Who is Jacob Pechenik? Zooey Deschanel praises ex-husband’s parenting

Zooey Deschanel reflected on her family dynamic while discussing how her fiancé Jonathan Scott and her ex-husband Jacob Pechenik remain connected through co-parenting. Deschanel shares daughter Elsie and son Charlie with Jacob Pechenik, following their marriage in 2015 and divorce in 2020.

"It’s awesome because my kids’ dad is a great dad," Zooey said during the Dec. 16 episode of Call Her Daddy.

"I always want to support him as a parent."

She shared that, the relationship between all three adults had grown strong enough to be able to share a group chat, a detail she described as essential to maintaining a supportive environment for their children.

"My kids thrive when they know that we all care for each other, we socialize and we’ve been on vacations together. We’ve been through a lot," she explained.

Deschanel also spoke about the principles that guided her co-parenting relationship with Jacob Pechenik in the years after their separation.

"You have to let go of any anger you would feel, I know that sounds difficult, but it’s actually pretty easy. The most important thing is that the kids are happy and that they’re thriving. I respect his opinions and his point of view being a parent, It’s not always the same as mine, but he respects mine," she shared.

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Jacob Pechenik on purpose, parenting, and building what matters most

Jacob Pechenik’s professional path reflected a willingness to move between industries, guided by curiosity and long-term impact. As reported by Forbes, he graduated from MIT with a BS in Chemical Engineering and went on to found TechTrader, one of the early web-based B2B supply chain platforms. In 2004, he expanded into financial technology with the launch of YellowJacket Software, a peer-to-peer derivatives trading platform serving sectors that ranged from agriculture to energy and weather.

In 2011, Jacob Pechenik entered the film world by founding Venture Forth, a company focused on financing and producing independent films with an emphasis on quality and impact. His focus shifted again in 2014 when he co-founded The Farm Project alongside Zooey Deschanel, with the goal of reconnecting people with food.

The initiative eventually led to the launch of the Lettuce Grow Farmstand in 2017, a hydroponic system designed to help people grow and harvest their own produce while reducing food waste. The pandemic later contributed to the Farmstand’s growth as interest in home cooking increased.

Speaking to Forbes, Jacob Pechenik said his children had reshaped how he viewed his work and its purpose.

“What I'm doing right now is the most impactful thing that I've ever done. It's where I feel purpose and mission and it makes me think about the future they’re going to inherit. Everything else I've done until now has been stepping stones to build my capabilities – and now I’m using them for the right cause,” shared Jacob.

Jacob Pechenik also addressed the mindset that allowed him to transition across fields.

"People will question you and they’re going to tell you things should be done a certain way and everyone else is going to tell you you’re crazy. But don’t be discouraged, it’s all nonsense. Anything can change, but you need the mindset. It’s why if you’re in an industry too long you can lack that. When I went into film I probably watched four movies a year. You need the self-confidence to be comfortable asking the right questions – but there’s upside not knowing too much," he shared.

"When my kids say they can’t do something, I tell them to focus on what they can do and eventually we’ll get to where they need to be,” Jacob Pechenik added.

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Zooey Deschanel reflects on cautious parenting choices after her divorce

During her Call Her Daddy interview, Zooey Deschanel reflected on the boundaries she set after her divorce, particularly when it came to introducing a new partner to her children. The actress said she had been mindful of that step when she began dating Jonathan Scott in 2019.

"That’s the one really big unknown when you get divorced, there’s a little bit of a boundary there. The kids, they get attached to whoever you’re with. If they’re meeting the kids and they’re around the kids, then they are going to get attached. You don’t want anyone to take that lightly," she said.

Zooey Deschanel noted that she wanted to ensure stability before allowing her children to form attachments.

"I wouldn’t want them to get attached to somebody unless I knew they were going to be in their lives, it kind of set up this protocol so that we took it seriously before we’d introduce a partner to the kids," she shared.

Although Deschanel and Scott became engaged more than two years ago, the couple had not moved quickly toward marriage. Scott explained their approach during a conversation with People.

“We've just been having so much fun traveling with the kids and filming this show and stuff, so no, we have not actually made any plans yet," he shared.

What are your views on coparenting? Sound off in the comments section below.