The Art of Becoming
Wendy Braun
A distinct kind of magic happens when someone stops waiting for permission and starts creating their own light. It is an evolutionary spark, one that requires equal parts courage, vulnerability, and radical self-trust. In this interview, we invite you into the vibrant world of someone who has mastered this delicate balance: the exceptionally talented actress, comedian, and mindset leader Wendy Braun.
Many of you already know Wendy as a comforting, hilarious, or delightfully complex presence on your television screens. Whether she brings her trademark comedic brilliance to life as Kathy on Netflix’s Atypical or stirs up sharp corporate tension as Elizabeth Prescott in Prime Video’s Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, her range is undeniable. With over 90 film, television, and theater credits, she has long mastered capturing the nuances of the human experience. But what truly makes Wendy a kindred spirit to The Eden Magazine is how she uses her voice when the cameras stop rolling.
Off-screen, Wendy has quietly built a global sanctuary for fellow artists and dreamers. As a Forbes-featured transformation coach, she blends neuroscience with deep mindfulness, guiding creatives to quiet their inner critics and step into their authentic power. Her celebrated sleep meditations and reassuring “Keep Going Sunshine” ethos offer a masterclass in resilience, proving success means little if it isn’t anchored in inner peace.
In this intimate, exclusive interview, Wendy opens up about her personal journey, from her early days dancing in Europe to navigating the unpredictable highs and lows of Hollywood. We dive into what it means to trust the timing of your life, find creative fulfillment completely independent of external validation, and actively choose compassion over fear.
We invite you to meet a woman who doesn’t just talk about conscious living; she breathes it into everything she touches.
Your performance as Elizabeth Prescott became one of the breakout conversations surrounding Prime Video’s hit comedy Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat. What was it like stepping into the shoes of a character viewers loved to hate, and how did you strike a balance between menace and comedy?
Playing Elizabeth was one of the most creatively exhilarating experiences of my career, so seeing both audiences and critics embrace her the way they have has truly been the sweetest surprise of all. From the moment I read the scripts, I knew she had to anchor this “David vs. Goliath” story with absolute conviction. She couldn’t wink at the audience or play the villain. She had to believe, wholeheartedly, that she was the hero of her own story. I’ve always loved characters who challenge me to understand people instead of judging them, and Elizabeth was exactly that. She genuinely believes she’s making the company stronger. She values excellence, efficiency, and winning, and when she first arrives, she wants to inspire everyone to rise with her. But when she realizes this wonderfully unconventional group doesn’t buy into her vision, she shifts gears. If she can’t transform the company, she’ll take it apart. That’s what made her so fascinating to play. None of us could have predicted how deeply Company Retreat would resonate with viewers. The fact that audiences loved hating Elizabeth is honestly one of the greatest compliments I could receive as an actor. I still laugh when I read comments like, “I knew you were acting, and I still hated Elizabeth.” That makes me smile every time. To strike that balance between menace and comedy, I had to stay completely committed to Elizabeth’s reality. On a show like this, nothing works if you’re trying to be funny. The comedy comes from playing every moment truthfully and trusting the incredible writing and cast opposite you. The straighter I play her, the funnier the world becomes.
If people found themselves laughing one moment, holding their breath the next, and still talking about Company Retreat after the credits rolled, then we accomplished exactly what we set out to do.
The show is co-created and produced by the Emmy-nominated team behind The Office, and much of it relies on improvisation. How did your improv and comedy training prepare you for this unique role, and were there any moments on set that surprised even you?
Yes! Looking back, this role felt like the culmination of everything I’d spent years learning and honing. My improv training, comedy, stand-up, television and film experience, even dance and martial arts, along with all my years as an entrepreneur and speaker, all came together in one character. It was one of those rare roles where every chapter of my career suddenly made sense.
What made this experience so unique was how collaborative it was. Unlike a traditional television series, we weren’t simply memorizing dialogue. We were helping create it. During rehearsals, the writers encouraged us to bring our own ideas, instincts, and discoveries into each scene, and many of the moments and dialogue audiences see on screen were born through real-time improvisation. It was one of the most thrilling and fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had on a show.
That’s why our series’ Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series feels so meaningful. It celebrates not only the writers’ brilliance, but the extraordinary creative process they invited us into. We got to build this together. Being part of the show’s creative core from the very beginning is incredibly rare, and all of us are proud to celebrate that nomination.
One of my favorite moments happened in the season finale. Anthony bursts into the boardroom determined to stop the deal, and he’s so emotionally committed that I couldn’t anticipate what he’d say next. When Elizabeth finally cuts through the chaos with, “I have one question, Doug… are you really going to listen to the temp?” Anthony immediately turned and repeated it to Doug. That wasn’t scripted. It happened in the moment, and it was brilliant.
