I grew up in a tiny town in Pennsylvania, but from fourth through twelfth grade, I walked into a different school every year. I think I learned pretty early that there is always another place to discover, interesting people to meet, and another way of seeing the world.
That sense of wonder has stayed with me, and in a lot of ways, it has shaped the life I’ve built.
My work has taken me through business, nonprofits, publishing, theatre, and film, and eventually into building ideas of my own. I’ve tended to find my way toward places where there is something to build, something to solve, or simply a need I know I can help meet. Different worlds, certainly, but they’ve never felt all that different to me. At the center of each are people, stories, ideas, and the possibility of making something better.
I’m endlessly curious about all of it. What makes people feel like they belong? What makes us want to participate? Why do some ideas catch fire while others don’t? What happens when the right people find one another at the right time? And perhaps my most frequently asked question: Why do we do it this way?
I like getting underneath things, finding connections that aren’t immediately obvious, and seeing what else might be possible. These days, that means I’m writing more and building a few things I think should exist. I’m not entirely sure what it will mean five years from now, and I’m okay with that.
Curiosity follows me outside of work, too. I love discovering places I’ve never been, wandering through a good bookstore, meeting people who are deeply interested in something, and settling into a long conversation—preferably, at some point, with a dram of good peaty scotch.
My life has never been particularly traditional.
I hope it stays that way.
Brianne Jamison 