What happens when you stop waiting until you feel ready and simply step through the door? Jennifer Parks, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago, knows firsthand that unexpected “yeses” can shape a life. In this episode, Jennifer joins Liz Brohan and special guest host Dorothy Rosen to explore how one volunteer experience in college set her on a path toward a career built around service, community and creating opportunities for others. The conversation reveals why showing up isn’t just about volunteering—it’s about building confidence, developing skills, finding your people and discovering that you have more influence than you may realize. Jennifer also shares the surprising leadership lessons she’s learned from curling, a sport she describes as “chess on ice.” From housing inequity to Women Build to the power of asking for support, this episode is a reminder that meaningful change rarely happens all at once. Sometimes, it begins with one small decision: show up, step outside your comfort zone and say yes.
What if the next opportunity to change your life—or someone else’s—starts with two simple words: say yes?
In this inspiring episode of Words of Wisdom from Kick-Ass Women, host Liz Brohan is joined by special guest host Dorothy Rosen and Jennifer Parks, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Chicago, for a powerful conversation about stepping outside your comfort zone, finding purpose through service, and discovering just how much impact one person can make.
Jennifer shares how a college volunteer experience sparked a lifelong commitment to service and ultimately led her to Habitat for Humanity. Today, she helps lead efforts to create affordable homeownership while strengthening the communities surrounding those homes.
The conversation takes a deeper dive into Women Build, Habitat Chicago’s initiative that brings women together to build homes for women-led families. But the real lesson goes far beyond construction. Volunteering can build confidence, develop new skills, expand your network, and teach women to get comfortable asking for support—and asking for money.
Jennifer also explores the history behind housing inequity, including redlining and discriminatory lending practices, and explains why Habitat’s mission is about much more than putting a roof over someone’s head. It’s about building homes, community and hope.
And then there’s curling! Jennifer explains why the sport she loves is essentially “chess on ice”—a lesson in communication, teamwork, strategy and community that translates surprisingly well to leadership and life.
Most importantly, Jennifer challenges women to stop waiting until they feel completely ready. Step outside your comfort zone. Try something new. Volunteer. Build relationships. Say yes when the opportunity feels right—and give yourself permission to say “not now” when it doesn’t.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one small act of courage to start creating a much bigger change.
Links/references mentioned in the episode
Highlight Quotes
Quote 1
“Even if now is not the right time to say yes, that’s okay. But don’t discount the opportunity. Step out and try. That’s where we learn, gain confidence, build skills and create new relationships.” — Jennifer Parks
Quote 2
“We have more power and more ability than we know. We just have to act upon it—make the decision to help one person or make one opportunity available. What rolls from that can lead to a richer life.” — Jennifer Parks
Quote 3
“As women, we frequently think we have to have achieved certain things to show up. I think we just need to step out and try. We are filled with innumerable talents and opportunities.” — Jennifer Parks