Jennifer Jeronimo spent 20+ years climbing the ranks at Credit Suisse, Bear Stearns, and JP Morgan before becoming CEO of Gaingels Inc., where she now oversees 2,500+ portfolio companies and $900 million in network investments. But her biggest lessons didn't come from boardrooms or balance sheets. They came from spectacular failures, bank mergers, and learning when to shut up and listen.
In this conversation, Jennifer reveals why the Bear Stearns collapse became her career superpower, how she survived being the eager young manager who crashed a company-wide rollout, and what it really takes to implement change management in a startup that thinks bureaucracy is a four-letter word. She shares the harsh truth about moving from star performer to first-time manager, why listening five times isn't enough when leading transformation, and how putting your ego aside might be the only skill that actually matters.
Whether you're navigating organizational change, stepping into your first leadership role, or trying to bring structure to chaos without killing momentum, Jennifer's hard-won wisdom offers a masterclass in learning from failure, leading with humility, and building buy-in when the team thinks your ideas will never work.
Key discussion points:
Implementing change management at a fast-moving venture firm without creating bureaucracy
Lessons from surviving the Bear Stearns collapse and JP Morgan takeover
The costly mistake of ignoring your team's concerns as a new manager
Why communication needs to happen seven times, not just once
How to bring resistant team members along during major transformations
The AI challenge: automation vs. maintaining critical thinking skills
Leading through mergers by checking your ego at the door
Connect with Jennifer Jeronimo:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-jeronimo1
Gaingels Inc.
We hope you enjoyed this episode of the Shift Happens Podcast.
Like, comment, and subscribe to never miss an episode!
Connect with Kamila Adamatti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamila-adamatti/
Visit the Shift Happens website here: https://shifthappensthepodcast.com/
Listen to Shift Happens on these podcast platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3FLkuYKoB8ultitr23MPj2
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-happens-podcast/id1814603417
Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fa0cf758-f9fb-4cda-9ed8-55e04ec6b51f
#podcast #shifthappens #leadingchange #decisionmakers #foroyu #newepisode #shifthappens #leadershippodcast #changemanagement #businessleadership #selfimprovement #strategicthinking #decisionmaking #bilingualpodcast #growthmindset #executivecoaching #communicationiskey #leadingchange #resilientleadership #transformationjourney #professionaldevelopment
Shift Happens, presented by Kamila Adamatti, is a global leadership podcast that explores how transformative leaders drive meaningful change in complex, fast-moving environments. With episodes in both English and Portuguese (subtitled in both languages), the show delivers practical insights on communication, resilience, team development, strategic decision-making, and personal growth. Whether you're leading a business, managing change, or navigating your own leadership journey, Shift Happens provides the tools, inspiration, and perspectives to help you lead with intention and impact.
