Thank you BOLD Journey for publishing this interview with me. Feel free to see the entire article here or below.
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica H. Maurer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica H., we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
For a long time, I thought my purpose was movement. I built my life and career around helping people discover what their bodies could do. I loved the energy of teaching, coaching, and being on stage, and I believed my role was to motivate people to move more and live healthier lives.
But my health journey forced me to slow down and rethink everything I believed about wellness. When I became critically ill and spent years recovering from severe iron overload, I lost the identity I had built around being the high-energy person who could push through anything. For the first time in my life, I had to sit still and ask deeper questions about what it actually means to be well.
During that time, I started studying mental well-being, burnout, resilience, and the science of happiness. I realized that many people are exhausted, overwhelmed, and disconnected from their own well-being, especially those navigating chronic conditions or invisible health challenges. I also realized that happiness and energy are not things we stumble upon. They are things we build through small, science-backed habits practiced every day.
That is where my purpose shifted. Instead of only helping people move their bodies, my work centers on helping others restore energy, reconnect with joy, and develop daily habits that support both physical health and mental well-being. My experience taught me that wellness is not just about performance or productivity. It is about creating a life that actually feels good to live.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I work at the intersection of wellness, mental well-being, and professional development. More than twenty years ago, my career began in the fitness industry as a coach, instructor, and educator. I loved helping people discover what their bodies were capable of and building communities around movement. Over time, that work expanded into consulting, education, and keynote speaking. Today, I speak internationally at conferences, corporate events, and leadership gatherings, where I focus on helping individuals and organizations create habits that support mental wellness, resilience, and sustainable performance.
I also serve as the Director of Education for the Mental Wellbeing Association, where I develop programs and educational content that help professionals integrate science-backed mental wellness strategies into their work and communities. A big part of what excites me about this role is the opportunity to bridge research and real life. I love translating complex science around happiness, stress, and resilience into practical tools that people can actually use.
Today, much of my speaking and writing focuses on what I call a “happiness toolkit.” These are science-backed habits rooted in movement, nutrition, mindfulness, and social connection that help people restore energy, manage stress, and build sustainable joy in their lives.
Professionally, this has been an exciting season. I was recently honored to be named 2026 IDEA Fitness Leader of the Year, in recognition of leadership and impact within the global fitness industry. I also have an upcoming TEDx talk where I will share ideas on the science of happiness and the habits that help people rebuild their energy and identity after major life disruptions.
I’m also currently writing my first book, The Happiness Handbook, which is scheduled for release by the end of 2026. The book explores the science of joy and offers practical tools for building a life filled with energy, meaning, and emotional well-being.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief: happiness is not something we stumble upon someday. It is something we build intentionally through the choices and habits we practice every day. My mission is to help more people realize that kind of life is possible for them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First, a love for systems. I’ve always been fascinated by figuring out how things work and then building repeatable processes around them. Early in my career, I realized that creativity and visibility were important, but consistency was what actually built a career. While I was responsible for marketing and promotion for myself and my professional clients, I didn’t rely on bursts of inspiration. I created sustainable systems for content and communication. I built what I jokingly call my “Marketing four Rs”: recycle, reduce, reuse, and repurpose. One idea could become a talk, a blog, a workshop activity, a social post, or a conversation starter. That approach made it possible to stay visible without constantly reinventing the wheel. My advice for people early in their journey is to stop chasing perfection and start building systems that make showing up easier and more consistent.
Second, curiosity and a willingness to keep learning.
My career has evolved several times, and each shift started with curiosity. Whether it was movement science, mental wellbeing research, or the science of happiness, I’ve always been willing to ask questions and dive deeper into the evidence behind what we teach. If you’re early in your journey, give yourself permission to explore. Read widely, study different disciplines, and stay open to ideas that challenge your assumptions.
Third, resilience and adaptability.
Life and careers rarely follow a straight line. My own health journey forced me to slow down and rethink how I worked, what I valued, and what success meant. That period taught me how to adapt, rebuild, and continue forward in a new way. The advice I share most often is that setbacks do not mean the story is over. Sometimes they are simply moments when the story changes direction.
When you combine systems, curiosity, and resilience, you create something powerful. You build a foundation that allows you to grow, pivot, and continue contributing even when life looks very different from what you expected.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Collaboration is a big part of my work, and I’m always excited to connect with organizations committed to creating healthier, more energized workplaces.
I love partnering with workplaces, teams, and leaders who want to help their people move from burnout and boredom to breakthroughs and brilliance. Many organizations are realizing that productivity and performance are deeply connected to mental wellness, energy management, and meaningful connections at work. My work focuses on helping teams build science-backed habits that improve resilience, focus, creativity, and long-term well-being.
These collaborations often take the form of keynote presentations, leadership workshops, professional development programs, and consulting projects that help organizations create cultures where people can thrive rather than simply survive the workday. I’m especially passionate about working with leaders who want practical tools they can use immediately to support their teams.
I also enjoy collaborating with other educators, wellness professionals, and advocates who are exploring how movement, mental well-being, and social connection intersect. Some of the most exciting ideas come from people working across different industries and perspectives.
If someone reading this is interested in collaborating, the best way to connect with me is through my website (JessicaHMaurer.com) or on LinkedIn and Instagram (@JessicaHMaurer). I always enjoy conversations with people who are passionate about building workplaces and communities where energy, joy, and well-being are part of the culture.
Contact Info:
- Website: JessicaHMaurer.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/JessicaHMaurer
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahmaurer/
