DLG278 Artist/entrepreneur Jen Hitchings lets you get to know her for real.

I usually do the episode description, but Jen nailed it herself in her own post here: Friends, I had a very vulnerable talk with Dr. Lisa Levy mostly about how and why I founded my art consulting agency Studio Associate, but naturally, it also includes my upbringing, the pivotal shift of watching my dad pass away when I was 20, my diverse work experience in the arts, and the balancing act of maintaining a creative career with professionalism. I'm literally terrified about this being public but here's to authenticity and overcoming my fears of people seeing the real me. Also I wanted Jen to tell us about her emotional support resources, but we ran out of time. I asked me to her send her thoughts to pass along to you—here they are:My most recent sources of support, and inspiration frankly, are the 8 badass businesswomen/artists in the group text thread titled Witchsaic; my roommate/bandmate/artist/best friend Angela Simione; Studio Associate artist Catherine Haggarty; and my partner Andrew Ohanesian. You have to find a few people to truly get to know, and to allow to get to know you, with whom you can provide honest feedback, constructive criticism, and support. My (albeit small and unconventional) biological family supported me growing up however they could, and my NYC artist family supports me in my crazy, passion-driven endeavors now. I truly believe that reciprocating honest encouragement is the key to success.