October, 2025.- In an exclusive conversation with Roastbrief, Jen Wallace, Vice President of Client Strategy & Marketing at NeoPangea, shares how nearly twenty years at National Geographic shaped her storytelling DNA and how that foundation now fuels her work in experiential design. For Wallace, the power of innovation lies not in technology alone, but in its ability to make people feel — to transform data, design, and narrative into emotional connection. She believes that true creativity happens when teams think holistically, blending empathy with experimentation. At NeoPangea, she’s focused on building partnerships that thrive on trust, curiosity, and a shared sense of adventure, driving projects that push technical boundaries while staying rooted in humanity. As she steps into this new chapter, Wallace envisions a future where human intuition and AI collaborate to craft experiences that transcend screens and spark wonder. “The best ideas,” she says, “are born when we dare to explore the unknown — and NeoPangea is the perfect place to keep exploring.”
- After nearly two decades at National Geographic, what motivated you to take on this new challenge at NeoPangea, and how do you see your storytelling roots influencing your work here?
I was ready for a fresh challenge. I feel fortunate to have spent most of my career in an environment where visual storytelling was paramount, and where creativity met purpose. At NeoPangea, that foundation continues to guide me, translating narrative thinking into immersive, interactive experiences that invite people to step inside the story. Here I get to channel that same energy into new media. Truthfully, curiosity drives the most successful projects at NeoPangea, and I love that, and that absolutely drew me to their team. This team is the best at looking at a technical/digital or physical build that’s never been done before, and making it happen. Or ideating the zany, out -of-the-box ideas which garner tremendous buzz for brands. I had the pleasure of working with them for many years on the client side at Nat Geo, and they are truly the most creative team in the business. They are kind, funny, and so smart. I am lucky to be here.
- Your background spans media, photography, digital products, and immersive experiences. How has this multidisciplinary journey shaped the way you approach client strategy today?
Wearing a variety of hats feels like the greatest superpower of my career. That, and remembering to lead with empathy. Even though I was loyal to the same brand for two decades, I was not stagnant. I had 3 distinct chapters to my career and was able to thread learnings between those chapters seamlessly, while the world and organization continued to change and evolve. That gave me perspective and wisdom to see challenges from various angles. Often, content can span multiple audience segments and platforms, and that global perspective sits at the intersection of creativity, empathy, and data. And having moved between media, tech, and experience design, I’ve learned that the most effective solutions come from teams who think holistically vs. in silos.
- NeoPangea is known for pushing boundaries in interactive and experiential design. What excites you most about the opportunities for innovation in this space right now?
I think the opportunity for firms to tap even deeper into visitor emotion is both exciting and essential for innovation. When you visit a museum or any in-person experience, the moments that truly stay with you are the ones that shift how you feel. Sure, you may read a label or hear an audio clip, but what did you feel? That’s the real magic of experiential design. Firms that do that especially well will stand out. NeoPangea has already built an incredible brand around its ability to forge those emotional connections, and we’re eager to keep building on that strength.
Secondly, I know it can be overwhelming for many reasons, but I’m resoundingly excited about how AI will up the game: accelerating the early phases of ideation, sharpening insights from data, and allowing creative teams to prototype in real time. I believe that the next wave of innovation will come from studios that pair human intuition with machine intelligence. We’re very much leaning into that, responsibly and always with transparency and permission.
- You’ve led projects ranging from traveling exhibitions to large-scale immersive partnerships. Which past experience do you think best prepared you for driving NeoPangea’s next phase of growth?
Leading National Geographic’s Animals of the Earth Immersive Experience was a turning point for me. It combined everything I love about storytelling, technology, and audience connection. The project highlights the work of Joel Sartore who has photographed over 17,000 species to-date in an effort to document the beauty and uniqueness of nature and bring attention to wildlife conservation. It was a complex project with many moving parts: aligning creative teams, managing external partners, and translating storytelling into a full sensory experience. It also involved ensuring that Joel Sartore’s images and video were best represented in a new medium, in a way that had not been done before, for his work. So hitting the mark for him was important. And he’s just an all-around wonderful human doing such good work for the planet.
What that experience taught me (and what I carry into NeoPangea) is how to balance emotional impact with innovation. It reinforced the power of story as the anchor, regardless of how advanced the technology will be, even though the experience is packed with hands-on interactives and immersive projections. At NeoPangea, that mindset is essential. We’re constantly exploring new ways to push creative and technical boundaries, but always in service of something human, something that moves people.
- In your new role, you’ll focus on forging partnerships with brands, museums, and themed entertainment pioneers. What qualities do you believe make a partnership truly successful in this evolving landscape?
The best partnerships involve trust, curiosity, and a decent amount of humor to keep the work rewarding. The team here has said many times (and I fully embrace the mantra) that our partners naturally morph into trusted long-time friends on the same adventure, and that means that showing up to work every day is easy! We love teaming up with partners who want to experiment, get their hands dirty, and share a toast after the work is launched successfully.
- You once described yourself as “an explorer with a map that hasn’t yet been charted.” How does that mindset guide your leadership style and the way you envision NeoPangea’s future?
I am endlessly optimistic about the future! I have a growth mindset and that thinking has benefited me to wade into unknown waters again and again. I love to learn, and soak up new knowledge from my peers and the industry, and I am not shy about asking questions. For NeoPangea that mindset guides how I make informed decisions as a member of the senior leadership team. I will continue to reflect the existing vision which is to encourage our team and partners to explore, take risks, and create experiences that surprise and delight.
This lovely bit was on the NeoPangea website long before I joined their merry band of misfits, and I couldn’t sum it up any better: “We are a creative partner for imaginative brands like you, who dare to dream… and dream big. To be heroic. To be the first to walk across the rickety bridge over a crocodile-infested ravine. To do things your competitors want to steal.”
The future for NeoPangea is bright. And that crocodile is probably a nice guy once you get to know him.