Elizabeth is completely appalled that she’s losing control, while Anthony is desperately trying to save the people he’s genuinely come to care about. Experiencing that in real time, while staying fully committed to Elizabeth’s agenda, was absolutely electric. And then I get to storm out and bust through the cast. Those are the moments you can’t manufacture. They only happen when everyone is completely present, listening, trusting one another, and fully committed.
Doing this show was a high-stakes, high-wire act. Every scene could soar or fall apart, and that’s what made it so exciting. When everything clicked, it felt like we were all skating in perfect unison and then stuck the landing.
NOTE: Elizabeth Prescott leads the Triukas Team, played by Rachel Hein and Chris Kula, who are also both writers on the show.
On the ‘David vs Goliath’ theme, your character, Elizabeth, anchors the season’s central ‘David vs Goliath’ conflict. What drew you to this narrative, and how did you approach creating a villain who could both ignite tension and fuel comedic chaos?
I loved this season’s David vs. Goliath theme because it feels incredibly relevant. At its heart, it’s about what happens when money and metrics begin to outweigh people and purpose. Elizabeth walks into Rockin’ Grandmas believing she has all the answers. She’s convinced she’s there to make the company better, but she overlooks the heart and humanity that made it successful in the first place.
I also loved the retreat setting. Elizabeth arriving in a Cybertruck to take over this wonderfully quirky family business immediately tells the audience everything they need to know. She’s the ultimate fish out of water, trying to win over the quirky Rockin’ Grandmas team while quietly orchestrating a corporate takeover. It’s absurd, hilarious, and somehow completely believable at the same time.
My approach to both igniting tension and fueling the comedy came down to Elizabeth’s absolute certainty. She never questioned herself. She believed she was the smartest person in every room, and she truly wanted everyone to embrace her vision. The more composed, confident, and certain she became, the more chaos unfolded around her. That’s what made her so much fun to play, and what made watching her carefully laid plans slowly unravel so satisfying for viewers.
The jousting scene is a perfect example. Elizabeth walks into it completely convinced she’s in control, and then, in an instant, she’s literally knocked off her game. Watching someone so polished and self-assured suddenly lose that control made the moment both surprising and incredibly funny.
From its enthusiastic audience response to becoming an Emmy-nominated series, Company Retreat has had an incredible journey. With Amazon submitting your performance for Emmy consideration, what has this chapter meant to you personally and professionally?
There is so much extraordinary television being made right now, so to be part of a series that has resonated with audiences and is now an Emmy-nominated show is incredibly meaningful. The fact that
Amazon submitted my performance for Emmy consideration was a tremendous honor in itself, and something I don’t take for granted.
I grew up watching the Emmys, so attending this year to celebrate our show at the Company Retreat truly feels like a full-circle moment.
What would you say is the deeper purpose behind the work you do today?
The deeper purpose behind everything I do is to help people remember what’s possible. I love encouraging people to defy doubt and bring their biggest dreams to life because I’ve learned firsthand that the greatest limitations are often the ones we place on ourselves. Whether I’m acting, speaking, writing, mentoring, or raising my sons, my hope is always the same: to help people feel more connected, more hopeful, and more willing to believe in themselves and each other. If I can help shift the conversation from fear to possibility, then I feel like I’m doing the work I was meant to do.
You’ve built a remarkable dual identity: playing the antagonist on screen while empowering creatives worldwide through your entrepreneurial work. How do these two worlds complement each other, and what have you learned from embodying both roles?
Thank you. At first glance, those two worlds seem completely different, but they’re actually rooted in the same principle: identity.
As an actor, my job is to fully embody another human being. As a coach and entrepreneur, I help people intentionally step into the highest version of themselves and let go of the stories that keep them playing small. In both cases, transformation begins from the inside out.
Ironically, my years as a founder, speaker, and CEO helped me play Elizabeth. I understood what it feels like to lead a room, make difficult decisions, and carry myself with poise and confidence. The difference is that Elizabeth leads through control, while I strive to lead through connection. Playing her reminded me that how we use our influence matters just as much as having it.
Through your global creative empowerment company, you’ve supported tens of thousands of artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives across more than 25 countries. What inspired you to build this community, and what is the most rewarding part of guiding fellow creatives on their journeys?
Some of the greatest lessons in my life came through seasons of loss, growth, and reinvention. Along the way, I realized we all have an inner voice shaping what we believe is possible. I had to learn how to rewrite mine, and that changed the trajectory of my life. Once I experienced that transformation, I couldn’t keep it to myself. I wanted to help others move beyond self-doubt and create lives they’re genuinely excited to wake up to.
The most rewarding part is seeing someone reclaim a dream they had quietly given up on. I remember receiving a message from a mother of two who had spent years telling herself, “It’s too late.” After doing the inner work, she launched her coaching business, published her first book, and is now preparing for her TED Talk. Moments like that remind me that when one person transforms, the ripple effect reaches families, communities, and generations. That’s why I do this work.
