ABOUT
ME

Passionate About Inspiring Others

I’m Jen Whelan, founder of Moonshot Living.

For the past 30 years, I’ve worked in public service: twenty years in education, two years in financial education and seven years in law enforcement.

Across each role, my purpose has stayed the same: helping people believe in what’s possible, even when the path ahead feels uncertain.

That work has taken many forms: supporting a child to win a national award, helping a parent leave an abusive relationship, or guiding someone to break free from debt. Different lives, different challenges, but always the same truth: there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Moonshot Living was created to help you pause, reflect on where you are now, and choose goals bold enough to change who you become. These aren’t quick wins or surface-level ambitions, they’re audacious, meaningful moonshots that take you on a journey far beyond what you thought was possible.

If you’re ready to think bigger, live more deliberately, and discover what you’re truly capable of, you’re in the right place.

Throughout my life, I’ve deliberately aimed for the moon, and along the way, I’ve often landed among the stars. Many of the goals I set were impossible to achieve without changing who I was in the process. That, for me, is the power of a moonshot.

Below are a few of the moonshots that have shaped my journey.

Financial Moonshot

I set out to understand how the world’s most successful investors built lasting wealth. I studied the habits of billionaires, immersed myself in value investing, bought shares in Berkshire Hathaway, and travelled to Omaha to learn directly from the best. I later trained as a financial adviser and began teaching financial education in schools. While I haven’t earned my millions, the journey led me to become Finance Teacher of the Year - proof that the right goal can deliver unexpected rewards.

Fitness Moonshot

At 45, my moonshot was to become the fittest I had ever been. As a former sports graduate and national diver, this felt daunting, especially after nearly failing a Police fitness test following COVID. I entered an Ironman knowing it would demand more than physical effort. The transformation was profound. After three failed attempts, in 2024, aged 48, I crossed the finish line at Ironman Barcelona, stronger than I had ever been.

Adventure Moonshot

Each year, I set an extraordinary goal designed to stretch me well beyond my comfort zone. Over the past decade these have included: sailing around the UK with a dog (2025), sailing in the Arctic (2024), completing the Fastnet Race (2019 and 2021), cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End (2018), climbing Kilimanjaro (2010), hiking the Great Wall of China (2012), and even playing rugby for Israel (2001). Everest Base Camp is planned for 2026.

Spiritual Moonshot

After achieving many external goals, I found myself asking a deeper question: Is this all there is? In search of an answer, I gave up everything for a year and lived in a convent. While I didn’t follow a religious vocation, the experience offered invaluable lessons in simplicity, reflection, and meaning - lessons that continue to guide my life.

Experience & Background

I bring together over three decades of experience across education, public service, physical performance, finance, and personal development.

Educator & Teacher (30 years)
Extensive experience in teaching, mentoring, and developing young people and adults, with a lifelong commitment to helping others grow in confidence, capability, and ambition.
Fitness & Performance
Competed internationally in rugby, sailing, and triathlon. Outward Bound specialist with a strong focus on resilience, leadership, and performance under pressure. Ironman finisher.
Sailing Instructor & Race Skipper
Qualified sailing instructor and race skipper with experience in offshore and competitive sailing.
Police Detective
Serving police detective with a strong working knowledge of the law, decision-making under pressure, and safeguarding.
Life Coach & Mentor
Supporting individuals through transition, challenge, and personal growth with clarity, honesty, and practical insight.
Financial Adviser & Value Investor
Trained financial adviser with a deep interest in long-term value investing and financial education.
Award-Winning Finance Teacher
Recipient of Finance Teacher of the Year, recognised for excellence in financial education and impact.
Therapeutic Practice
Trained therapist, experienced in listening, reflection, and supporting personal change.
Chaplaincy & Spiritual Leadership
Former school chaplain and chaplain to young adults; pilgrimage director and retreat coordinator, supporting reflection, purpose, and spiritual growth.