Building the Next Generation: Leadership, Connection & Impact with Melissa Ramirez

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Hello,

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welcome back to Conversations with Karen

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and Kat,

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the podcast where we connect with powerful

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changemakers, visionaries,

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and everyday heroes who are shaping

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culture and community.

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Today,

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we're excited to welcome a dynamic leader

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who is shaping the future of professional

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growth right here in Metro Atlanta.

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Melissa Ramirez is the director of the

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Gwinnett Young Professional at the

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Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce,

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where she leads initiatives that connect,

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empower,

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and elevate emerging leaders across the

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region.

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With a passion for building authentic

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relationships and creating meaningful

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opportunities,

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Melissa is dedicated to helping the next

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generation not just succeed,

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but lead with purpose and impact.

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Welcome, Melissa,

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to Conversations with Karen and Kat.

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Thank you, Karen.

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Thank you, Kat.

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Thank you for having me.

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Yes, like this is exciting.

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So take us to the beginning.

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What inspired your passion for community

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building and leadership development?

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Absolutely.

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So I was born in New York and

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I left New York when I was three,

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moved to Columbia, South America.

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So I had my foundational years there and

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then I grew up in Georgia.

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So I've said, y'all,

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as long as I can remember,

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since I learned English again.

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But I only had my mom here as

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family.

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So growing up, you know,

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community was also just something really

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important to me all throughout my life.

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And when I went to Georgia State,

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I know I have a fellow Panther here.

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I was very involved with the Goizuara

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scholarship cohort.

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There was so much to stay connected and

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find that sense of community.

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But I've, along the journey,

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I met so many other young professionals

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and we were like, man,

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it's hard to make friends as an adult.

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What happens?

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And it's like early twenties, right?

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Like when you're just out of undergrad,

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school creates a platform of connectivity

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that once you enter the real world,

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it can be really isolating.

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And so I just always found that to

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be something that drove me,

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but I didn't know how that translated into

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adulthood.

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Um,

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I've lived several lives in terms of

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career.

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Um, I was a paralegal.

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I was in accounting for a while,

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but then in nonprofit spaces and through

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that journey of my professional

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background,

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I got involved in a young professionals

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program through the Hispanic chamber.

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So this is a shameless plug,

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but there's hype.

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We love them still.

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They just celebrated their tenth

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anniversary.

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And I volunteer.

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Explain what that acronym is.

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Yeah,

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we got to explain acronyms on this show,

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girl.

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I appreciate that.

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Thank you for reminding me.

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It's Hispanic Young Professionals and

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Entrepreneurs.

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So I volunteered there.

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A friend of mine was just like, hey,

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come to this really cool networking event

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with me.

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You'll meet other people and it'll be fun.

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And during the pandemic,

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I decided to jump in and serve in

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a leadership position.

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But this was all volunteer work.

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And fast forward through that volunteer

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role,

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not only did I make a lot of

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great friends and amazing connections and

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people working in these phenomenal

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companies,

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like these big corporate headquarters,

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like Fortune five hundred companies in

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Atlanta.

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But I found that Hispanic community, too.

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So I was like, OK, this is great.

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Love to see people who look like me

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thriving.

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But that volunteer role was was heavy.

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And I was like, wow,

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we have so much to do.

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It could be really a job.

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And then they invited there was this event

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that came up.

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And they said, hey,

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we need somebody to represent hype at this

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Gwinnett Young Professionals event.

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And I said, hold up,

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because I've always lived in Gwinnett.

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I get to do something that I love

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and I don't have to go into the

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perimeter.

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That's amazing.

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Like don't make me go into that traffic

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again, please.

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We got to pay the part.

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Yeah.

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So as a volunteer representing hype,

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I went into, um,

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the Gwinnett Young Professionals,

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Metro Atlanta, YP Mixer,

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which I'll talk about that in a few

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minutes.

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Um,

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and then a year later they had a

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job opening and I said,

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there's no way that there is an

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organization that would pay somebody

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to lead these efforts where people can

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connect and find a place of belonging.

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But lo and behold,

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the Wynette Chamber is really one of a

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kind.

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We're the only chamber that we know of

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so far that has not only one,

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but two full-time staff members dedicated

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solely to young professionals.

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But throughout my journey,

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it really has just been the community

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that's been around me and where I found

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a sense of belonging that translated into

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a passion.

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And now I get to create these spaces

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for young professionals,

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whether they're just out of college or

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just entering the workforce or already

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have established families,

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have their masters or are up and up

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in their careers.

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But they find a place where they can

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meet somebody who they can relate to,

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give a hand up to as somebody else

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is giving them a hand up.

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But it's been a pretty organic journey.

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And I'm just so thankful that I get

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to do this for a living and really

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work through what I'm passionate about.

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So I won't answer,

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but I hope that answers the question.

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What are young professionals getting right

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today that older generations may have

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underestimated?

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I think one of the things I love

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to see is

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I could be so wrong,

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but just what I've witnessed is feelings

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and authenticity are celebrated across

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generations,

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but even more so these younger

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generations,

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like how you feel when you are outspoken

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about not just the metrics,

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but what you're helping people feel

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throughout what you're producing is really

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important,

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especially in the community building

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space.

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And I think young professionals are really

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in tune with how they feel and how

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that translates to how they show up to

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work.

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So I think paying attention to those

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softer skills and things that maybe we

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were told in the past,

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like it's not about how you feel,

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it's the metrics,

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like you got to show up and like

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fake it till you make it.

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I think I'm witnessing through the work

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that we do that fake it till you

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make it will only get you so far.

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But authenticity is really key to thriving

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in whatever industry you're in.

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So how do you balance ambition with

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authenticity?

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That's such a good question because no

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matter what program you are in,

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whether it's nonprofit,

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whether it's for profit,

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you have to hit some marks.

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There's revenue that needs to be made to

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continue programs in our case, right?

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And I've never been a very money-driven

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person, but...

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I don't do a lot of the things

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that I do because of the money that

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it translates into or the revenue that it

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translates into because I get to leave so

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organically and authentically about I want

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to help somebody find a friend.

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I really want to help somebody become the

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best leader they can be through our

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workshops.

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I really want to help these nonprofits get

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volunteers through our program.

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All of that leads to the revenue goals

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that we need to meet,

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the impact that we need to meet.

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And it happens really organically.

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And yes,

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there are times that you have to stay

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focused and there are times that you have

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to book your time and do not disturb

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because I have to make the budget or

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I have to find sponsors.

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But because of the authenticity that we

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drive with, because I'm not a solo team,

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I have another teammate and a board.

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All of us are really passionate about this

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kind of work and it translates into the

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work that we do that the results speak

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for themselves.

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Can you tell us some of the initiatives

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that your organization puts forward to

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attract young professionals?

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And then secondly,

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how do you make it affordable?

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Because the chamber is not cheap.

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And so someone early in their career...

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you know,

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that the costs may be prohibitive for

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joining a large chamber like Gwinnett

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Chamber of Commerce?

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That is such a good question.

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Yes.

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So I'll break it down into into two

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sections.

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But GYP or Gwinnett Young Professionals is

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broken down into five key pillars.

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Connect, grow, impact,

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journey and thirty five under thirty five.

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Connect is networking events.

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Those happen on a monthly and a quarterly

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basis every month, once a month.

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We are in different places in Gwinnett

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where you can just have open networking

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sessions for twenty one to thirty five

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year olds.

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We typically go to different businesses or

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different nonprofits or spaces that want

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to host us.

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And to your point on affordability,

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tickets start at ten dollars and you get

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breakfast, coffee and networking.

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So that's how we make it accessible.

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You don't even have to be a chamber

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member to attend these events.

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Um, it is,

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our goal is to be a bridge into

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the chamber because when I was younger,

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I was like, I didn't study business.

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I studied political science.

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What did I have to do at a

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chamber?

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I didn't know it was just a fancy

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job in Columbia.

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You said you work at a chamber of

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commerce.

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It's like, wow.

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Um,

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but as I've obviously seen it is for

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everybody.

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So our goal is if your organization isn't

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a chamber member,

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this is a great way for you to

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see what a chamber does and find that

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sense of community and like, hey,

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we belong here and our voice matters here

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because we're not just tomorrow's leaders.

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Some of our people are leading now.

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So back to answering the how we're broken

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down.

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So Connect is networking events that range

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anywhere between ten to twenty or thirty

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dollars.

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In the evenings,

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we meet quarterly also in different spaces

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in Gwinnett.

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We provide food and networking,

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so almost like a happy hour style.

00:09:39.455 --> 00:09:42.019
And that's usually our most recurring

00:09:42.081 --> 00:09:42.240
event.

00:09:42.782 --> 00:09:44.081
Then we have our grow pillar,

00:09:44.101 --> 00:09:45.883
which are personal and professional

00:09:45.903 --> 00:09:47.043
development workshops.

00:09:47.222 --> 00:09:48.144
And those are one offs.

00:09:48.764 --> 00:09:50.163
Those can range anywhere like fifteen

00:09:50.203 --> 00:09:50.684
dollars.

