Jen Psaki

Jen Psaki – Life, Career, and Meaningful Quotes

Explore the life and public service of Jen Psaki — former White House Press Secretary, communications strategist, and author. Discover her early path, major roles, philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Jennifer “Jen” Psaki (born December 1, 1978) is an American political communicator, strategist, and television host.

Though she is not primarily known as an author, Psaki’s upcoming book Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World positions her as a reflective voice eager to share lessons on communication, leadership, and public life. In this profile, we treat her public statements, roles, and writing as facets of her intellectual authorship.

Early Life and Education

Jen Psaki was born on December 1, 1978 in New York City. James R. Psaki, worked in real estate development; her mother, Eileen Medvey (née Dolan), was a psychotherapist.

Psaki was raised in Connecticut, where she attended Greenwich High School and graduated in 1996. College of William & Mary, earning a BA in English and Sociology in 2000.

During her college years, she was a competitive backstroke swimmer for her school’s team.

Career and Public Service

Early Political Communications Work

Psaki’s career in politics and communications began after college. In 2001 she worked on the re-election campaigns of Senator Tom Harkin and Governor Tom Vilsack.

She also worked within the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and as communications director to Representative Joseph Crowley.

Roles in the Obama Administration

When Barack Obama became president, Psaki joined the White House staff:

• Deputy Press Secretary in 2009.

• Deputy Communications Director (2009–2011).

• Later, she moved to the State Department, serving as Spokesperson (2013–2015).

• She then returned to the White House as Communications Director (2015–2017).

These roles placed her at the nexus of messaging, media strategy, and government communication in high-stakes environments.

Biden Administration & Press Secretary

In November 2020, Psaki joined the Biden–Harris transition team, and she was appointed White House Press Secretary in January 2021.

As press secretary, she was the public face of the administration’s communication, facing intense media scrutiny and frequent daily briefings. Her style emphasized clarity, candor, and discipline.

After her departure, Psaki moved into media: hosting shows on MSNBC and working as a political analyst.

Philosophy, Communication Style & Voice

Psaki’s public persona has been shaped by her emphasis on empathy, clarity, and responsibility in communication. In announcing her book Say More, she said:

“Effective communication is about empathy and explanation. It is about connecting with your audience … whether it is the President, your partner, your colleagues, or even your kids.”

She often speaks about the necessity of listening, adapting messages to different audiences, and owning mistakes rather than hiding them.

In a quote that reflects her belief in continuous growth, she said:

“There are times where you have to be on the journey and recognize that sometimes you don’t know what the end is going to be, right?”

She also commented on how very busy people manage time:

“I’ve spent time with a lot of very busy people: … something they all have in common is that they carve out time for reading, and for consuming information that may not seem to have anything to do with their jobs.”

Her quotes show a recognition that communication is not just about speaking fluently, but about adapting, vulnerability, and ongoing learning.

Famous Quotes of Jen Psaki

Here are some quoted lines that offer sense of her thinking and public voice:

• “I work in the government. If you find that boring, I don’t know. Maybe you should work for Us Magazine and cover scandals in Hollywood.”

• “We’re trying to get the pandemic under control. We’re trying to put people back to work. I don’t find that boring.”

• “I think it’s pretty clear when you make a choice that’s against all public health information and data out there, that it’s not based on what is in the interests of the people you are governing. It is perhaps in the interest of your own politics.”