Conversations with Jenn Harbin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Harbin

Hi Jenn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The Hungry Loner began like most creative pursuits—with an idea, a feeling, and an urge to express. But what started as a simple platform for sharing my love of food and solo travel has evolved into something much more. It’s a reflection of who I am and the experiences that have shaped me, a journey of discovering the beauty in solitude and the strength in embracing it.

When I moved to Seoul five years ago, I rediscovered writing. What started as a blog about life in my birth country turned into a deep dive into my identity as a Korean American adoptee. Moving back to Nashville, I found myself drawn to the local food scene, particularly places like Audrey, Locust, and Peninsula, and began writing about them on Instagram. The Hungry Loner grew organically from there, now with 3,000 followers coming not from strategy but from passion.

The Hungry Loner was born out of a moment of loss. Shortly after the sudden passing of my older brother, I felt compelled to live more intentionally. I realized there was no longer anything to lose by putting myself and my ideas out there. Writing has always been my way of making sense of the world, and this project became a way to channel my grief into something meaningful. Reflecting on those experiences through a lens of gratitude has been both healing and transformative, and it’s a journey I’m still navigating.

The central theme of The Hungry Loner is this: Do what you love, even if you do it alone. It’s about solo dining, solo travel, and, most importantly, solo discovery. Two years ago, I combined my passion for food and hospitality with my love for storytelling to inspire others to explore the world on their own terms. It’s not just about finding the best meal or the coolest bar; it’s about finding yourself along the way. As someone who has always felt at ease in solitude, I’ve found that being alone is one of the best ways to truly meet people, discover new places, and learn about yourself and the world around you. It’s in those moments alone that I’ve experienced the deepest connections—with others and with myself.

When I first started, I didn’t have all the answers, but I just got going and things naturally evolved. Nashville, with its vibrant food scene, has been my inspiration. People often ask me what I love about this city, and my answer is always the same: the food scene. It’s not just about the flavors or the restaurants—it’s about the people. The food scene here is driven by some of the most creative and entrepreneurial spirits amongst a supportive community that you don’t always find in other cities.

I’m not a journalist or a food critic. I don’t write to review; I write to share lived experiences, to capture moments that matter. If people resonate with what I write, I hope it inspires them to explore the world for themselves. I’ve always walked a fine line between writer and “influencer,” but influence has never been my goal. I capture what inspires me, and I share when I feel it’s worth sharing. It’s not about posting for the sake of posting—it’s about honoring those moments of genuine inspiration.
In many ways, food is my emotional anchor. It’s not just about the meal—it’s about the stories shared across the table. The people I meet, the connections made, and the narratives uncovered are what move me.

What I’ve enjoyed most is the creative process—writing, taking photos, editing videos, and stitching together memories with music. Each piece of content is a reflection of where I’ve been and what I’ve learned, pushing me creatively and personally.

I feel privileged to share the stories of Nashville’s incredible food community, to shine a light on the individuals who bring their diverse talents to drive this city forward. The Hungry Loner may have started as a personal project, but it has become something much larger—a reflection of the journey we’re all on, together, to find meaning in the moments we experience, whether alone or in the company of others.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Other than keeping my waistline in check (lol) j/k, I’d say the earliest challenges were related to the creative process and content creation, such as fear of my writing or photos not being good enough. At first I wouldn’t get the lighting or the angles right to capture the best shot. I didn’t really have an eye for it yet or know how to work efficiently so would spend a lot of time taking a bunch of photos that weren’t really great.

The biggest challenge I’ve had honestly is to set a boundary to prevent making this passion feel like a job with pressure to post all the time or be the first to post about a new spot that just opened.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve spent the past couple of years building The Hungry Loner and recently got my first writing gig as a monthly contributor for City Cast Nashville. Every month I write about Nashville’s best new restaurants and bars and share more on their podcast. I’m most proud of the following I’ve built of award-winning chefs and hospitality professionals in addition to food and travel lovers. What sets me apart is my style of writing and storytelling capturing Nashville’s food scene a little differently from everyone else.

In my professional life my career began in the music industry, where I immersed myself in everything from copyright law to artist management. I had the privilege of working for Universal Music Group, starting as an intern and eventually spending five years with the company. While music was my first love, it was during this time that I was introduced into the world of tech startups and found my calling.

I took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles, transitioning into the AdTech world. From there, my path led me to San Francisco, where I spent five years refining my skills and pushing myself further into product management. Transitioning into this new field wasn’t easy; it was a process full of trial and error, but also persistence. Eventually, I made it happen. But just when my career in tech was taking off, life threw me in another direction.

When I moved back to Nashville I took a marketing role at iHeartRadio and worked tirelessly to prove myself, leveraging my skills in marketing to transition back into product management. From that point on, I committed fully to the craft, building a career that spans diverse industries and experiences.

I am most proud of my ability to lead teams in building great products by leveraging data and AI, whether it’s for a web platform or a mobile app. My expertise spans both B2B SaaS and B2C markets, with experience across a wide range of industries, including Media and Entertainment, eCommerce, AdTech, and FinTech. I’ve led cross-functional teams to create products that people love and that address real-world problems. My career has taken me from 0-to-1 startups to Fortune 100 companies, helping businesses harness technology to drive growth. My work includes everything from personalized audio streaming experiences to machine learning-powered data analytics tools and payment apps designed to optimize cash flow for small businesses.

What sets me apart is my ability to navigate ambiguity and execute under pressure. I’m known for fostering trust and alignment through transparent communication, which keeps teams moving towards common goals, no matter how challenging the environment. I take pride in leveraging data insights and human-centered design to transform complex ideas into actionable concepts that drive results. Whether I’m conducting user research, running A/B tests, or facilitating ideation sessions, I always apply a mix of strategic, intuitive, and creative thinking to every project I take on.

With experience at nine different companies, I’ve gained a rich and diverse set of skills. This journey has provided me with a unique perspective, allowing me to approach complex challenges with critical thinking and strategic solutions. At the core of it all is my passion for storytelling, problem-solving, and creating meaningful experiences—whether through tech, food, or the stories we share along the way.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice when exploring any new endeavor or career move is to do as much as you can on your own first so that you can learn through the process, coming to your own conclusions and identify where you actually need support. This not only shows that you’ve done the work yourself but also sets you up successfully for finding the right mentor or partner.

What has worked well for me is to get very specific on what you want to learn or need and why. This makes your task more actionable and quickly filters out those who can actually help.

Network by showing how you can add value to others, like solving a problem or making a connection. There are many online communities these days to connect but I’ve found asking to meet for coffee or even a 15 minute video chat goes a long way without asking too much of someone’s time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jennharbin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehungryloner/