From a traditional career path in Defence to the unconventional world of marathon hula hooping, Jenny Doan’s story is all about the power of embracing life's unexpected turns.
Growing up in Perth, Jenny moved to Canberra after university to work for the Department of Defence. Her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics was useful for solving problems with quantitative data, but to solve real-world problems in the workplace, Jenny found she was missing key components, which led her to UNSW Canberra to study Defence Operations Research. Jenny learned foundational skills like structuring complex problems and optimising systems, which she says she has been able to apply to jobs across multiple industries.
Despite her career success, Jenny felt unfulfilled. Over the next decade, she worked on figuring out what mattered to her. She explored various industries, cycled across Europe and New Zealand, travelled extensively across Northeast Asia and Canada, and eventually settled in the United States. After this period of profound personal growth and challenging social norms,
Jenny decided to do the next craziest thing she could think of - breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest hula-hooping marathon, setting the record at 100 hours.
This achievement was the start of a life-changing journey for Jenny, who went on to break three different hula-hooping records which unveiled her unique gifts and gave her the joy and self-confidence she was seeking; and more importantly, finally figured out what mattered to her.
Today, with the shift in perspective hula-hooping bought, Jenny is a motivational speaker. Her motivational speaking theme is ‘Unofficially Amazing’ which essentially translates to being your best self and deciding what that means to you. For Jenny, it means challenging her own perceived weaknesses and doing things she loves in her own unique way, like hula hopping. Described by friends as energetic, optimistic, and always up for a challenge. Jenny admits to significant personal growth since her UNSW Canberra days, noting that chasing external validation will never bring internal happiness.
The essentials in Jenny’s life are family and friends, self-confidence, and delicious food. In downtime, she enjoys staying active and fit, always ready to defend those world records.
From a secure job in Defence to breaking world records and becoming a motivational speaker, Jenny’s journey is a powerful reminder that following your passions and embracing unique gifts can lead to extraordinary and fulfilling life experiences.
If you're interested in working with Jenny, as a motivational speaker or workshop facilitator, you can find out more on her website and connect on Instagram or LinkedIn.