Jens Nielsen

29/09/2026

Join the Santa Fe Entrepreneurs Network at Farafina for a conversation with co-founders Okwen Kenne Foma and Djibril Sylla on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 PM.

Farafina means Africa in Mandinka and Bambara — the whole continent, in one word. Okwen is from Cameroon, Djibril is from Guinea Conakry, and together they built a place in Midtown Santa Fe for dancing, eating, and music, drawing on two countries known for both. It’s different from what you'll find downtown, and it’s still a work in progress — they both work full-time jobs and run Farafina on the side.

We'll hear how they built something that feels like home while holding down full-time work, what Midtown has taught them, and whats next for the space.

This is also a chance for us to check out a business we haven't visited before as a group — part of what the Forum is about is seeing whats happening around Santa Fe.

What to expect:
▪️A conversation with Okwen and Djibril on building Farafina
▪️Time for Networking with other Santa Fe entrepreneurs
▪️Food, drinks, and the Farafina atmosphere

📍 Farafina, Santa Fe, NM (farafinasf.com), 730 3F St Michaels Dr, Santa Fe, NM 87505

25/08/2026

It's a good day when a client sends you a voice memo like this:

"Hey, good morning Jens. I just want to say that our session yesterday was fantastic, and I'm really feeling way more confident and excited about life, about the future, and about how I'm showing up. I went through our notes and created some very clear modifications to my pipeline and those stages we talked about, and I actually got to implement it this morning in a one-on-one meeting I had scheduled with a woman for coffee.

I really stretched from A to B, and asked powerful questions to reveal the opportunities, and helped her feel like the most interesting person in the world. It was so much better in quality than any of the other connecting meetings I was doing, which were simply around chemistry. And who knows what kind of referrals or alignments could happen — this was so much more powerful.

She said, 'I want to learn more about how to work with you,' and I didn't even have to invite her into a coaching conversation. So we scheduled a strategy session for two weeks from now, and that felt really affirming.

I just want to share that victory with you. You're making an impact in my life, and I appreciate you. Thanks, brother. Hope you're well. Have a good day. Bye."

21/08/2026

Join the Santa Fe Entrepreneurs next meetup for a candid conversation with founders Averie Swanson and Pat Fahey on what it really takes to build a business from scratch.

From launching in Chicago in 2019 to relocating across the country, Averie and Pat transformed a 40-year-old Santa Fe greenhouse into a unique beverage garden—navigating major setbacks, including losing most of their original equipment, to bring their vision to life.

They will share the real story behind the move, the tough decisions, and lessons learned along the way.

What to expect:
▪️ Founder Fireside and Q&A
▪️Networking with local Santa Fe entrepreneurs
▪️Local b**r in the unique space they built

Details:
▪️Date: Tuesday, September 1
▪️Time: 6:00 PM
▪️Location: Keeping Together Brewery & Beverage Garden (2908 Rufina St., Santa Fe, NM)

For more information and to RSVP:

**An Evening with Keeping Together Brewing** Join us at Keeping Together Brewery and Beverage Garden for a conversation with founders Averie Swanson and Pat Fahey. Averie

15/08/2026

Thank you to Michael Rebelo for having me on "The Ever Forward Mindset Podcast." We sat down for an inspiring conversation about the mindset, discipline, and consistency required to create real, lasting progress in business, real estate, and life.

Success is rarely built through shortcuts or hype. True momentum comes from gaining clarity, building strong habits, taking radical responsibility, and continuing to move forward—even when the path ahead is uncertain.

Link to full episode in comments.

07/08/2026

Registration is open for the Pay It Forward Private Mastermind (October 1-3, 2026) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In an era of rising economic and social uncertainty, the leaders who thrive are the ones who know how to protect what they’ve built and move forward with absolute clarity.

To foster genuine, deep collaboration, we are strictly limiting the number of seats. This is a true mastermind—an intimate room of high-level minds exchanging raw insights and actionable strategies.

The real takeaway? You won't just leave inspired; you’ll walk away with life-changing skills and frameworks that alter how you scale, protect, and lead your organization when the ground keeps shifting.

