Known for her easy-to-make recipes, vegan chef, and blogger, Jenné Claiborne is encouraging all of us to make healthier choices, no matter where they are in their wellness journeys. But the lightbulb moment for all it came immediately after she went vegan. “I knew I wanted to pursue a career in which my new lifestyle was at the forefront,” she tells Create & Cultivate. “I had such a passion for veganism, and felt that I could do something to help animals and people, and empower myself.”

So, she turned her love of cooking into a business starting a personal chef service in New York City and enrolling herself at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Shortly after, Claiborne started health coaching and online group programs to help others become vegan, too. Now, she’s proving that “veganism isn’t a ‘white thing’” as the best-selling author of the Sweet Potato Soul cookbook and changing the future of what wellness looks like in the process. 

Ahead, Claiborne shares more about her passion for cooking, the shared connectedness food brings, and navigating the mainstream vegan space as a Black womxn.

What drives your passion for your cooking?

I think I love cooking because I love to eat. I’m inspired by the comforting soul food I’d eat as a kid, flavors from cultures all around the world, what I happen to see at the farmer’s market, and social media food trends. My personal cooking style is all about flavor and color. I want everything I prepare to be exciting and interesting, even if it’s something we’re all familiar with.

Your whole life revolves around food that “makes me feel happy, energetic, and nourished.” Can you share a little more about this philosophy and how it served as the inspiration behind your book, Sweet Potato Soul? 

Experience has led me to take the “you are what you eat” philosophy very seriously. Food can make you happy, trigger great memories and emotions, and be delicious without sacrificing your health. With my cookbook, I wanted to present a new way of looking at soul food that doesn’t include animal products and is a little healthier. I’m definitely not a health nut though, some foods you just have to eat in moderation. 

How is your community and cookbook making a difference to people’s health and wellness, and pushing your industry forward?

I have gotten great feedback on my cookbook, and recipes at large. People often email me to tell me what role I’ve had in their healthy eating or vegan journey, and that means the world to me. As a Black woman in the mainstream vegan space, I think I’ve helped open doors and help people realize that veganism isn’t a “white thing”, but something for and by everyone. 

2020 presented everybody around the globe with new, unprecedented challenges. How did you #FindNewRoads + switch gears towards your new version of success?

This year has made me take an honest look at my life, and my goals for the future. Covid has helped me focus on what matters to me, and challenge myself to be more courageous in my actions and in pursuit of my dreams. I’m still in the middle of my process, so we’ll see where it takes me. 

Going after what you deserve in life takes confidence and guts. Does confidence come naturally to you or did you have to learn it? What advice can you share for women on cultivating confidence and going after their dreams? 

I was raised to have confidence. My parents are entrepreneurs and they always supported every interest I had. They always hammered into me that I could do whatever I wanted in life, and they were really great examples of that. Looking back, I realize that seeing them pursue their dreams made it a no brainer that I would do the same. 

As far as advice, I’d tell women to stay focused: focus on your strengths, focus on your goals, focus on what steps you need to take to get where you want to go, and don’t stop. As you celebrate your successes, you’ll automatically build confidence to keep going. But staying focused and positive is essential. 

When you separate yourself from your job title and the bells and whistles of your business or career, who are you and what do you like to do? How have you remained true and authentic to who you are?

I’m a girl who wants to be creative, stand out, be helpful, and connect with people, no matter what my career is. Because my passion for food has become my career it’s really easy to stay authentic because I just do what I love. But when I no longer feel like I’m being creative, or connecting with my audience, I know I need a vacation or to shake things up, and maybe do something different.

It’s easy to celebrate the wins, but how do you handle failure or when something hasn’t worked out for you?

I’m not that great at celebrating wins, but I also don’t let failure get me down. I just keep going regardless, as long as I’m still enjoying my work and connecting with my audience. 

What is the biggest work challenge or mistake you’ve faced? What did you learn from it?

The biggest challenge is on-going: my challenge of building a team. I’m learning to trust others, and let go of some control.

What is the #1 cookbook (besides your own) you always recommend and why?

I recommend anything from Bryant Terry, because his recipes are so creative, delicious, and fun to make.

If you could go back to the beginning of your career journey—with the knowledge you have now— what advice would you give yourself? 

I would tell myself to worry less about money, and just focus on the work. Money will come when you continue to show up for yourself and your audience/customers/clients. Be strategic and smart about money, but worrying about it, unless you’re in a dire situation, is a waste of energy. 

Fill in the blanks:

The best career advice I always give is…
To not do it only for the money or fame, but something deeper and more fulfilling.

To be successful, you need to be…
Determined. 

I turn bad days around by…
Spending time with my friends, going for long walks, and/or yoga.

Three qualities that got me to where I am today are…
Determination, drive, and always seeking to become better at what I do. 

The change I’d like to see in my industry is…
Even more diversity

My perfect day begins with…
Cuddles and kisses with my daughter.