About

About Jen

Jen Murtagh is the co-founder of Maturn, an organization dedicated to supporting, developing, and retaining women in the workforce as they navigate key life transitions, including fertility, maternity leave, motherhood, and peri/menopause. With over 20 years of experience in corporate and nonprofit sectors, Jen is a recognized leader, strategist, and advocate for gender equity, known for her heart-centered approach to leadership.

As a former C-suite executive, Jen has led national campaigns and raised millions for causes including anti-bullying, vulnerable youth, and women’s health and equity. She has been recognized as a Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 and a Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Women of Promise, and continues to be a dedicated voice for advancing women in leadership.

Beyond her work with Maturn, Jen is a heart disease survivor and a passionate advocate for women’s heart health. She uses her voice to raise awareness of the cardiovascular risks women face, sharing her personal journey in the media and on public platforms to inspire change. Committed to advancing women’s heart health in Canada, she has helped raise significant funds to support life-saving research and initiatives.

A trusted advisor in the business community, Jen serves on the BC Business Advisory Council, Women of the Year Awards Nominations Committee, SPOKEN Advisory Council, and the Heart & Stroke Gala Committee. She is also a board member of One Girl Can, a nonprofit that educates and mentors girls in Africa. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to Africa to lead mentoring and goal-setting workshops, inspiring the next generation of leaders.

A proud mother and stepmother to four children, Jen resides in Steveston, BC, where she continues to champion meaningful change, mentor women leaders, and advocate for more inclusive workplaces. You can connect with her on IG @jenmurtaghcoaching.

I will challenge you to show up for yourself
and others with Brave Connectedness™.

What is Brave Connectedness™?

Brave Connectedness™ in your life, your work and your relationships with others means overcoming fear and the stories we’ve held onto, so that you can move forward with confidence, expanded self-compassion and a more grounded sense of self. How you show up for yourself is connected in how you show up with others. 

I believe that Tiny Acts of Bravery pave the way for collective change — but it doesn’t come without facing your fears.

Five Tiny Acts of Bravery
from my own life.

  1. Launching my own business.

    After working for others for 20 years, taking the leap to solely coach others took care, support and overcoming my own inner glass ceiling.

  2. Leaving a marriage in search of Big Love.

    Navigating a divorce, becoming a stepmom, raising & co-parenting four children in pursuit of love that fills my cup was one of the first times I finally decided to prioritize myself.

  3. Saying hello to, well, everyone.

    I’m *that* unapologetic, enthusiastic stranger who would strike up a conversation mid-run or in an elevator. Connecting with others I don’t know and leaning into curiosity, almost daily, truly paved the way to become a community leader. (Seriously, there’s science behind it.)

  4. Speaking on stage. It never gets easier.

    I sometimes feel like I am an introvert living an extrovert lifestyle. Getting up on stage is both thrilling and excruciatingly vulnerable, all at the same time. I have to call hard on my courage and trust that I have value to offer.

  5. Asking the hard questions — for myself *and* others

    Knowing when to step back, reflect and take a new course of action that serves your
    Bigger Picture — even if it means being seen as a failure or navigating judgment — is
    an act of bravery. I believe you can do it, too.

Speaking

A sought-after compelling speaker, I engage and connect with audiences by injecting humour, personal storytelling and tangible takeaways. With ten years of experience presenting to crowds ranging from corporate executive audiences to global conferences, I speak on networking, relationship building, burnout, motherhood, women in leadership and much more.

Speaking Highlights

  • Opening Keynote – Gordon Food Service Women’s Conference ‘Overcoming limiting beliefs to thrive’
  • Panelist – Young Women in Business, International Women’s Day
  • Panelist – PwC, ‘How to Build more Diverse & Inclusive Workplaces’
  • Keynote – MentHERship, ‘The Road to Joy. Redesigning Your Life at Any Age’
  • Panelist – Canadian Public Relations Society, Mental Health + Communications
  • Keynote – RBC Bank Canada, ‘Building social capital through meaningful relationships’
  • Keynote – Rotary International, ‘Aligning with your Purpose’
  • Keynote – Business Council of BC, KPMG, Aritzia, BCLC, and Whistler Chamber of Commerce, ‘Building Meaningful Relationships & Networking’
  • Presenter – WNORTH Conference, Young Women in Business Conference

Community Service

As a volunteer from age 14, being of service is one of my core values. In the last decade, I have volunteered over 1500 hours for non-profits, community groups and mentoring individuals. In 2014, I was recognized as a finalist for the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards in the Community Building category; this was for taking an active role in the service of others and organizations in British Columbia.

Community Service Highlights

  • Board-of-Directors, Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award 
  • Strategic Advisory Council + Volunteer in Africa, One Girl Can
  • Mentor, Women’s Enterprise Centre
  • Organizing Committee, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade ‘We for She’ Event Board-of-Directors, WNORTH Conference Whistler
  • Board-of-Directors, Little Flower Academy
  • Mentor, Speaker + Keynote, Minerva BC
  • Founder, Steveston Moms Network
  • Advisory Council + Communications Co-Chair, GVBOT Women’s Leadership Circle Gala Committee Member, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
  • Mentor, Association of Fundraising Professionals
  • Mentor, GVBOT Leaders of Tomorrow
  • Sponsorship Chair + House Volunteer, Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon
  • Gala Committee, Canucks for Kids Fund
  • Marketing Chair, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation ‘Jeans Day’
  • Sponsorship Chair + House Volunteer, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice

Career Highlights

  • Chief Strategy Officer at BC Women’s Health Foundation
    • Highlight: Playing a key leadership role in the historical rebrand of the organization.
  • Chief Executive Officer at Minerva BC
    • Highlight: Opening Learning to Lead weekend with 50 young women from around BC.
  • Executive Director, CKNW Kids Fund
    • Highlight: Challenging the hearts and minds of Canadians in leading the Pink Shirt Day campaign, raising over $1.5M for anti-bullying programs in Canada.
  • Director of Communications + Marketing, Sport BC
    • Highlight: Winning the BCAB Humanitarian Grant Award, receiving over $1M in valued media to promote non-profit Kidsport, providing financial assistance to kids who want to play sports. 
  • Marketing Manager, Canucks Sports & Entertainment 
    • Highlight: Being an integral member of a small but mighty marketing team that launched the revered “We are all Canucks” advertising campaign in 2006.

For a more complete overview of Jen’s career experience, education and volunteer leadership, please visit her on Linkedin: 

LinkedIn