TBT: Jen (Ward) Horenziak

Every Thursday, GoStanford.com will present an interview with a Stanford women’s gymnastics alumna. This week, Jen (Ward) Horenziak (‘95), is featured and discusses her time with SWG, how Stanford impacted her life and what she's been up to since graduation.

What have you been doing since graduating from Stanford?
Jen: After graduating from Stanford, I received an MBA with a concentration in health sector management from Duke University. After my time at Duke, I started my professional career by working in brand management, marketing, and advertising of pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostics products for companies such as Procter & Gamble, Shire and Johnson & Johnson.

I’m currently working as a healthcare marketer for Johnson & Johnson family of companies specializing in creating patient education and communication programs for patients suffering from severe obesity.

Some of my biggest professional accomplishments have been receiving the Medical Marketing & Media Marketing Team of the Year 2004 award in addition to over 20 other major healthcare and interactive advertising awards. I’ve also been selected as a judge for the Web Marketing Association’s WebAwards.

As for my personal life, I am a mom (and taxi driver) of two little gymnasts (Juliet and Will) who aspire to be Cardinal athletes one day.

What was your favorite academic endeavor while at Stanford?
Jen: I was able to create an honors thesis study on the effects of goal setting on recovery time after Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction surgery with mentorship from distinguished psychology professors Al Bandura, Phil Zimbardo, Lee Ross, and Susan Nolen-Hoeksema. Subsequently, I received a graduate fellowship to study psychology.

What was your favorite competition?
Jen: I always loved competing in home meets at Stanford!  Our students and fans were always so supportive and fun. Meeting all of the cute little club gymnasts that came to cheer us on at home meets was a highlight for me – they were adorable and some ended up competing for Stanford years later! 

While it was always crazy fun to compete in the bigger meets in Maples Pavilion, I particularly enjoyed the intimacy of smaller meets in Burnham; being so close to the cheering crowd as you ran down the vault runway was energizing and inspiring!

What lessons have you carried with you from your experience on the Stanford gymnastics team?
Jen: My experience on Stanford’s Women’s Gymnastics Team really helped me learn how to overcome adversity and persevere in the face of obstacles.

After I finished my last meet as a Cardinal gymnast, I immediately started thinking about “what’s next for me as an athlete?” I needed a new sport, but given my lack of ability in any sport that requires a club, racket, bat, etc., my options were limited. 

I decided to become a runner. I laced up my shoes, headed out of my dorm room and ran as hard as I could for 10 minutes. Then I walked home. It was ugly.

I had no idea how to run distance, but I was determined to be runner. I needed a coach.  Fortunately, Stanford is full of amazing mentors.  One of my talented dormmates ran cross country and taught me to run like a real runner. 

I learned to love our workouts around campus drive and up to the Dish, and these training runs gave me the foundation to become a marathon runner – something I never would have imagined myself doing when I was a gymnast!

What are your favorite Stanford memories?
Jen: I transferred to Stanford after my freshman year competing at another program. When I arrived on campus, I was struggling with some of my skills and confidence after dealing with a series of injuries and illness.

As soon as I entered Ford Center for my first practice with the team, I knew I had found my new home and family. My teammates and coaches immediately made me feel welcome and supported. With the guidance and encouragement of my Cardinal gymnastics family, my confidence and love for the sport returned, as did my gymnastics skills. 

After a few months at Stanford, I started training new skills and added difficulty to my routines.  I felt incredibly fortunate to be training with such an amazing group of women and coaches. At the conclusion of the season, the team surprised me with a new award called the Stanford Gymnastics Comeback Award. 

I’ll never forget my SWG family that believed in me and gave me the push I needed to get my groove back.

What advice would you give to current and future SWG teams?
Jen: Oh, great question, and not easy to answer, but here goes!

One – experience as many things as possible during your time at Stanford. Register for classes that take you out of your comfort zone, learn to play an instrument or a new sport, volunteer for community service projects, join student groups to learn about new ideas, cultures, and activities.  Enjoy every single second of your time on campus, it goes by very quickly.

Two – dream big. Take risks. Learn from mistakes. Never, never, never give up on you or your goals.  You're stronger than you think and braver than you believe. Go forth and do great things.  Your SWG family will be here to support you and celebrate with you for years to come.