Guest Katelyn Kemp - President for the Women's Business Network Peterborough

Women Empowering Women in Business is a platform for women in business to connect and support each other. The Women's Business Network of Peterborough is hosting this podcast, and the first episode features an interview with the president, Kaitlyn Kemp. Kaitlyn discusses the theme of empowering women and defines it as encouraging and supporting one another. She talks about the benefits of being on the WBN board, learning from other members, and the challenges of balancing motherhood and leadership. Kaitlyn advises new mothers to be patient with themselves and to surround themselves with a supportive network. She finds inspiration from the empowering women she encounters and believes in learning from others and passing on that knowledge. The podcast hosts express their gratitude for Kaitlyn's leadership and vulnerability. Welcome to Women Empowering Women in Business. This is a platform where women in business can come together, support one another, innovate and collaborate. Join us as we delve into the wisdom and learning that local women in business have to offer. We are the Women's Business Network of Peterborough, empowering women in business. Welcome to the first episode of Women Empowering Women in Business. My name is Diane Wolf and I'm the past president of the Peterborough Women's Business Network. And I am her co-host, Rebecca O'Rourke, the social director. And today, Rebecca and I are honored to be speaking with our president for the 2023-2024 year, Kaitlyn Kemp. Rebecca, take it away. Kaitlyn, so great for you to join us. Thank you for being here today. Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself? Thank you so much for having me. So as mentioned, I am the president of the 23-24 season for the Women's Business Network of Peterborough. I was previously the membership director and transitioned my role into vice presidency last year. I work at Alternative Community Program Services as a director, and I am a new mom of an eight-month-old son. Wow. You are a busy lady. So Kaitlyn, tell us a little bit about, you've chosen the theme of empowering women for this year. How do you define empowering women? I would define it as encouraging one another and being supportive. It's creating a space where you're allowed to, quote, unquote, fail. During my work at Alternatives and through the WBN, I've had to learn so much. And I've always had the, I've always grown under the leadership of other empowered women where they allowed me to make my own decisions, knowing that sometimes it doesn't work out and that was okay. There was something to learn from that each time, whether it did work out or it didn't. So I believe that empowering others is letting them make their own choices and knowing that sometimes it doesn't always work out, but there's always something to learn from that. And I believe that every person can empower someone else. We all have something to give and to learn from others. Wow. Amazing. I love that, Kaitlyn. Thank you. So what would you say is the best part about being on the WBN board? The best part about being on the WBN board is being part of such a supportive group of knowledgeable women. We all have strengths and use that not only in our positions, but also as a collective. We support each other both personally and professionally. And even though it's a big working board, we get a lot accomplished each meeting and we make sure that we have fun while we do it. Well, we work with fun. That sounds amazing. So Kaitlyn, you mentioned a powerful and knowledgeable women in this group. Can you tell us about the best thing you've learned from another WBN member? For sure. Last year at our June social, it was my first time speaking in front of such a large group of women. So, of course, I was a little bit nervous when I went up, but as I was speaking and there was a little bit of feedback so I could hear myself talk, which, again, a little nerve wracking. Someone in the crowd yelled out, we're all friends here. And at that moment, I realized that I was in a room of friends and other supportive women. And it made me think about all the times leading up to even this moment or my September meeting that so many people have encouraged me along the way saying, oh, I heard you're the president for next year. That's so exciting. You're going to do such a great job. And knowing that I have that support makes something that can be so nerve wracking when you've never done it a little bit easier. So it's something that I'm definitely looking forward to. And knowing that going into the September meeting, it alleviates a little bit off your shoulders when you kind of go up and speak in front of a whole bunch of women. Yes. Yes. I just love the support and the vibrancy of all the women and how they come together and support each other and raise each other up. So I love the culture that we're part of here at the WBN. So can you tell us about a time when you experienced a challenge that turned into a success story and what did you learn from it? I think my biggest challenge in life is motherhood. And I'm still working on that, as well as taking on a role as a president of an organization while being a new mother. It's definitely humbled me being a mom. And I was always the person that was on the go, taking on everything. And now realizing, whoa, being a mom is more than a full time job, I can tell you that. So I think it's still a work in progress, and it is successful. I have a beautiful, healthy boy, and everything's going really great for this upcoming membership year. So I'm really excited about that. But it's definitely been a challenge for sure. But I think it's going to be really great, and I look forward to everything that it will bring in the future. You know, Caitlin, many of us in the organization are old enough that we've probably forgotten what it was like when we had new children. I know my kids are in their 30s and 40s. So can you tell us a little bit about what you've learned? Caitlin's just eight months old, you're brand new, fresh into this. What advice would you give to someone else who's going through those challenges of new motherhood and maybe having a business or an important position like you do? What would you give? What kind of tips would you give to someone who's facing what you're coming through right now? I think it's to be patient with yourself, and know that you are doing an amazing job. I think it's that reassurance that you will get from others, but also to give to yourself, knowing that nothing was what it was before. And that's okay. And you have a new perspective on life. And I think I'm very excited to get into adult conversations and to use my mind in a different way. I'm glad I'm part of the WBN because it's problem solving and strategizing in a different way than I do at home. But I think it's just be kind to yourself and know that you're still the person that you were before. It just looks a little different right now, and that you'll get back to that person and everything will kind of work its way through. You just need to have a little bit more gratitude for yourself and know that you're doing so much and that it will all work out. And there's so much support in the community and others and just creating that social network for yourself. And I think, again, being kind and being kind to others while they're going through that as well. And knowing that you have it in you to do whatever you want. And if you want to be the president of an organization with a 10-month-old, it's possible. It's challenging for sure. But it's something that is achievable. And with the supportive network that I have, I've been able to dedicate this time to do this. And I'm excited for it. I just love it. That's so beautiful. That's a wonderful reminder to all of us to be kind to ourselves. And it's hard for Type A overachievers. I know I'm one too, but it's a really good reminder that we need to just take a minute and just live in the moment and be kind to ourselves. Caitlin, I know that you taking on this role is very inspiring to a lot of people who are watching how you are successfully combining brand new motherhood with this role. But tell us a little bit about someone who inspires you. So I had some time to think about this. And I wouldn't say that one person in particular inspires me, but it's a culmination of everyone I encounter. So I'm constantly learning. And I feel that being around so many empowering women through work, through WDN, through family, that kind of thing, I'm constantly learning from them. So I kind of take tidbits of how they act, what they do. I'm constantly watching to learn, to say, oh, I never would have thought of doing that. Or oh, yeah, I could have said this. So I think it's just I'm inspired all the time by others and how they naturally react to situations or how they are. And I think I just I try to take little bits of that and then bring that into my own life and say, OK, you know, what would someone else do in this situation? And again, and taking my personality into account of that as well, knowing that I can't replicate someone. But I think it's just there's so many people around me all the time that I can learn from and and take little bits with me and then pass that on and maybe try and do that for someone else, too. So I think it's definitely a culmination of everyone I encounter. Well, I think that's a really great part of what we're doing here with this podcast is being able to take little bits of what we all do well and be able to share that, like you said, you know, where we all have challenges, we all have strengths, we all have weaknesses. And if we can come together and, you know, model from one another and support one another, I mean, I am so grateful to be part of this. And, you know, your energy and dedication to the WBN has certainly inspired many of our members and, you know, Diane and myself included, of course. So I thank you so much for being with us today and sharing your role and and being so vulnerable and real with us. And, you know, the challenges of being a businesswoman and an executive and a mom and all the different hats that we take on and put off every day. And so you are a really good leader for us. And I'm grateful. And thank you again for being with us today, Kaitlin. Thank you so much for having me. Thank you.