Dr. Jen Douglas | Psychologist, Executive Coach & Educational Speaker
A conversation with psychologist and executive coach Dr. Jen Douglas on unlearning perfectionism, navigating motherhood in academia, and creating spaces where women’s voices, wellbeing, and leadership are fully supported.
What internal narratives or external expectations have you had to unlearn in order to thrive?
As someone who is the daughter of an immigrant and the daughter of a woman who was one of the first women in her field, I was really brought up with this idea that you work twice as hard. And as a woman, you work twice as hard for a seat at the table. I also have to mention that for women of color, you might have to work four times as hard for that seat.
That mindset was culturally embedded in me from the start. But as I became more successful in my career, I had to learn to recognize the moments when I didn’t need to work twice as hard—and to actually train that out of myself. That way, I could spend time enjoying the success I’d built, instead of constantly pushing harder.
What have been some of the most tender or challenging moments you've faced as a woman within your professional life?
My biggest challenges came during periods of motherhood—especially new motherhood. I had a lot of challenges at my university around time for breastfeeding, pumping, things like that. I also had a lot of difficulties becoming pregnant and staying pregnant during my second pregnancy.
And that wasn’t well accommodated in the university setting. It was incredibly painful and tough, but it made my priorities very clear. It helped me take a step back from academia and instead prioritize building my own practice and business—something that could actually accommodate the kind of life I wanted to build.
So while I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone, I’m very grateful for where I am now. I learned how to stand on my own. It broke those difficult ties where academia was tied to my worth, and instead allowed me to build the life I really wanted.
Can you reflect on a time when someone helped you reclaim your voice, and what did that moment teach you about advocacy?
I’ve had the extreme privilege of having other women fight for me every step of the way—whether that was in graduate school while finishing my dissertation, or my old mentor at Stanford who fought for me to be hired after my postdoc to become an attending psychologist.
Even the women who helped me take a step back from academia and into my own practice and space—they’ve all been part of my journey. There have always been women I look up to who showed me what it’s like to have a strong female voice in this field. Women who showed me how to maintain and grow a family while building a career. I’m forever grateful to them.
One of the reasons I show up on social media is because I hope to be a blueprint for what’s possible—for other women who want a successful career and still want to stay true to who they are.
How does your work intersect with broader movements for gender equity, especially in spaces where women’s wellbeing is often overlooked.
Gender equity is foundational to good mental health—both in the workplace and in our personal lives. SeekHer’s mission aligns with everything we do as psychologists to create a world where women can truly thrive.
My hope for my work is that women can move past their own perfectionism and find safety—whether that’s in their personal lives or professional lives. Finding your voice is especially challenging as a woman in some of these spaces.
So allowing ourselves to explore what we want to communicate—and how to best communicate that—whether in corporate or personal areas of our lives, helps us show up more fully. It helps us bring our strengths to the table.
“I hope to be a blueprint for what’s possible — for other women who want a successful career and still want to stay true to who they are.”
About Jen
Jen Douglas, PhD is a licensed psychologist, executive coach, and educational speaker. Dr. Jen served as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University for 8 years before taking a step back for more life/work balance. Dr. Jen specializes in helping high-achieving women overcome perfectionism so they move beyond achievement and truly enjoy their lives. Dr. Jen specializes in the intersection of high-functioning anxiety, emotional regulation, and societal influences on mental health. Dr. Jen and her work have been featured across news outlets including Newsweek, NBC News, Glamour, and NPR. She currently lives in the Bay Area with her family, who humor her feeble attempts at being a “cool mom.”
Connect Further
Website: drjenniferdouglas.com | IG: @drjenofficial