Secure your seat at the table before the room is full. https://payitforwardmastermind.com

03/08/2026

Thank you to Joe Crane for inviting me onto the Veteran On the Move podcast!

It was a privilege sitting down with Joe to share my journey.

We dived deep into what it really takes to shift from an operator mindset to a business owner and build systems that last.

If you’re looking to scale your portfolio or navigate a major career pivot, I hope you find this episode valuable.

Listen to our full conversation here:

In this episode of Veteran On the Move, host Joe Crane sits down with Jens Nielsen—a commercial real estate investor, operator, and business coach who transitioned from a 27-year IT and telecom career into building a portfolio of over 2,700 apartment units and 100,000+ square feet of industrial re...

27/07/2026

If you are posting more, working harder, and still wondering where your next customer will come from, it is time to shift your strategy.

Join us for the August Santa Fe Entrepreneurs Forum meetup, where we are diving into how AI is fundamentally changing the way customers discover businesses, compare options, and decide whom to trust. Instead of relying on random posts and hoping for the best, you will learn how to build a repeatable go-to-market system that seamlessly connects your messaging, content, follow-up, and referrals.

We are excited to welcome Bob Carlton as our featured speaker. Bob is the co-founder of Carlton Ventures and a speaker and trainer on AI and digital go-to-market strategy. With nearly three decades of experience helping businesses launch and scale, he helped introduce some of the first digital learning products and has led five companies through successful exits. Whether you are launching a startup, scaling an existing business, or trying to make your marketing produce real ROI, you will walk away with clear, actionable next steps.

We are meeting on August 4th at 6:00 PM at a brand-new spot: Keeping Together Brewery and Beverage Garden. Grab a drink, settle in, and get ready for a high-value conversation.

This event is open to entrepreneurs, small business owners, W-2 professionals, investors, and anyone actively building something in Santa Fe. Feel free to bring a friend or colleague, and we will see you there!

https://www.meetup.com/santa-fe-entrepreneurs-forum/events/315790901/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=share-btn_savedevents_share_modal&utm_source=link&utm_version=v2&member_id=480750237

21/07/2026

Registration is open for the Pay It Forward Private Mastermind (October 1-3, 2026) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In an era of rising economic and social uncertainty, the leaders who thrive are the ones who know how to protect what they’ve built and move forward with absolute clarity.

To foster genuine, deep collaboration, we are strictly limiting the number of seats. This is a true mastermind—an intimate room of high-level minds exchanging raw insights and actionable strategies.

The real takeaway? You won't just leave inspired; you’ll walk away with life-changing skills and frameworks that alter how you scale, protect, and lead your organization when the ground keeps shifting.

Super Early Bird pricing has ended, but you can still snag a fantastic deal.

Secure your seat at the table before the room is full. https://payitforwardmastermind.com

15/07/2026

I had a great conversation with Serena Holmes with the 'Inspired To Invest Podcast' to talk about mindset shifts and lessons learned along my real estate investing journey.

Catch the full interview here:

What happens when financial stability no longer feels like enough?...

03/07/2026

Building a business takes a village, but finding that village isn't always easy.
If you are navigating the highs and lows of starting, scaling, or managing a business in Santa Fe, you do not have to do it in isolation.

Join the Santa Fe Entrepreneurs Forum on Tuesday, July 7th at 6:00 PM for our next monthly meetup. This month, we are gathering at a brand-new location: Second Street Brewery (Rufina Taproom).

Our discussion will center on Navigating Santa Fe’s Small Business Resources, featuring Caroline Lee, Program Manager of the Santa Fe Small Business Navigator and Founder of Two Cranes Advisors.

Caroline will bring her extensive background—spanning an MIT degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences to high-level roles in finance and risk management—to help us understand the local funding programs, advisory services, and strategic resources available to local owners.

The goal of this meetup is simple: ensuring you leave with practical next steps and meaningful connections. Whether you are an established business owner, a solo entrepreneur, an investor, or a W-2 professional looking to connect with creators, you are welcome here.