Meet the Young Woman Whose Mindfulness Built a Business
Jessica Bruny wants you to be the best version of yourself because she knows how life-changing that can be.
This young entrepreneur grew up in a first-generation Haitian-American family as the youngest of 14 children. Her father was a truck driver and brothers are involved in the music industry. “I’ve always seen the hustle to go out and make your dreams come true,” Jessica shares. “With my family’s heritage, it was a lifestyle where we didn’t have much so I really walk with an attitude of gratitude.”
Still, Jessica struggled to find balance during her college years as she worked to become the first girl in her family to graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She developed anxiety and at age 18 had a severe panic attack, where she felt like she was going to die and couldn’t breathe. On her own without her family, she had to be driven to the emergency room. It was a tough moment that ultimately proved life-changing.
“That’s when I started to grow deep into my spirituality and wellness,” Jessica shares. “The next quarter at school, I started taking yoga and I thought, ‘Wow, this is the first time I feel like I’m actually breathing and can leave all my worries here on the mat.’ I added yoga into all my class schedules after that.”
After graduating, Jessica continued her life of spirituality and wellness, but saw that it was really lacking in her Southern California community. She worked for three years as an educator for transitional youth and with a non-profit organization her brother runs called Music Changing Lives that brings music and art to underprivileged and at-risk youth. Still, something was missing.
“I wanted to make sure wellness was available to every community, especially underserved communities like where I grew up, worked in and am still living in,” she shares. During a fast where Jessica asked God to guide her, she got her answer: to start her own company, JessBeU, which she did this past year.
Today, the 29-year-old’s goal is to inspire the next generation of leaders who are committed to becoming the best versions of themselves, too. She does this through mindfulness coaching services that help individuals shift their mindset and mindfulness tools they can implement in their daily lifestyle.
As part of this, Jessica drops a new “Are You Being Gentle With Your Mental?” podcast every other Monday (on her recent birthday, she shared a conversation with her mom). She also offers a virtual Day of Healing each quarter to help others reset and recharge and recently added merchandise to her website with affirmation and aura mugs.
NAWBO is playing an important role in Jessica’s journey as well. Prior to the start of COVID, when Jessica knew she wanted to start a business, she enrolled in a program called “It’s Your Time” through her local Women’s Business Center. There, she met Maritza Gomez who served as her counselor. Maritza is a fellow entrepreneur and involved in NAWBO Inland Empire, so after Jessica completed her business plan, Maritza said, “You need to be part of NAWBO.”
As timing would have it, NAWBO had just announced the Lydia’s Legacy Scholarship created by member Ranee Cress Wright in memory of her late daughter. Jessica applied and was selected as a scholarship recipient to attend last year’s NextGen Track at the National Women’s Business Conference. “It’s truly amazing how once you apply yourself, you get rewarded,” she says.
Jessica is now scheduled to lead a mindfulness activity for her chapter and is in talks with other chapters to do the same. “I want to say a big shout out to Maritza because she led me to NAWBO and told me about the scholarship opportunity!” she says.
So what’s next for this passionate young entrepreneur? A few things Jessica would like to see are wellness centers and more mindfulness coaches in every community that are safe places for young people to turn to when they need it. And of course, she’ll continue to work on being the best version of herself like she’s helping so many others to do!
Jessica’s Own Mindfulness Practices
- Annual fast with shorter fasts throughout the year to ground herself
- A habit tracker
- Insight Timer – Meditation App for meditation exercises and access to a mindful creative community
- Writing down three things she’s grateful for every day
- Mindful walks where she takes in clouds, sunsets and stars
- Journaling
- A community of trusted professionals for yoga and meditation
Jessica’s Go-Tos for “Minding the Rules”
As a young entrepreneur, it can be daunting to surround yourself with the right people to make sure your business is on the right track legally, financially and more. For Jessica, she’s fortunate to be able to turn to some great counselors she met through the “It’s Your Time” program, which she’s done for advice on revamping her business plan and trademarking. “Your business plan is your baby so you want to make sure it’s nurtured in all the stages,” she shares. “For my generation, it’s hard, because we dream and have these really great ideas but might lack the resources, connections and funding, so I’m trying to build these connections with people who have already done it, and then lifting up others as I climb.”
Listen to Her Latest Podcast!