00:09:50.965 --> 00:09:52.764
We always provide food and we bring in

00:09:52.825 --> 00:09:54.706
great speakers across different kinds of

00:09:54.885 --> 00:09:57.167
topics that are key to being an adult.

00:09:57.726 --> 00:09:59.187
We've had topics like how do you turn

00:09:59.206 --> 00:10:00.988
your side hustle into your main source of

00:10:01.107 --> 00:10:01.628
income?

00:10:01.687 --> 00:10:03.989
How do you buy your first home to

00:10:04.369 --> 00:10:06.289
channeling your personal brand and public

00:10:06.330 --> 00:10:07.769
speaking and things that you can either

00:10:07.950 --> 00:10:10.591
use at work or in your personal life?

00:10:10.904 --> 00:10:12.926
And I jokingly call it adulting one-on-one

00:10:13.765 --> 00:10:15.687
because really it's kind of like a grab

00:10:15.706 --> 00:10:16.248
bag of like,

00:10:16.327 --> 00:10:18.129
this is off the clock on your own

00:10:18.168 --> 00:10:18.448
time.

00:10:18.808 --> 00:10:20.070
You want to come and learn something.

00:10:20.090 --> 00:10:21.490
So let's give you something valuable.

00:10:21.590 --> 00:10:23.750
Our most recent one was a health and

00:10:23.811 --> 00:10:25.532
wellness fair where we talked about

00:10:25.591 --> 00:10:28.293
balancing our mental and physical

00:10:28.333 --> 00:10:30.995
wellbeing while also climbing that career

00:10:31.034 --> 00:10:31.335
ladder,

00:10:31.375 --> 00:10:33.096
whether it's corporate entrepreneurial,

00:10:33.375 --> 00:10:34.876
how do we take care of ourselves?

00:10:35.636 --> 00:10:37.339
And what resources are in our community,

00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:37.658
right?

00:10:37.719 --> 00:10:39.259
It was whether are you getting a B-to-O

00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:39.519
shot?

00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:40.941
Are you getting natural products?

00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:42.261
Is there a gym you can join?

00:10:43.062 --> 00:10:45.004
But also finding that community of

00:10:45.423 --> 00:10:46.565
like-minded individuals.

00:10:46.965 --> 00:10:49.126
So grow is like adulting one-on-one.

00:10:49.626 --> 00:10:52.328
Impact is our community service pillar.

00:10:52.749 --> 00:10:53.048
Those,

00:10:53.249 --> 00:10:55.230
we never charge anything and we make those

00:10:55.350 --> 00:10:57.371
usually at least one is on a Saturday

00:10:57.772 --> 00:10:59.212
so that if you can't come because of

00:10:59.274 --> 00:11:00.134
work or any,

00:11:00.274 --> 00:11:02.436
or because of like budget reasons,

00:11:02.755 --> 00:11:04.336
that is free and you pay it forward.

00:11:04.696 --> 00:11:08.136
So we focus on hyperlocal nonprofits here

00:11:08.197 --> 00:11:09.057
in Gwinnett County,

00:11:09.136 --> 00:11:10.957
and we usually send a group of fifteen

00:11:11.018 --> 00:11:13.177
or more volunteers to serve in a local

00:11:13.217 --> 00:11:13.538
cause.

00:11:14.078 --> 00:11:15.558
So what are some of the local causes?

00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:17.038
I'm sorry, Kat,

00:11:17.058 --> 00:11:18.559
I wanted to why she was mentioning the

00:11:18.580 --> 00:11:19.179
local causes.

00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.159
What are some of the local causes that

00:11:22.181 --> 00:11:22.801
you support?

00:11:23.160 --> 00:11:23.421
Yeah,

00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:26.101
we we're open to like anyone in Gwinnett.

00:11:26.142 --> 00:11:28.302
But in the past and recently we've done

00:11:28.422 --> 00:11:29.163
Streetwise,

00:11:29.222 --> 00:11:29.763
we've done

00:11:31.095 --> 00:11:32.796
Project Kids Eat in the summer where we

00:11:32.836 --> 00:11:34.897
were creating meal packages for kids who

00:11:34.917 --> 00:11:36.638
were living in extended stays or were

00:11:36.677 --> 00:11:38.259
facing experiencing homelessness or

00:11:38.278 --> 00:11:38.940
houselessness.

00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:40.120
You know,

00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:41.801
food insecurity is really prevalent,

00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:43.481
unfortunately, in the summertime.

00:11:43.601 --> 00:11:45.624
So making sure that the kids who aren't

00:11:45.644 --> 00:11:47.504
in school at that season are getting

00:11:47.544 --> 00:11:49.265
something to eat and partnering with

00:11:49.306 --> 00:11:50.125
Project Kids Eat.

00:11:50.886 --> 00:11:52.368
Rainbow Village is another one.

00:11:52.508 --> 00:11:54.208
Special Needs School of Wynette.

00:11:54.548 --> 00:11:56.370
We've done a lot of those really focused

00:11:56.409 --> 00:11:58.150
places that are doing great work.

00:11:58.812 --> 00:12:00.793
And we've also done something like Relay

00:12:00.813 --> 00:12:02.054
for Life when it's in Gwinnett.

00:12:02.755 --> 00:12:05.037
So we have a great team of board

00:12:05.076 --> 00:12:06.979
members who help us see what is out

00:12:06.999 --> 00:12:07.198
there,

00:12:07.239 --> 00:12:08.801
who has a need and where we can

00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:09.981
take our group to.

00:12:10.322 --> 00:12:12.443
Because what matters has had a five K

00:12:12.484 --> 00:12:13.804
and we took a group out there.

00:12:14.725 --> 00:12:16.547
So it's a little bit of everything.

00:12:17.087 --> 00:12:17.888
And when there is a need,

00:12:17.908 --> 00:12:18.688
we try to find a way.

00:12:19.174 --> 00:12:21.317
Do you guys do anything in January for

00:12:21.356 --> 00:12:24.979
like a Catherine Hardrick MLK Day of

00:12:25.158 --> 00:12:25.960
Service?

00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:28.000
We have to talk.

00:12:28.240 --> 00:12:28.662
We should.

00:12:28.701 --> 00:12:29.001
We should.

00:12:29.042 --> 00:12:29.822
Let's talk about it.

00:12:29.863 --> 00:12:30.743
If it's in January,

00:12:30.763 --> 00:12:32.264
then we'll put that in the calendar for

00:12:32.283 --> 00:12:33.825
next year, but we would love to.

00:12:34.326 --> 00:12:36.086
It is, and it's always in the calendar.

00:12:36.106 --> 00:12:37.427
Shameless plug.

00:12:37.467 --> 00:12:40.889
We gonna get it in.

00:12:40.909 --> 00:12:41.431
I know that's right.

00:12:41.451 --> 00:12:41.910
I love that.

00:12:41.931 --> 00:12:43.692
Right here.

00:12:43.792 --> 00:12:46.914
Yeah, you know, full transparency,

00:12:48.250 --> 00:12:50.852
Yes, we do a lot in the community,

00:12:51.013 --> 00:12:52.254
Karen and myself.

00:12:52.974 --> 00:12:56.836
And I am the director of membership with

00:12:56.856 --> 00:12:58.437
Greater East Side Chamber of Commerce.

00:12:59.077 --> 00:13:01.620
And I am launching something really

00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.860
special later this year.

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.403
But we do host an annual MLK food

00:13:06.423 --> 00:13:09.044
drive that I work with local partners

00:13:09.125 --> 00:13:12.886
throughout the metropolitan area for what,

00:13:13.067 --> 00:13:16.369
five, over five years,

00:13:16.389 --> 00:13:16.769
something like that.

00:13:17.921 --> 00:13:18.741
Yeah, twenty one.

00:13:18.942 --> 00:13:19.422
Yeah.

00:13:19.461 --> 00:13:20.403
So maybe twenty two.

00:13:20.442 --> 00:13:22.624
So more than a year.

00:13:23.124 --> 00:13:23.604
Yeah.

00:13:24.845 --> 00:13:26.905
And when you said about the service,

00:13:26.926 --> 00:13:28.386
this is something that's near and dear to

00:13:28.427 --> 00:13:28.527
me.

00:13:28.547 --> 00:13:30.207
And you may or may not know this,

00:13:30.749 --> 00:13:31.688
but you mentioned some of the

00:13:31.749 --> 00:13:33.169
organizations that you work with,

00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:35.731
you know, Streetwise, rest in peace,

00:13:35.812 --> 00:13:39.573
the owner and founder of Streetwise.

00:13:40.173 --> 00:13:42.875
And he's amazing human being.

00:13:43.797 --> 00:13:45.937
Now, how does

00:13:46.663 --> 00:13:48.466
the young professionals,

00:13:49.166 --> 00:13:52.328
how do you have those tough conversations

00:13:52.649 --> 00:13:55.030
about equity and advancement?

00:13:55.792 --> 00:13:58.274
I know you're under Gwinnett Chamber,

00:13:58.653 --> 00:14:00.596
which is probably as long,

00:14:00.775 --> 00:14:02.957
as old as this county itself,

00:14:03.018 --> 00:14:04.458
maybe two hundred years or less.

