Jo Ellen Grzyb
Founding Partner and Director
Jo Ellen is a keen gardener and nourishes her plants and veggies with the same passion and commitment with which she nurtures people.
Jo Ellen Grzyb loves helping people grow.
People are at the heart of what Jo Ellen does. Be it her Co-Directing Impact Factory with Robin Chandler, her volunteer work, or her relationships with her family, friends and community – her very Purpose is about making life a better place to be.
Jo Ellen spent 20 years in the development of the performing arts on both sides of the Atlantic. She worked for The New York City Ballet, The Mannes College of Music, The Arts Council and The London Philharmonic, before setting up Impact Factory with Robin in 1991.
Although she no longer has a formal practice, Jo Ellen is a psychotherapist/counsellor and initially got into this work as a career counsellor. Having changed jobs, careers (more than once) and even countries, she has great insight into the impact of change and how to manage it well. Equally, she loves working with people to help them become more of their authentic selves.
Jo Ellen Grzyb – Author
Another of her passions is writing and she is responsible for most of the material on Impact Factory’s considerable and comprehensive website library.
Jo Ellen Grzyb’s book, Family Heaven Family Hell – How to Survive the Family Get-Together, is an in-depth look at family dynamics and is available through Amazon.
The Nice Factor Book: The Art of Saying No (written with Robin Chandler) is pretty much a definitive guide on how to tackle assertiveness in a humane and gentle way. Also available on Amazon.
In the same vein, Jo Ellen has recorded all of Impact Factory’s podcasts with many of her wonderful colleagues. She has a monthly guest slot on The Maine Group’s weekly webinar series, The Maine Event. She enjoys being a talking head on programmes such as Women’s Hour and BBC Radio Suffolk.
Jo Ellen Grzyb – Activist
Jo Ellen Grzyb has never been a bystander. Since the age of nine, she has been involved in some form of community work and believes that her volunteer work truly helps to fulfil her Purpose.
In the sixties, she was active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, working with the great John Lewis and Fannie Lou Hamer. She also worked on a project with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the year before he was assassinated.
She has never not been involved in some form of volunteer work.
Black Lives Matter
Currently, she is a core member of Bury St Edmunds for Black Lives, focusing on outreach work in schools on racism for students and teachers. Additionally, she helps run events for up-and-coming minority artists and musicians in East Anglia, participates in festivals and writes a monthly column in the local paper on issues of racism.
Jo Ellen does have a tendency to bite off more than she can chew and loves the challenge of fitting it all in! Chomp chomp.