In a time where division seems to define our public discourse and digital distractions pull us further apart, Hello Moxie had the joy of sitting down with someone whose life work is all about bringing us back together—Jennifer Eisenreich, founder of Shift Show Communication. A professional speaker, former principal, and soon-to-be author, Jennifer’s message is one of empathy, curiosity, and the simple power of human connection.

“I’m writing a book about connection,” Jennifer shared, “and I’m trying to help people who want to talk about the political climate we’re in—but they want to do it in a nonpartisan way.”

Her upcoming book is a response to what she describes as a culture that punishes open-mindedness. “We’ve become really bad at giving people the ability to think and change their mind,” she said. “Now if you change your mind, you’re called a hypocrite. So people stop talking altogether.”

A Life Rooted in Connection

Jennifer’s insights come from decades spent in the education system—24 of those years as a school principal. “I miss it tremendously,” she admitted. “Mainly the children and all of the people. But being a principal was also soul-sucking. I love what I’m doing now.”

Now, her days are spent writing and speaking to audiences hungry for a way to reconnect with themselves and others. A core tenet of her work is the concept of sonder, which she beautifully defined during our chat:

“Sonder is the realization that everyone has a life as full and complex as your own. So when someone is in front of you—whether you know them or not—you have to realize they’re coming with their own chemistry, biology, lived experiences… they are not just a face. Everyone deserves grace.”

Lessons from Eleanor Roosevelt

Throughout our conversation, Jennifer Eisenreich pointed to Eleanor Roosevelt as a lasting inspiration for what it means to lead with connection and courage. Eleanor wasn’t known for shouting the loudest—she was known for showing up with grace, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity.

Jennifer reflected on how Roosevelt’s leadership reminds us that real influence comes not from dominating the room, but from truly listening, making people feel seen, and standing firm in compassion even when the world around you feels divided.

As Jennifer put it, “Eleanor Roosevelt taught us that real leadership means showing up with courage, compassion, and the willingness to listen—even when it’s hard.”

It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about titles or spotlight moments. It’s built in the quiet, consistent choice to value connection over control, humanity over hierarchy.

Lessons from Mr. Rogers

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Jennifer had a real-life connection to Fred Rogers. In fact, he once featured her on his show. “He filmed a back-to-school special at my elementary school,” she recalled. “He even told a story about a little girl who kissed her bus driver every day—and that was me.”

The spirit of Mr. Rogers remains deeply embedded in her work.

“He embodied everything good and kind,” she said. “It was his mix of caring, faith, wisdom… and he spoke to children about real things. Divorce, death, going to the doctor. He didn’t sugarcoat it, but he made it safe.”

It’s no surprise that Jennifer references Mr. Rogers often in her keynotes and writing. His belief in the transformative power of “simple interactions” is at the heart of her philosophy too.

On Parenting, Phones, and Presence

The conversation also explored one of today’s biggest challenges to connection—our phones. Jennifer, who calls herself a “recovered principal,” had some wise words for fellow parents:

“When you hand a kid a device, you hand them an addiction,” she said. “And when we as adults bury ourselves in our screens, we model that behavior.”

Instead of simply taking devices away, Jennifer recommends adding something to the equation: “Let’s schedule connection. Let’s schedule time together. Replace the behavior.”

And if you need a reminder to do that?

“Set an alarm on your phone every hour that says, ‘Your kid needs you.’ I dare you not to look at that and feel something.”

What Moxie Means

As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked Jennifer what moxie means to her.

“It’s guts plus resilience plus charm,” she said with a smile. “You can have grit, but it’s the charm that makes it approachable.”

Jennifer Eisenreich is living proof that connection is both an art and a science—one we can all practice, imperfectly but intentionally, every day. Whether you’re a parent, a leader, or simply a human trying to show up better, her message is a grounding force in a noisy world.

Want More?

Jennifer shared her Top 5 Qualities of a Connected Leader in a special bonus clip—available exclusively to Moxie Members. Join the Hello Moxie community to access bonus content, behind-the-scenes insights, and tools to help you lead with connection and courage