00:14:04.938 --> 00:14:08.601
And they've acquired a space where they

00:14:08.663 --> 00:14:10.604
have that reach and that support.

00:14:11.144 --> 00:14:11.804
What do you do?

00:14:11.865 --> 00:14:14.027
What are the conversations to make sure

00:14:14.527 --> 00:14:14.847
that

00:14:15.524 --> 00:14:16.203
equity in it,

00:14:16.403 --> 00:14:18.885
that there is equity in advancement.

00:14:19.245 --> 00:14:21.726
Because some of the cats that you've named

00:14:21.767 --> 00:14:22.967
and those are great relationships,

00:14:22.988 --> 00:14:25.208
but we have a lot of folks in

00:14:25.249 --> 00:14:28.529
Gwinnett and beyond that are African

00:14:28.549 --> 00:14:31.051
American, veteran owned, women,

00:14:31.091 --> 00:14:33.493
people with disabilities of all ages.

00:14:33.893 --> 00:14:35.594
What are we doing to make sure that

00:14:35.754 --> 00:14:38.495
those opportunities are captured

00:14:40.897 --> 00:14:42.037
Yeah, that's an amazing question.

00:14:42.116 --> 00:14:43.437
And it's not just through GYP.

00:14:43.476 --> 00:14:45.557
The chamber is amazing at that.

00:14:46.498 --> 00:14:47.918
I'm very thankful for the leadership that

00:14:47.958 --> 00:14:48.399
we have.

00:14:49.499 --> 00:14:51.240
And obviously there's a there is a key

00:14:51.259 --> 00:14:53.039
demographic that has been more prevalent

00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:55.961
in historical chamber spaces.

00:14:56.020 --> 00:14:57.861
But I'm very proud of the chamber we

00:14:57.902 --> 00:14:59.922
work in because we reflect the community

00:14:59.961 --> 00:15:00.701
that we serve.

00:15:01.363 --> 00:15:02.682
Not only do we have a diverse team

00:15:02.763 --> 00:15:03.342
internally,

00:15:03.363 --> 00:15:05.063
but through the programing and GYP

00:15:05.104 --> 00:15:05.864
specifically,

00:15:06.888 --> 00:15:09.048
Our Journey Leadership Institute is one of

00:15:09.068 --> 00:15:10.669
those pillars I was mentioning earlier.

00:15:11.250 --> 00:15:13.650
And that is a highly competitive,

00:15:13.750 --> 00:15:15.691
selected group of young professionals.

00:15:15.910 --> 00:15:17.091
We cap it at fifty.

00:15:17.572 --> 00:15:19.653
And it's a leadership training course that

00:15:19.793 --> 00:15:21.432
one of the key topics that we cover

00:15:21.493 --> 00:15:22.813
in there is the ENI.

00:15:23.234 --> 00:15:24.494
And even when the topic and the

00:15:24.533 --> 00:15:26.495
conversations were getting hard during

00:15:26.514 --> 00:15:27.955
like last year and other seasons,

00:15:28.395 --> 00:15:30.255
we still reached out to key leaders and

00:15:30.296 --> 00:15:30.696
said, hey,

00:15:30.755 --> 00:15:32.456
you've done at the ENI workshop for us

00:15:32.496 --> 00:15:32.836
before.

00:15:32.876 --> 00:15:34.418
Can you keep that coming this year?

00:15:35.818 --> 00:15:38.220
So we have instructors and leaders who

00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.919
pour into the young professionals and we

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.701
purposefully seek out the diverse group of

00:15:42.780 --> 00:15:45.881
leaders because Gwinnett is diverse and

00:15:46.142 --> 00:15:48.602
making sure that it reflects across

00:15:48.702 --> 00:15:50.283
everything that we do is critical.

00:15:50.623 --> 00:15:52.283
We also do our thirty five under thirty

00:15:52.303 --> 00:15:53.104
five awards.

00:15:53.663 --> 00:15:55.764
And if you look at pictures of our

00:15:55.804 --> 00:15:56.125
events,

00:15:56.145 --> 00:15:58.466
you'll notice that our events reflect

00:15:58.706 --> 00:15:59.607
Gwinnett County.

00:15:59.628 --> 00:16:02.308
Gwinnett Young Professionals events are an

00:16:02.369 --> 00:16:05.171
amazing array of backgrounds in industry

00:16:05.211 --> 00:16:07.692
and education and heritage and ethnicity.

00:16:08.153 --> 00:16:09.352
And that's what Gwinnett is.

00:16:09.854 --> 00:16:11.735
And so we look for ways to empower

00:16:11.774 --> 00:16:13.316
these young professionals to stay

00:16:13.336 --> 00:16:14.996
connected at the chamber because they're

00:16:15.037 --> 00:16:16.037
the decision makers.

00:16:16.136 --> 00:16:18.298
And as we all get older and more

00:16:18.339 --> 00:16:18.899
advanced,

00:16:19.378 --> 00:16:21.119
we are the next ones to take into,

00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:22.659
to take seats at boards,

00:16:22.940 --> 00:16:24.620
the chamber board, especially,

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:27.162
but in other boards and nonprofits and

00:16:27.261 --> 00:16:28.501
organizations locally.

00:16:29.663 --> 00:16:32.283
Our advisory board has a great diversity

00:16:32.323 --> 00:16:34.164
set of again, industries, backgrounds,

00:16:34.205 --> 00:16:35.245
et cetera.

00:16:35.426 --> 00:16:38.167
And these are people who find GYP's board

00:16:38.187 --> 00:16:39.528
to be a safe launch pad.

00:16:39.888 --> 00:16:41.668
And then that brings the confidence to

00:16:41.749 --> 00:16:43.690
step into other boards and bring their

00:16:43.730 --> 00:16:44.409
perspective.

00:16:44.750 --> 00:16:45.910
So I think through our board,

00:16:46.110 --> 00:16:47.490
through the training that we do in our

00:16:47.530 --> 00:16:48.532
leadership Institute,

00:16:48.813 --> 00:16:50.394
through the people we celebrate in our

00:16:50.434 --> 00:16:51.836
gala, and honestly,

00:16:51.855 --> 00:16:54.177
the invitation that we make to everybody

00:16:54.317 --> 00:16:55.057
all around,

00:16:56.058 --> 00:16:57.119
I think that is a key way to

00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.181
keep that inclusivity at the top of mind.

00:17:01.481 --> 00:17:03.123
And sometimes we go beyond just like,

00:17:03.163 --> 00:17:03.524
okay, well,

00:17:03.583 --> 00:17:04.923
it's Black History Month or Hispanic

00:17:04.943 --> 00:17:05.424
Heritage Month,

00:17:05.444 --> 00:17:06.865
so we have to do a Hispanic event,

00:17:06.905 --> 00:17:08.426
a Black event.

00:17:08.747 --> 00:17:09.547
It's more like,

00:17:09.928 --> 00:17:12.148
how do we integrate all of the celebration

00:17:12.169 --> 00:17:13.710
throughout the year and throughout the

00:17:13.730 --> 00:17:14.931
calendar and programming?

00:17:15.441 --> 00:17:17.721
Right, but human experience and not limit,

00:17:17.741 --> 00:17:18.642
for me,

00:17:19.382 --> 00:17:20.962
it's a human experience that we all

00:17:20.982 --> 00:17:21.782
contribute to,

00:17:22.242 --> 00:17:26.365
not just identifying person's culture.

00:17:26.424 --> 00:17:27.005
However,

00:17:27.065 --> 00:17:28.965
you want to enrich and uplift and make

00:17:28.986 --> 00:17:31.366
sure we shine on all the things that

00:17:31.386 --> 00:17:32.846
make us wonderful and beautiful.

00:17:32.906 --> 00:17:36.067
So yeah.

00:17:36.087 --> 00:17:36.647
Go ahead, Karen.

00:17:36.688 --> 00:17:38.128
I'll let you ask something else because I

00:17:38.189 --> 00:17:39.269
don't want to stay on that.

00:17:39.328 --> 00:17:41.329
Because I'm all about diversity, equity,

00:17:41.549 --> 00:17:42.309
and Karen is too.

00:17:45.702 --> 00:17:47.364
i see when i go to the chamber

00:17:47.384 --> 00:17:49.445
dinner and this is not you this is

00:17:49.486 --> 00:17:54.609
young dims i mean young uh leaders yeah

00:17:54.630 --> 00:17:58.173
the awards don't reflect the community the

00:17:58.212 --> 00:18:01.455
resistance of the awards and i don't know

00:18:01.476 --> 00:18:02.777
did you go to the last chamber dinner

00:18:02.797 --> 00:18:06.019
all right it's in karen or me no

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:08.342
you oh yeah yeah we work it we

00:18:08.362 --> 00:18:10.383
work it yeah yeah yeah yeah so i

00:18:10.462 --> 00:18:12.325
only saw one african-american receiver a

00:18:12.464 --> 00:18:12.565
thing

00:18:13.923 --> 00:18:15.005
But that's the chamber.

00:18:15.325 --> 00:18:21.709
But I would like to see more diversity

00:18:22.210 --> 00:18:28.733
in funding partnerships that individuals

00:18:28.773 --> 00:18:33.396
can elevate their business,

00:18:33.738 --> 00:18:35.117
be acknowledged for the work that they're

00:18:35.159 --> 00:18:35.679
doing.

00:18:37.082 --> 00:18:39.083
that is equal to all the other folks

00:18:39.403 --> 00:18:41.184
that's what i'm speaking about when i come

00:18:41.204 --> 00:18:43.165
to you know it's great to have mixers

00:18:43.205 --> 00:18:44.426
and i you're right when you look at

00:18:44.446 --> 00:18:46.548
the photos which i went jumped on your

00:18:46.587 --> 00:18:48.930
website you see there's like a rainbow of

00:18:48.950 --> 00:18:51.612
folks but when it comes down to material

00:18:52.372 --> 00:18:53.732
like things that are really going to

00:18:53.813 --> 00:18:56.335
impact these communities we we we have to

00:18:56.375 --> 00:18:57.635
hold people accountable make sure that

00:18:57.655 --> 00:19:00.738
they they making that stuff happen yeah

00:19:00.758 --> 00:19:04.660
help make that happen to piggyback on cats

00:19:05.280 --> 00:19:06.721
um comment

00:19:07.688 --> 00:19:12.689
What initiatives come through the Gwinnett

00:19:12.749 --> 00:19:17.369
young professionals that directly impact

00:19:19.109 --> 00:19:21.730
young businesses, young business owners,

00:19:22.230 --> 00:19:24.230
either supporting their business,

00:19:25.172 --> 00:19:26.271
getting business,

00:19:28.892 --> 00:19:31.073
supporting them in their, you know,

00:19:31.133 --> 00:19:32.012
in their endeavors?

00:19:32.489 --> 00:19:33.670
Yeah, that's a great question.

00:19:33.769 --> 00:19:36.613
So we typically have an open invitation.

00:19:36.653 --> 00:19:37.874
Whoever wants to, for example,

00:19:37.933 --> 00:19:39.476
host our mixers,

00:19:39.915 --> 00:19:41.037
that's an open invitation.

00:19:41.096 --> 00:19:43.038
We don't seek people out who say, like,

00:19:43.159 --> 00:19:44.200
I want to go to your business.

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:46.602
Do you want us to bring you fifty

00:19:46.662 --> 00:19:47.702
or more young professionals?

00:19:47.782 --> 00:19:48.124
Great.

00:19:48.344 --> 00:19:49.325
And we have a board of young

00:19:49.365 --> 00:19:51.146
professionals, some who are entrepreneurs,

00:19:51.406 --> 00:19:52.508
that we give them the lead.

00:19:52.951 --> 00:19:55.375
So our board, who is like pretty diverse,

00:19:55.474 --> 00:19:57.698
we ask them to be our eyes,

00:19:57.858 --> 00:20:00.903
our ears and our key ideators to say,

00:20:01.103 --> 00:20:02.104
this is what we're about.

00:20:02.625 --> 00:20:03.586
Where do we need to go?

00:20:03.987 --> 00:20:05.368
Where do we need to bring this group

00:20:05.409 --> 00:20:07.351
to or whose businesses do we need to

00:20:07.391 --> 00:20:07.751
support?

00:20:08.711 --> 00:20:10.573
Some of our board members are the leaders

00:20:10.613 --> 00:20:12.614
and the facilitators who are now

00:20:12.713 --> 00:20:15.114
empowering this next generation of young

00:20:15.134 --> 00:20:15.714
professionals.

00:20:15.775 --> 00:20:17.714
So we support them by inviting,

00:20:17.775 --> 00:20:20.895
they're usually like our first group of

00:20:20.955 --> 00:20:22.936
people who we ask to speak,

00:20:23.376 --> 00:20:24.738
who we ask to host,

00:20:25.038 --> 00:20:28.259
who we ask to be the idea leader

00:20:28.719 --> 00:20:29.278
pretty much.

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.480
And again,

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:32.640
knowing that as we're climbing into the

00:20:32.681 --> 00:20:34.040
chamber leadership space,

00:20:34.471 --> 00:20:36.834
GYP gives them a platform to then build

00:20:36.855 --> 00:20:38.436
that confidence and step into the

00:20:38.477 --> 00:20:40.740
networking spaces of the chamber side,

00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.882
not just GYP,

00:20:42.923 --> 00:20:44.325
and then be those leaders there.

00:20:45.046 --> 00:20:46.208
And I will say a lot of our

00:20:46.288 --> 00:20:49.011
other awards do continue to reflect that,

00:20:49.031 --> 00:20:49.712
like Moxie.

00:20:50.105 --> 00:20:51.267
specifically for women.

00:20:51.307 --> 00:20:53.248
And I love Moxie Awards because it

00:20:53.307 --> 00:20:53.768
reflects,

00:20:53.949 --> 00:20:55.950
they have different categories of awards

00:20:55.970 --> 00:20:56.769
that they can win.

00:20:57.490 --> 00:20:58.852
And it's all celebrating women,

00:20:58.991 --> 00:21:00.472
but it just goes to show how many

00:21:00.512 --> 00:21:02.513
incredible women leaders we have in

00:21:02.554 --> 00:21:03.815
Gwinnett doing great work.

00:21:04.214 --> 00:21:05.455
And I think with everything,

00:21:05.496 --> 00:21:08.057
changes are going to take their time,

00:21:08.097 --> 00:21:10.078
but they're well intended and well on

00:21:10.118 --> 00:21:10.699
their way.

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:12.461
And I think Kat, to your point,

00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.342
there is absolutely always room for

00:21:14.914 --> 00:21:16.496
for more diversity in some of these

00:21:16.536 --> 00:21:16.955
places.

00:21:17.016 --> 00:21:19.477
But I believe at least with GYP,

00:21:19.537 --> 00:21:21.719
we're well on our way because now it's

00:21:21.818 --> 00:21:22.159
so,

00:21:22.538 --> 00:21:23.960
it is a rainbow in so much that

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:26.820
we do that there's just no way that

00:21:26.881 --> 00:21:28.321
won't reflect moving forward.

00:21:28.602 --> 00:21:30.522
In our awards and our recipients,

00:21:30.803 --> 00:21:31.804
that's the key.

00:21:32.423 --> 00:21:34.224
That's one of the things that I notice

00:21:34.265 --> 00:21:36.006
the most when I'm giving out these awards

00:21:36.066 --> 00:21:37.426
is like asking and making sure I'm

00:21:37.446 --> 00:21:39.228
pronouncing everyone's names correctly,

00:21:39.327 --> 00:21:40.808
celebrating them because they're doing

00:21:40.848 --> 00:21:42.609
great work in the nonprofit space or in

00:21:42.630 --> 00:21:43.450
volunteer space.

00:21:43.891 --> 00:21:46.392
And it just reflects so many of us

00:21:46.412 --> 00:21:48.231
who come from different places and grew up

00:21:48.291 --> 00:21:48.531
here.

00:21:48.833 --> 00:21:50.232
So I'm very excited for what that would

00:21:50.252 --> 00:21:52.213
translate to once all of us step into

00:21:52.273 --> 00:21:53.753
chamber leadership as well,

00:21:54.134 --> 00:21:55.855
and not just the safety of a young

00:21:55.894 --> 00:21:56.954
professionals program.

00:21:57.154 --> 00:21:58.895
We want to build them up here so

00:21:58.915 --> 00:22:01.256
that they step confidently into chamber

00:22:01.355 --> 00:22:03.537
events once they can afford the ticket,

00:22:03.916 --> 00:22:05.417
once they have the tables from their

00:22:05.458 --> 00:22:07.238
organization and they stand up for

00:22:07.258 --> 00:22:08.118
themselves and say,

00:22:08.598 --> 00:22:09.459
I need to be in that room.

00:22:10.212 --> 00:22:11.073
I love that.

00:22:11.093 --> 00:22:14.114
I really appreciate having someone that is

00:22:14.233 --> 00:22:17.114
aware that those conversations need to

00:22:17.173 --> 00:22:19.434
happen and those conversations need to

00:22:19.474 --> 00:22:21.694
materialize into,

00:22:21.714 --> 00:22:24.394
I don't want to say contracts,

00:22:24.954 --> 00:22:31.116
but into tangible things that are going to

00:22:31.176 --> 00:22:32.817
help my business.

00:22:32.916 --> 00:22:36.596
And I'm sorry to cut off here,

00:22:36.616 --> 00:22:38.738
but have y'all engaged with the Gwinnett

00:22:38.758 --> 00:22:39.738
Chamber Foundation yet?

00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:42.521
With that chamber foundation.

00:22:42.561 --> 00:22:44.262
Let's talk about that.

00:22:44.383 --> 00:22:45.584
Oh, and about the Moxie,

00:22:45.624 --> 00:22:48.125
the applications are open now, right?

00:22:48.224 --> 00:22:48.644
Yes.

00:22:48.724 --> 00:22:49.266
Yes.

00:22:50.385 --> 00:22:53.268
So celebrate your women peers and we want

00:22:53.288 --> 00:22:55.028
to see their names and also they can

00:22:55.068 --> 00:22:55.849
apply themselves.

00:22:55.869 --> 00:22:57.309
They don't have to be nominated for these

00:22:57.329 --> 00:22:57.951
awards either, but.

00:22:59.178 --> 00:22:59.417
Yes,

00:22:59.458 --> 00:23:00.679
we want to see their names come up.

00:23:00.898 --> 00:23:01.759
And we do have a team,

00:23:01.778 --> 00:23:03.078
like different teams lead different

00:23:03.118 --> 00:23:04.098
programs and events.

00:23:04.138 --> 00:23:06.019
But the Gwinnett Chamber Foundation is our

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:08.340
most recent venture, I would say.

00:23:08.520 --> 00:23:10.020
And Deirdre Cox leads that.

00:23:10.121 --> 00:23:11.260
Oh, my gosh, if you haven't already,

00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:11.761
she needs to be here.

00:23:11.781 --> 00:23:12.122
Oh, yeah, yeah.

00:23:12.301 --> 00:23:13.741
I know Deirdre.

00:23:13.761 --> 00:23:13.842
Yeah.

00:23:13.862 --> 00:23:15.982
But Deirdre is leading initiatives that

00:23:16.063 --> 00:23:19.723
help and empower minority women and

00:23:19.763 --> 00:23:20.943
veteran-owned businesses.

00:23:21.521 --> 00:23:24.243
And she is doing such great work and

00:23:24.285 --> 00:23:26.105
doing exactly what y'all are asking about.

00:23:26.185 --> 00:23:28.048
How do we get these minority women and

00:23:28.087 --> 00:23:29.568
veteran owned businesses grants?

00:23:29.828 --> 00:23:31.151
How do we help them scale?

00:23:31.211 --> 00:23:32.571
How do we get them resources?

00:23:32.632 --> 00:23:34.814
And they have a cohort going on right

00:23:34.854 --> 00:23:35.594
now, actually.

00:23:35.615 --> 00:23:37.556
And I think I can't remember off the

00:23:37.576 --> 00:23:38.836
top of my head when they're accepting

00:23:38.876 --> 00:23:40.318
applications for the next ones.

00:23:40.679 --> 00:23:43.421
But talk about getting these entrepreneurs

00:23:43.561 --> 00:23:44.162
equipped.

00:23:44.442 --> 00:23:46.443
They are doing a really good job.

00:23:46.483 --> 00:23:48.165
And Deirdre is leading a phenomenal

00:23:48.246 --> 00:23:48.526
effort.

00:23:49.150 --> 00:23:50.230
And I love it when like some of

00:23:50.250 --> 00:23:51.771
my young professionals, I tell them, hey,

00:23:52.011 --> 00:23:53.653
the cohort applications are open.

00:23:53.932 --> 00:23:55.314
So they're going through my leadership

00:23:55.354 --> 00:23:56.355
program and journey.

00:23:56.674 --> 00:23:59.317
And then they take up on Deirdre's cohort

00:23:59.436 --> 00:24:01.038
and then you get to see them integrating.

00:24:01.097 --> 00:24:02.038
And then some of them are going to

00:24:02.078 --> 00:24:03.559
like Chairman's Club golf tournaments.

00:24:03.579 --> 00:24:04.181
And you're like, OK,

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:06.622
I see you blending into all of the

00:24:06.662 --> 00:24:08.864
things that the chamber does to uplift you

00:24:09.263 --> 00:24:11.346
because slowly but surely the message is,

00:24:12.125 --> 00:24:13.227
you have resources,

00:24:13.666 --> 00:24:14.867
we can lead you to water,

00:24:14.928 --> 00:24:16.509
but please drink from it.

00:24:16.568 --> 00:24:18.029
Please drink from it because you're

00:24:18.049 --> 00:24:18.670
already here.

00:24:19.069 --> 00:24:21.051
And I'm such a big fan of telling

00:24:21.092 --> 00:24:22.573
them and saying, here's the application,

00:24:22.613 --> 00:24:23.952
here's the link, go, go, go.

00:24:24.614 --> 00:24:26.154
And this year, I really,

00:24:26.214 --> 00:24:29.176
really just enjoyed seeing some of my

00:24:29.317 --> 00:24:30.837
young professionals participate in

00:24:30.897 --> 00:24:33.118
Deirdre's program or in the Chamber

00:24:33.138 --> 00:24:35.259
Foundation's program and the initiatives

00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.000
that she's leading.

00:24:36.584 --> 00:24:37.565
because that's going to help their

00:24:37.605 --> 00:24:38.885
businesses scale.

00:24:39.246 --> 00:24:40.967
And then as those businesses scale,

00:24:40.987 --> 00:24:42.587
that translates into that financial and

00:24:42.667 --> 00:24:43.509
economic power.

00:24:43.608 --> 00:24:45.130
And we live in a world where money

00:24:45.170 --> 00:24:45.549
talks.

00:24:47.790 --> 00:24:49.112
So once their business scales,

00:24:49.211 --> 00:24:51.012
then they could pour into that community

00:24:51.053 --> 00:24:51.273
more.

00:24:51.493 --> 00:24:54.476
Is there a cost associated with any of

00:24:54.496 --> 00:24:56.037
the programs you were just describing?

00:24:58.851 --> 00:25:01.593
The Chamber Foundation, their cohort,

00:25:02.394 --> 00:25:03.974
I don't recall it being a cost.

00:25:04.134 --> 00:25:05.635
Their business has to be at a certain

00:25:05.715 --> 00:25:08.317
level because it's when the business is

00:25:08.337 --> 00:25:09.338
ready to scale.

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:10.859
And I just,

00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.621
I'm blanking on the details right now.

00:25:12.781 --> 00:25:14.502
I would follow up with you and get

00:25:14.522 --> 00:25:14.823
you that,

00:25:14.863 --> 00:25:16.443
but it should be on the website too.

00:25:17.144 --> 00:25:17.744
So forgive me.

00:25:18.286 --> 00:25:20.186
I focus so much on journey and like

00:25:20.267 --> 00:25:22.749
our GYP programs that I slip on those

00:25:22.808 --> 00:25:23.569
others sometimes.

00:25:23.930 --> 00:25:25.250
But no, those cohorts,

00:25:25.371 --> 00:25:26.672
the idea is accessibility.

00:25:27.134 --> 00:25:28.515
helping them scale and we want to be

00:25:28.555 --> 00:25:30.455
a resource so i don't think there is

00:25:30.516 --> 00:25:32.417
a cost there are just there's an

00:25:32.478 --> 00:25:37.520
application component to it okay all right

00:25:37.540 --> 00:25:41.242
kat did you have any other another

00:25:41.262 --> 00:25:42.324
question about that uh no i'm i'm looking

00:25:42.344 --> 00:25:43.285
at it i'm on the website you can

00:25:43.305 --> 00:25:44.625
go and find out and learn more about

00:25:44.704 --> 00:25:46.787
it uh i am familiar with miss deidre

00:25:46.846 --> 00:25:49.008
coxie amazing woman i see that she's the

00:25:49.067 --> 00:25:50.729
executive and i see you guys have like

00:25:50.769 --> 00:25:53.030
twenty four board members and so forth and

00:25:53.330 --> 00:25:54.832
you know diversity is very

00:25:55.865 --> 00:25:57.105
want to make sure that we bring that

00:25:57.125 --> 00:25:58.567
to the forefront because i think a lot

00:25:58.607 --> 00:26:02.932
of folks forget or get comfortable and i

00:26:02.951 --> 00:26:04.273
just want to make sure that we talk

00:26:04.314 --> 00:26:06.996
about it and i'm glad um melissa that

00:26:07.115 --> 00:26:08.877
you're making sure that that conversation

00:26:08.917 --> 00:26:11.320
does not fall on deaf ears and i'll

00:26:11.340 --> 00:26:12.981
be looking forward to seeing that like

00:26:13.122 --> 00:26:15.865
like karen said turn into something some

00:26:15.884 --> 00:26:16.546
material

00:26:18.334 --> 00:26:20.674
that's going to help these businesses,

00:26:20.694 --> 00:26:22.596
because like I said, I'm a little partial,

00:26:22.616 --> 00:26:23.957
you know, I ain't even gonna lie,

00:26:24.057 --> 00:26:24.237
you know,

00:26:24.277 --> 00:26:26.038
I'm with the Eastside Chamber of Commerce,

00:26:26.699 --> 00:26:28.440
and I believe all of us chambers have

00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:30.901
a responsibility to make sure that

00:26:31.060 --> 00:26:33.883
opportunity doesn't just exist,

00:26:34.063 --> 00:26:34.903
it's accessible.

00:26:35.263 --> 00:26:36.344
Yes, absolutely.

00:26:36.463 --> 00:26:37.404
And that's what happens.

00:26:37.484 --> 00:26:41.446
We tout access or resource, resource,

00:26:41.718 --> 00:26:43.739
but the access just isn't there.

00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:46.181
And that comes with financial barriers.

00:26:46.221 --> 00:26:47.681
If I'm already struggling,

00:26:48.102 --> 00:26:49.782
how am I able to come up with

00:26:49.843 --> 00:26:51.683
the fee to join a membership?

00:26:52.584 --> 00:26:54.224
And it's good that you have the networking

00:26:54.244 --> 00:26:56.286
events and you say that for the young

00:26:56.326 --> 00:26:56.926
professionals,

00:26:57.586 --> 00:26:59.847
it's a nominal amount that you guys have

00:26:59.968 --> 00:27:02.430
planned it with to make sure that that

00:27:02.589 --> 00:27:04.431
is something that they can apply to.

00:27:04.851 --> 00:27:06.412
I do have a question for you though.

00:27:06.771 --> 00:27:09.993
What seeds are being planted

00:27:10.564 --> 00:27:13.605
now that that you think will shape the

00:27:13.664 --> 00:27:15.806
future for young professionals?

00:27:16.866 --> 00:27:18.126
In our leadership program,

00:27:18.186 --> 00:27:19.067
I get to see it a lot.

00:27:19.087 --> 00:27:21.368
We just graduated our cohort with forty

00:27:21.429 --> 00:27:22.568
nine young professionals.

00:27:23.369 --> 00:27:25.891
And it was just last Thursday.

00:27:26.351 --> 00:27:28.011
And a lot of them being able to

00:27:28.271 --> 00:27:30.932
pick pick just content from these past

00:27:30.992 --> 00:27:31.894
nine months and say,

00:27:32.693 --> 00:27:34.795
I am a better manager because of this.

00:27:34.974 --> 00:27:36.296
What I learned in this workshop,

00:27:36.415 --> 00:27:38.436
what I learned in that workshop and these

00:27:38.477 --> 00:27:39.196
workshops cover

00:27:39.723 --> 00:27:41.285
communication and team building,

00:27:41.464 --> 00:27:42.906
values-based leadership.

00:27:43.507 --> 00:27:44.788
Back to those things of like, oh,

00:27:44.948 --> 00:27:46.209
I have this leadership voice.

00:27:46.249 --> 00:27:47.730
And so maybe when I communicate,

00:27:47.769 --> 00:27:48.651
it comes off this way,

00:27:48.691 --> 00:27:50.952
but my teammates have this voice and they

00:27:50.992 --> 00:27:51.814
receive it this way.

00:27:51.854 --> 00:27:53.214
So how do we work together?

00:27:54.194 --> 00:27:56.958
I can't necessarily pinpoint one or like a

00:27:57.018 --> 00:27:57.357
seed,

00:27:57.758 --> 00:27:59.920
but I do think that that connectivity and

00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:03.522
that human side to working and leading is

00:28:03.542 --> 00:28:05.003
something that our generations,

00:28:05.785 --> 00:28:07.125
whether it's millennials or Gen Zs,

00:28:07.849 --> 00:28:11.310
are learning to harness and manage well so

00:28:11.330 --> 00:28:13.211
that when they are continuing their

00:28:13.250 --> 00:28:15.672
leadership and like expanding they're

00:28:15.711 --> 00:28:17.532
aware and they're more in tune with the

00:28:17.573 --> 00:28:19.373
teams that they're leading or the people

00:28:19.413 --> 00:28:22.574
they're serving instead of just you know

00:28:22.594 --> 00:28:24.013
spitting out projects and instead of

00:28:24.034 --> 00:28:27.015
spitting out reports it's like there's a

00:28:27.095 --> 00:28:29.655
lot of people feeling now like does my

00:28:29.695 --> 00:28:31.536
work matter and if so how and it

00:28:31.556 --> 00:28:33.176
could be in any industry it could be

00:28:33.217 --> 00:28:33.737
the most like

00:28:34.286 --> 00:28:37.508
reports driven Excel heavy or the packing

00:28:37.768 --> 00:28:38.627
care packages.

00:28:38.647 --> 00:28:40.568
And no matter what you're doing,

00:28:40.689 --> 00:28:42.490
I think a lot of our people are

00:28:42.789 --> 00:28:43.711
realizing that

00:28:46.029 --> 00:28:47.451
there's a part that's really important

00:28:47.550 --> 00:28:48.830
that what you do matters.

00:28:49.030 --> 00:28:50.991
You have to identify it and get other

00:28:51.031 --> 00:28:53.413
people on board with you to make it

00:28:53.452 --> 00:28:53.913
all work.

00:28:54.032 --> 00:28:55.753
Because ultimately, no matter what we do,

00:28:55.894 --> 00:28:59.775
we all contribute to a quilt of things

00:28:59.795 --> 00:29:01.375
that we do to make our community no

00:29:01.415 --> 00:29:02.536
matter what industry we do.

00:29:03.115 --> 00:29:03.797
Very true.

00:29:03.856 --> 00:29:04.317
Very true.

00:29:04.676 --> 00:29:05.676
Is there a...

00:29:08.057 --> 00:29:13.883
an associate membership or a reduced rate

00:29:14.042 --> 00:29:16.565
on membership for younger members that

00:29:16.625 --> 00:29:18.467
want to join the chamber or smaller

00:29:18.487 --> 00:29:19.207
businesses?

00:29:19.667 --> 00:29:21.689
I'm so glad you asked because for

00:29:21.769 --> 00:29:22.549
accessibility,

00:29:22.609 --> 00:29:23.411
what we're doing

00:29:24.365 --> 00:29:26.788
GYP doesn't have a membership period.

00:29:26.868 --> 00:29:28.250
It is a pay as you go model.

00:29:28.570 --> 00:29:29.491
We make our gala,

00:29:29.511 --> 00:29:31.054
which is our most expensive event,

00:29:31.374 --> 00:29:33.375
sixty dollars or less because young

00:29:33.395 --> 00:29:34.998
professionals deserve to dress up,

00:29:35.038 --> 00:29:36.819
clean up nicely and go celebrate their

00:29:36.859 --> 00:29:38.261
peers or celebrate themselves.

00:29:38.617 --> 00:29:39.739
And you don't have to be a member

00:29:39.778 --> 00:29:40.919
to apply for Journey.

00:29:40.979 --> 00:29:42.119
You don't have to be a member to

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:44.740
apply for Thirty Five Under Thirty Five.

00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:46.501
And a lot of the young professionals that

00:29:46.521 --> 00:29:49.083
we meet already work for organizations who

00:29:49.143 --> 00:29:51.163
are either chamber members or know about

00:29:51.223 --> 00:29:51.325
it.

00:29:51.704 --> 00:29:53.164
And so then they could say, OK,

00:29:53.685 --> 00:29:55.946
I myself maybe can't join and pay the

00:29:56.186 --> 00:29:56.967
membership fee,

00:29:57.307 --> 00:29:59.148
but I'll talk to my bosses who perhaps

00:29:59.249 --> 00:30:01.529
now that I'm more integrated will find a

00:30:01.569 --> 00:30:02.029
benefit.

00:30:02.673 --> 00:30:03.954
in joining the chamber.

00:30:04.295 --> 00:30:05.655
But for our young professionals,

00:30:05.715 --> 00:30:07.758
we definitely are keeping it open and pay

00:30:07.798 --> 00:30:08.377
as you go.

00:30:08.678 --> 00:30:10.479
And we keep that's what we seek sponsors

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.099
so heavily.

00:30:11.617 --> 00:30:13.759
because we don't want to increase prices

00:30:13.838 --> 00:30:16.278
journey is our leadership institute it is

00:30:16.318 --> 00:30:18.420
a professional development tool that we

00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:20.339
are entrusted by with many people in the

00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:22.441
in the business community in gwinnett and

00:30:22.461 --> 00:30:24.260
that is a two thousand dollar investment

00:30:24.280 --> 00:30:26.401
but it covers everything and nine times

00:30:26.441 --> 00:30:28.602
out of ten employers sponsor this or

00:30:28.721 --> 00:30:31.222
invest in their young professionals but we

00:30:31.383 --> 00:30:33.063
um last year we launched a scholarship

00:30:33.529 --> 00:30:34.510
Because for the same reason,

00:30:34.530 --> 00:30:35.852
whether you work in a nonprofit,

00:30:35.951 --> 00:30:36.711
a small business,

00:30:37.011 --> 00:30:39.473
or your employer can't or won't provide

00:30:39.513 --> 00:30:40.875
this professional development tool,

00:30:40.894 --> 00:30:41.736
but you want to grow,

00:30:42.076 --> 00:30:44.457
then we have scholarship sponsors who help

00:30:44.577 --> 00:30:46.778
us offset those financial barriers.

00:30:47.239 --> 00:30:51.201
And when is the next cohort for Journey

00:30:51.241 --> 00:30:51.642
begin?

00:30:52.002 --> 00:30:54.503
Applications are open from now until June,

00:30:54.663 --> 00:30:57.946
and the cohort begins towards the end of

00:30:58.047 --> 00:30:58.366
August.

00:30:58.766 --> 00:31:00.487
How old do I have to be to

00:31:00.647 --> 00:31:00.748
do it?

00:31:00.768 --> 00:31:02.568
Twenty-one to thirty-five,

00:31:02.849 --> 00:31:04.931
but I jokingly say I'm the bouncer,

00:31:04.951 --> 00:31:06.231
so if you really want to come and

00:31:06.251 --> 00:31:07.894
you're a little bit over or a little

00:31:07.993 --> 00:31:09.654
under, you just, you know, we'll talk,

00:31:09.795 --> 00:31:10.115
we'll talk,

00:31:10.195 --> 00:31:11.396
but who am I to hold you back

00:31:11.416 --> 00:31:12.498
from learning, okay?

00:31:12.518 --> 00:31:16.681
I know that's right.

00:31:16.701 --> 00:31:17.582
So, what is next for you?

00:31:18.143 --> 00:31:19.983
What should the community be paying

00:31:20.003 --> 00:31:20.684
attention to?

00:31:21.526 --> 00:31:22.125
For,

00:31:22.405 --> 00:31:23.646
would not you professionals or me

00:31:23.666 --> 00:31:24.208
specifically?

00:31:25.737 --> 00:31:29.260
Um, and then, you know, with you,

00:31:29.421 --> 00:31:30.382
what's next for you?

00:31:30.442 --> 00:31:31.742
What should we be paying attention for

00:31:31.782 --> 00:31:31.923
you?

00:31:32.003 --> 00:31:33.384
I mean, you, you're the director,

00:31:33.404 --> 00:31:34.445
you rise and star.

00:31:34.807 --> 00:31:35.748
So what's coming down,

00:31:35.768 --> 00:31:37.068
what's coming down the pipe for you

00:31:37.088 --> 00:31:37.328
specifically?

00:31:37.409 --> 00:31:38.589
I love that.

00:31:38.971 --> 00:31:40.853
Um, well, I am a fairly new,

00:31:40.952 --> 00:31:42.914
I think I can't say new mom anymore.

00:31:44.027 --> 00:31:46.409
But being a working mom of a toddler

00:31:46.469 --> 00:31:47.710
who just learned how to walk,

00:31:47.990 --> 00:31:49.810
I'm excited to continue growing.

00:31:49.871 --> 00:31:50.791
It's still a new mom.

00:31:52.313 --> 00:31:54.354
Thank you, because I feel it.

00:31:54.394 --> 00:31:56.535
Congratulations to the best job in the

00:31:56.575 --> 00:31:57.175
world.

00:31:57.215 --> 00:31:57.855
Thank you.

00:31:57.955 --> 00:31:59.836
It is the best title that I can

00:31:59.876 --> 00:32:00.037
have.

00:32:00.057 --> 00:32:01.438
And now that he says mama all the

00:32:01.478 --> 00:32:01.758
time,

00:32:02.699 --> 00:32:04.839
I come home just so thankful that I

00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.580
get to do both.

00:32:06.280 --> 00:32:09.363
um but i think what's next is so

00:32:09.563 --> 00:32:11.523
i am thirty two years old and i

00:32:11.784 --> 00:32:13.505
i joke around that i'm gonna graduate or

00:32:13.605 --> 00:32:15.226
age out of my own program in the

00:32:15.306 --> 00:32:17.688
next three years but but as i go

00:32:17.728 --> 00:32:19.709
through that and as i experience what it's

00:32:19.729 --> 00:32:20.990
like to be on the later end of

00:32:21.009 --> 00:32:23.651
this gyp range i do think what can

00:32:23.790 --> 00:32:25.772
i create next for myself and people who

00:32:25.813 --> 00:32:28.153
are in my in my range now of

00:32:28.193 --> 00:32:29.494
our career right um

00:32:30.269 --> 00:32:32.192
Because I am ambitious professionally,

00:32:32.512 --> 00:32:34.335
but I'm also ambitious for like a really

00:32:34.375 --> 00:32:35.355
balanced home life.

00:32:35.916 --> 00:32:38.358
And what can I do that is not

00:32:38.419 --> 00:32:41.942
sacrificing my son's waking hour in the

00:32:42.064 --> 00:32:43.325
evening all the time,

00:32:43.664 --> 00:32:45.307
but also what can I do that I'm

00:32:45.326 --> 00:32:45.768
like, okay,

00:32:45.867 --> 00:32:47.088
if I have to leave you with grandma

00:32:47.148 --> 00:32:50.192
or dad, it's because it's pouring into me.

00:32:50.923 --> 00:32:51.503
more and more.

00:32:51.884 --> 00:32:54.027
And so we're coming up with new ideas

00:32:54.067 --> 00:32:56.429
on how to add value beyond Journey,

00:32:56.449 --> 00:32:57.670
beyond GYP,

00:32:57.810 --> 00:32:59.152
or perhaps you don't need to go to

00:32:59.192 --> 00:33:00.713
a morning mixer anymore because you're

00:33:00.733 --> 00:33:01.815
already at the chamber.

00:33:02.115 --> 00:33:04.057
So what types of programs and events do

00:33:04.156 --> 00:33:04.657
I create?

00:33:04.698 --> 00:33:06.500
Do we explore more virtual spaces?

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.421
Do we want to do

00:33:08.213 --> 00:33:10.376
more like culture building experiences?

00:33:10.416 --> 00:33:12.259
And do we go on trips or do

00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:14.342
we create evening events for those of us

00:33:14.382 --> 00:33:15.483
who work a nine to five,

00:33:15.523 --> 00:33:17.185
but we want to invest almost like if

00:33:17.205 --> 00:33:20.570
we were getting our next degree working on

00:33:20.611 --> 00:33:22.613
that at the chamber in the evening hours,

00:33:23.494 --> 00:33:25.336
do we expand our team to juggle all

00:33:25.376 --> 00:33:25.657
of this?

00:33:25.718 --> 00:33:25.877
I mean,

00:33:26.222 --> 00:33:27.943
There's so much opportunity that through

00:33:28.003 --> 00:33:30.306
what I'm experiencing in my personal life

00:33:30.385 --> 00:33:32.166
and how I want to balance working

00:33:32.207 --> 00:33:35.509
motherhood and professional ambition,

00:33:36.029 --> 00:33:38.171
I get a chance to create and expand

00:33:38.351 --> 00:33:39.071
what we have.

00:33:39.751 --> 00:33:41.252
But most importantly is continue to

00:33:41.333 --> 00:33:42.433
increase accessibility.

00:33:43.375 --> 00:33:44.715
The more people we can serve,

00:33:44.955 --> 00:33:47.136
the more our program can continue to grow

00:33:47.297 --> 00:33:49.439
in impact, but also in reach.

00:33:50.423 --> 00:33:51.625
Um, and so I,

00:33:51.825 --> 00:33:53.145
right now I'm just thinking of how do

00:33:53.185 --> 00:33:55.347
we build more leadership opportunities for

00:33:55.407 --> 00:33:57.450
people beyond the thirty-five age range?

00:33:57.730 --> 00:33:58.790
Because Leadership Gwinnett,

00:33:58.971 --> 00:34:00.452
we're not the same organization.

00:34:01.012 --> 00:34:01.134
Um,

00:34:01.193 --> 00:34:02.835
but we are such a great stepping stone

00:34:02.934 --> 00:34:03.655
into that.

00:34:03.935 --> 00:34:06.578
So how do we continue to get people

00:34:06.659 --> 00:34:08.159
ready for something like Leadership

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:10.682
Gwinnett or like their boards in other

00:34:10.762 --> 00:34:13.065
organizations that might not come from a

00:34:13.085 --> 00:34:14.786
networking event or if they already did

00:34:14.847 --> 00:34:15.146
Journey?

00:34:15.869 --> 00:34:17.108
or if they're out of our age range.

00:34:17.210 --> 00:34:19.610
So expansion is probably one of those

00:34:19.650 --> 00:34:20.751
things we're looking into.

00:34:21.371 --> 00:34:22.331
And as for myself,

00:34:22.371 --> 00:34:24.092
just continuing to be a good steward of

00:34:24.112 --> 00:34:25.751
the resources that we have and being a

00:34:25.771 --> 00:34:27.632
good partner for our community because

00:34:27.713 --> 00:34:30.614
people pour into us and we work really

00:34:30.653 --> 00:34:33.675
hard to make sure it is a win-win.

00:34:33.775 --> 00:34:34.215
Okay.

00:34:34.255 --> 00:34:36.976
Do you have a go-to book

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:43.641
or podcast that you would recommend for

00:34:44.001 --> 00:34:47.802
young professionals that you encounter?

00:34:47.922 --> 00:34:48.864
I have one off the top of my

00:34:48.903 --> 00:34:50.724
head because my boss recently recommended

00:34:50.764 --> 00:34:51.184
it to me.

00:34:51.684 --> 00:34:53.085
And it is marketing specific,

00:34:53.146 --> 00:34:54.706
but it actually applies in the work that

00:34:54.746 --> 00:34:55.146
we do.

00:34:55.927 --> 00:34:57.228
But it's called Know What You're For.

00:34:57.248 --> 00:35:01.228
I can't believe I'm blanking on the

00:35:01.289 --> 00:35:01.489
author.

00:35:01.528 --> 00:35:02.309
I'll look it up right now.

00:35:02.550 --> 00:35:04.710
But he's from the founder of Wynette

00:35:04.731 --> 00:35:04.931
Church.

