Jennifer Miller

What did you do before lovelew?: 

I began my career working in specialty retail, and eventually found my way into the tumultuous landscape of start-ups. Fast forward 5 years and I had become a founding member of a boutique venture capital firm in Boston. I wore many hats, put in way too many hours, and tackled countless challenges - all of which taught me about how businesses really work (and how to fine tune them to run efficiently). Now, I personally work with portfolio clients to help scale their teams and businesses.

What is your role at lovelew?: 

I joined LoveLew to help form and execute the operational plans that will support the program's mission, vision and values. We’re looking to build a new community and change the narrative around grief, and I am honored to have a hand in architecting the plans.

Do you have a grief story?:

In 2017, I lost my seven year old nephew, Peter, very suddenly to a virus that attacked his heart. There was no warning, we had no control and there was no time to say goodbye. In the days to come we were paralyzed by shock, years later it still feels like it couldn’t have possibly happened. This traumatic event changed my family in ways that I could have never predicted, and we still feel the ripple effects of his death everyday. 

What was missing when you were moving through your grief?

The sudden loss of Peter, coupled with our inability to help or prevent it, deeply shook my belief system and outlook on life. Since that day, the question "Why?" has echoed in my mind. My family was torn apart, with each of us grieving in our own way, leading to a loss of our sense of community and support. It was hard to find the space to express my own sorrow, knowing that everyone I would reach out to was hurting just as much. Joining the team at LoveLew has given me the chance to give back in a profoundly meaningful and healing way, by being part of a team that creates this space for women who need it most.

What’s something you would tell your 25-year-old self?:

Cherish the time you have with the ones you love. Keep capturing those candid moments of your family, even if they protest. Those photos will become treasures, reminders of the bond you share and the love that ties you together. Stay present and immerse yourself in the moments you have with them, because life has a way of changing in the blink of an eye. Your story can shift direction quickly, and the people who matter most to you may not always be there. So, embrace every moment, be present, and hold on to those memories with all your heart.