses and forgiving many people and events that harmed me. Harm and hurt, whether it’s mental, physical, or emotional, will come; it’s inevitable, so you need to establish an intimacy with yourself.
The second thing I learned was that Perfectionism is a sin. Like many other “isms” out there, I called this one a sin because it blocks you from growing into who you were meant to be. Grasping things to control every single outcome to make sure it turns out just perfectly goes against the humanity we were created to live and be. If we were perfect, there would be no God, no Universe, no Higher Power or Faith, nothing – and I think that’s what we need to get back to the basics on and ground ourselves in the fact that we’re all flawed. We just need to strive to figure out how to work together with our flaws.
We’ve been impressed with Sky Infiniti, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My organization, Sky Infiniti, was established in response to the cycle of harm and turnover in the workplace. Many employees leave organizations, file EEO complaints, or make unnecessary restructures out of frustrations with Communication, connection, and Coaching within the workplace. Sky Infiniti focuses on these three C’s with practices rooted in restoration. Our organization embraces a natural metaphor of the organization and how it exists within a community; it’s also a biblical parable (Luke 8).
Our natural environment, imagine a forest is full of trees, massive trees, it wouldn’t be a forest if there weren’t trees, and there wouldn’t be fresh air for us to thrive, if there weren’t trees. If the trees had polluted soil and had grown in toxic wastelands, would they grow to be massive? Would they be healthy enough to produce what we call fresh air? Probably not. So we need healthy grounds to produce that fresh air to live and thrive.
Our human environment, where you live/ work/ play, is crucial to your wellbeing too. What are our environments full of? Organizations and Workplaces. What operates these organizations and workplaces? People. And where do these people live and thrive? In our communities. So if they’re environments are unhealthy, toxic workplaces, then chances are we are going to receive that same karma out in our communities.
So Sky Infiniti’s mission – Nourish Workplaces, Flourish Communities comes from cultivating a healthy work-soil, that will promote better staff wellbeing, and long-term positive community outcomes.
Unlike your average workplace consulting firm, most of our work is internal labour on the employees and individuals of the company, which is why we hone in on Leadership Sustainability. Earlier this year, we published the My Way Days journal, a Self-Alignment journey to help leaders slow down and approach their work with intention.
What does success mean to you?
Growing up as a child, I always got the grades. I was Honor Roll, Valedictorian, Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc. Many would have seen me as someone who had great “Success,” but this wasn’t really aligned with “My GOALS.” This came with my journey towards achieving my goals, but once I achieved “My GOALS,” I felt more successful. The achievements and rewards formed through a systemic lens did not define success for me; I defined success for myself.
What success means to me today will likely change tomorrow, but today it’s human impact. Am I showing up as a good human to myself, my family, friends, colleagues, etc.? Success has to be tied to your long-term well-being and livelihood, and that’s different for everybody.
Light-bulb! Let people pick what they’re success looks like, then measure and reward them based on that.
Pricing:
- Discovery – FREE
- Consulting- starting at $150- 250 hourly
- Culture Projects – schedule Discovery
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_skyinfiniti/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyinfiniti
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Sky_Infiniti
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jendina-bowers/