Your career spans acting, entrepreneurship, and mentorship. What advice would you give to creatives who are struggling to find their path or feeling discouraged by the industry’s challenges?
If you’re struggling to find your path, remember your current circumstances don’t determine your future unless you let them define you. Some of the most meaningful chapters of my life required me to keep moving forward long before I had any evidence it would all work out.
I like to think of our dreams as seeds. They’re planted within us for a reason, but before anyone sees the fruit, we have to tend to the roots. That takes patience and persistence. It’s also when people get discouraged. Don’t mistake a quiet season for the end of your story. The deepest growth is always happening beneath the surface. Keep showing up, keep learning, and trust in the future you cannot yet see. It’s a marathon of mental mastery. And I’ve learned through it all that the most powerful relationship you can cultivate is with your own mind.
Throughout your career, you’ve inspired many through your resilience and authenticity. How do you stay grounded in an industry that often emphasizes external validation?
If my worth and value are attached to external validation, then I don’t own them; I’m leasing them. And my worth and value are not for rent. It’s about ownership. It took me years to understand that and separate what I do from who I am.
Whether I’m on the red carpet or walking my dog, my value doesn’t change. Today, I approach my creative work from a place of expression rather than expectation. Because when you stop asking the next achievement to tell you who you are, you become freer, more joyful, and, ironically, far more magnetic. It’s a daily practice, and one that’s changed my life.
Your work is deeply connected to helping people step into their confidence and authentic selves. What have you learned about the spiritual connection between self-belief and purpose, and how to create a life that truly feels aligned?
Yes. I love helping people discover their authentic self and true potential. I believe alignment begins when your inner voice becomes louder than the noise around you. And ironically, that inner voice is often the quietest one in the room, which means we have to create enough stillness to hear it.
Purpose isn’t something the outside world gets to assign you. It’s something you discover by paying attention to what genuinely lights you up. I often ask: “If no one ever applauded this, posted about it, or even knew I had achieved it, would I still want to do it?“
That question strips away the performance and brings you back to truth.
In fact, that’s actually how I felt making Company Retreat. We were having so much fun creating something we loved, long before we knew how audiences would respond or that the show would go on to receive an Emmy nomination. That recognition is extraordinary, but it’s the icing on the cake. The joy was already there in the doing.
Self-belief is what allows you to trust that inner knowing enough to act on it.
And I think that’s how you create a life that truly feels aligned: get quiet enough to hear what’s true for you, pay attention to what breathes life into you, and then make choices that honor it, even if they scare you at first.
In a world that often encourages us to measure success by external achievements, what does a meaningful, spiritually fulfilling life look like to you, and how can people begin reconnecting with their inner guidance?
For me, a meaningful, spiritually fulfilling life is one that I’m actually present for.
We spend so much of our lives focused on what’s next: the next goal, the next accomplishment, the next version of ourselves. It’s easy to miss the life that’s happening right now. I’ve learned that fulfillment isn’t found in constantly arriving somewhere else. It’s being able to appreciate where you are while you’re still excited about where you’re going.
I also believe spirituality is about remembering that we’re part of something greater than ourselves. At a certain point, success becomes less about what you can accumulate or achieve and more about what you can contribute. How can I use what I’ve learned? How can I help someone else? How can I leave something better than I found it?
Meditation and mindfulness have been a big part of that for me. Before I go out into the world, I want to connect within. They remind me that I don’t have to believe every thought I have or react to every circumstance around me. I can create space, get perspective, and choose how I want to show up.
To me, that’s a spiritually fulfilling life. Being present enough to enjoy it, connected enough to know you’re part of something bigger, and intentional about what you contribute while you’re here.
For readers who would like additional support on their own journey, Wendy is graciously offering one of her favorite guided meditations, Creating Success While You Sleep, as a complimentary gift to our readers. It can be accessed for free at wendybraun.com/sleep.
What message would you like to share with women who are navigating reinvention, healing, or pursuing a dream later in life?
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. In fact, some of the most extraordinary chapters begin after the ones we never expected to get through. Your lived experience, wisdom, heartbreak, resilience, and passions are not detours. They pave the way and prepare you for what’s next.
When you can’t yet see the path, ask yourself one simple question: “Can I choose possibility before I have proof?” That’s where transformation begins. It’s the inner identity work of becoming someone whose inner conviction matters more than outer opinions.
Then ask yourself: “What if this is my best chapter yet?” Take one small step toward that vision today. You don’t have to know exactly how everything will unfold. You only have to believe that your dreams matter enough to keep going. And they do. Your dreams are your heart pointing you in the right direction. Even if it feels uncertain or scary, if it’s in your heart and on your mind, honor it. Lean into it. Don’t let fear keep you from exploring what’s possible.
Special Thanks to:
Wendy Braun
Edited by Dina Morrone
Photography: Mike Ruiz and Russel Bear
Hair: Danielle Waterman
Makeup: Marc Cornwall and Suzanna Melendez
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon
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