Jeannine Starr shares her remarkable transition from a 23-year leadership career in higher-education fundraising in New York City to becoming a successful flower preservation and resin artist. What began during the pandemic as a hobby making small resin jewelry pieces eventually grew into JSTAR NYC, a storefront business in Manhattan’s Floral District. Working alongside her daughter Annie, Jeannine has created a business where their strengths complement each other—Jeannine focuses on the artistry while Annie manages much of the client-facing side. Their work is deeply personal because they preserve flowers from weddings and other important moments into permanent heirlooms.

A major theme of the conversation is the courage required to make a dramatic career change and fully commit to something new. Jeannine describes discovering resin, ...