Jo Living

Jo Living

When founder DNA meets poker mindset

Jo is a serial entrepreneur, ex–investment banker and long-time card enthusiast who believes better decisions can change everything.

After a decade in investment banking, she followed her entrepreneurial itch and went on to launch and scale several ventures, including a mindfulness startup, a charity job site, a women’s leadership community, and a HealthTech startup.

Along the way, she realised how strategic play could sharpen the skills she relied on as a founder: managing risk, negotiating effectively and closing high‑stakes deals.

Despite growing up surrounded by cards - with two bridge teachers as parents, Jo came to poker relatively late, falling in love with the game after a big tournament win in Morocco. Hosting monthly game nights at home, she was struck by how few women were at the table - and how much confidence and communication grew when they were.

To change that, she started a beginners’ poker group for women and quickly saw the impact translate far beyond the game: stronger voices, bolder negotiations, clearer boundaries, high-impact decisions.

Aces High grew out of that insight - reimagining the poker table as a powerful, inclusive space for teams to learn how to think, communicate and perform under pressure.

Jo also gives keynotes on negotiation, risk and decisions under pressure. To book her to speak at your event, visit joliving.com.