Brain Tumors, Bigness, and Believing in Everything with Jen Dary

What does it mean to hold space for everything—including the hardest parts?Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Jen Dary—leadership coach, founder of Plucky, and author. Jen has spent decades helping people become better leaders and managers, focusing on human-centered leadership, emotional intelligence, and creating sustainable work cultures. Her debut memoir, "I Believe in Everything," was just was released, and I can't recommend it enough - you can find out more here.In this raw, expansive conversation, Jen shares her experience with brain tumors, medical uncertainty, and what happens when you can't outwork or outthink your way through a crisis. They talk about bigness—not the performative kind, but the kind that comes from holding space for joy and grief, certainty and doubt, control and surrender.Jen and Tracey explore how leadership changes when you stop trying to fix everything; why believing in "everything" isn't naive but necessary; and what it means to build a life and career that doesn't require constant optimization.This episode is for anyone who:- Has faced a crisis that changed how they see leadership and life- Wants to explore what human-centered leadership actually requires- Is tired of productivity culture and looking for something more sustainable- Believes that holding complexity is a skill worth developingTopics explored in this conversation:Brain tumors and medical crisis, leadership through uncertainty, emotional intelligence and human-centered management, productivity culture and burnout, holding space for complexity, grief and joy as coexistent states, building sustainable work cultures, coaching and leadership development.Escape Velocity is hosted by Tracey Halvorsen—artist, strategist, CEO & President of Digital at adeo. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, adeo partners with higher education institutions, cultural organizations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups on brand strategy, digital experience design, and communications rooted in clarity, connection, and human experience. Tracey has led award-winning digital work for major universities, cultural institutions, and complex organizations for over 25 years. Before founding adeo, she co-founded and led Fastspot for two decades as Chief Visionary Officer.Through long-form conversations with designers, developers, strategists, technologists, and leaders, Escape Velocity explores how creativity, leadership, and technology intersect—and how momentum, dialogue, and connection shape work that actually lasts.Learn more about adeo at https://www.helloadeo.comExplore more episodes of Escape Velocity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.