00:35:05.525 --> 00:35:07.166
I have it on my,

00:35:07.246 --> 00:35:08.706
I'm listening to it right now because I'll

00:35:08.726 --> 00:35:09.206
be honest.

00:35:09.407 --> 00:35:10.327
If I read the book,

00:35:10.387 --> 00:35:11.327
I'm going to fall asleep.

00:35:12.188 --> 00:35:12.768
Listen to it.

00:35:13.027 --> 00:35:14.628
We're good.

00:35:14.708 --> 00:35:16.730
It is Know What You're For by Jeff

00:35:16.750 --> 00:35:17.190
Henderson.

00:35:17.309 --> 00:35:18.150
Jeff Henderson.

00:35:18.170 --> 00:35:19.731
I see it.

00:35:19.771 --> 00:35:20.751
So it's not a spoiler,

00:35:20.791 --> 00:35:22.972
but through the marketing tactics and

00:35:23.012 --> 00:35:24.233
techniques that he's sharing,

00:35:25.253 --> 00:35:27.333
a lot of the things are how do

00:35:27.373 --> 00:35:30.534
these businesses help their clients and

00:35:31.054 --> 00:35:33.237
feel seen, valued, appreciated,

00:35:33.317 --> 00:35:34.496
and continue to engage.

00:35:34.577 --> 00:35:36.579
And that's something that in any spaces

00:35:36.619 --> 00:35:37.360
that I've been in,

00:35:37.380 --> 00:35:39.460
whether I was a paralegal or accounting or

00:35:39.501 --> 00:35:41.041
in a nonprofit or now here,

00:35:41.061 --> 00:35:42.322
which is also a nonprofit,

00:35:43.384 --> 00:35:45.184
it aligns really well with if you make

00:35:45.204 --> 00:35:46.925
sure the people you're serving feel seen,

00:35:47.005 --> 00:35:47.867
heard, and valued,

00:35:48.086 --> 00:35:49.807
they will continue to come back to you.

00:35:50.228 --> 00:35:51.369
And then they join your board.

00:35:51.409 --> 00:35:52.871
They become your volunteer force.

00:35:52.891 --> 00:35:54.552
They become your biggest ambassadors.

00:35:55.431 --> 00:35:56.753
And it's not in the transactional

00:35:56.813 --> 00:35:57.293
intention.

00:35:57.373 --> 00:35:57.514
It's

00:35:57.856 --> 00:35:59.416
I must have done something right to make

00:35:59.456 --> 00:36:00.556
you feel really good.

00:36:00.938 --> 00:36:02.378
And now you want to continue that.

00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.259
So that's the one that I'm listening to

00:36:04.298 --> 00:36:04.519
now.

00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:06.320
Short, sweet, easy to read.

00:36:07.521 --> 00:36:08.581
And that's probably it.

00:36:08.641 --> 00:36:11.043
And then podcasts, I can't,

00:36:11.063 --> 00:36:12.724
I'm outside of conversation with Karen.

00:36:19.507 --> 00:36:19.827
Lately,

00:36:19.887 --> 00:36:22.228
I'm just trying to like say with really

00:36:22.268 --> 00:36:24.570
like positive and like good stories.

00:36:24.590 --> 00:36:24.809
Yeah.

00:36:26.077 --> 00:36:27.478
Because if you tune in too much on

00:36:27.498 --> 00:36:27.998
the news.

00:36:28.018 --> 00:36:30.579
Oh my goodness, this is so true.

00:36:31.018 --> 00:36:32.900
I can't get too consumed by what's going

00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:34.119
on because I have a little one that

00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:35.360
I want him to know the world is

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.079
still beautiful.

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.221
I don't have one right now.

00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:40.541
I can't think of one right now.

00:36:41.802 --> 00:36:43.322
But definitely that book has been a little

00:36:43.362 --> 00:36:45.643
ray of light to keep doing good work

00:36:45.722 --> 00:36:46.043
out there.

00:36:46.722 --> 00:36:48.682
Know what you're for.

00:36:48.702 --> 00:36:49.943
I love that.

00:36:50.103 --> 00:36:50.244
Now, Kat,

00:36:50.264 --> 00:36:51.623
you want to ask the last question?

00:36:51.643 --> 00:36:52.744
Yes.

00:36:52.844 --> 00:36:55.105
We are all about mental health.

00:36:55.617 --> 00:36:57.338
And we want to champion that.

00:36:57.358 --> 00:36:58.759
That's a conversation that's not talked

00:36:58.778 --> 00:36:59.719
about a lot.

00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:01.518
So what are you doing to manage your

00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:03.400
mental wellness being as busy as you are,

00:37:03.500 --> 00:37:05.219
mom, your professional life,

00:37:05.400 --> 00:37:06.300
personal life?

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:08.900
What are you doing to manage your personal

00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:11.021
mental health?

00:37:11.041 --> 00:37:12.061
That's such an important,

00:37:12.121 --> 00:37:12.902
we could talk about this.

00:37:12.922 --> 00:37:14.181
It could be a whole other episode.

00:37:14.782 --> 00:37:15.342
Okay.

00:37:17.123 --> 00:37:18.583
I think vulnerability is important.

00:37:18.862 --> 00:37:20.682
I think I work in a place that

00:37:20.722 --> 00:37:22.643
I don't have to pretend that everything's

00:37:22.704 --> 00:37:23.344
always perfect.

00:37:24.077 --> 00:37:24.356
Um,

00:37:24.376 --> 00:37:25.938
I'm so thankful for the leadership that we

00:37:25.978 --> 00:37:28.019
have because as a mom and as a

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:30.302
young professional, if something is wrong,

00:37:30.402 --> 00:37:31.282
I can voice it and say,

00:37:31.342 --> 00:37:32.503
I just need, like, I,

00:37:32.523 --> 00:37:33.724
we have flex PTO.

00:37:33.864 --> 00:37:35.306
Our, our benefits have been good,

00:37:35.365 --> 00:37:36.887
but to manage my own mental health,

00:37:37.027 --> 00:37:39.148
I have a great support system and I'm

00:37:39.188 --> 00:37:41.150
not shy to ask for help ever, ever,

00:37:41.289 --> 00:37:42.530
whether that's a good thing or a bad

00:37:42.550 --> 00:37:42.811
thing.

00:37:43.391 --> 00:37:44.413
I am very true to that.

00:37:44.472 --> 00:37:45.032
If I need help,

00:37:45.072 --> 00:37:47.135
I'm going to raise my hand and I

00:37:47.235 --> 00:37:47.994
love helping people.

00:37:48.014 --> 00:37:48.835
That makes me feel good.

00:37:49.286 --> 00:37:51.146
So I switched my framework and say,

00:37:51.246 --> 00:37:52.648
if I feel good when somebody asks me

00:37:52.688 --> 00:37:53.588
for help and I do it,

00:37:54.210 --> 00:37:55.811
if somebody says they want to help me,

00:37:55.931 --> 00:37:57.251
it's going to make them feel good if

00:37:57.331 --> 00:37:57.811
I need help.

00:37:57.851 --> 00:38:00.153
So I demystified asking for help,

00:38:00.574 --> 00:38:02.074
but there is something to just going for

00:38:02.094 --> 00:38:02.596
a walk.

00:38:03.115 --> 00:38:05.398
I love walking my dog and just taking

00:38:05.577 --> 00:38:06.617
like, even if it's ten minutes,

00:38:06.677 --> 00:38:07.898
I just did that before I jumped on

00:38:07.938 --> 00:38:10.081
here and just taking that little breather

00:38:10.161 --> 00:38:12.623
without my phone at the time.

00:38:12.802 --> 00:38:13.742
But taking a walk,

00:38:13.802 --> 00:38:17.146
moving your body and also really

00:38:17.989 --> 00:38:19.971
I know this is like probably an act

00:38:20.010 --> 00:38:21.672
of privilege when I say that I do

00:38:21.731 --> 00:38:23.612
tune out when I can't take any more

00:38:23.672 --> 00:38:28.795
news because it is, but you know,

00:38:28.855 --> 00:38:30.315
it is a choice what you consume.

00:38:30.815 --> 00:38:32.297
And I get out of social media.

00:38:32.516 --> 00:38:34.077
I got off of social media for Lent

00:38:34.157 --> 00:38:34.757
and beyond.

00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:37.360
And I'd rather just ask, wait,

00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:39.920
what's going on then to be consumed and

00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:41.501
snappy at my son, at my mom,

00:38:41.541 --> 00:38:42.181
at my husband,

00:38:42.601 --> 00:38:43.983
because I'm just overwhelmed.

00:38:44.202 --> 00:38:46.304
So, you know, taking your break and, and,

00:38:47.233 --> 00:38:49.195
If this is the opportunity we have to

00:38:49.235 --> 00:38:50.655
tune out, it is a privilege,

00:38:50.675 --> 00:38:53.056
but I will recognize it, recharge,

00:38:53.235 --> 00:38:55.016
and then go back and continue supporting

00:38:55.056 --> 00:38:56.597
and advocating and fighting for what we

00:38:56.617 --> 00:38:57.018
need to.

00:38:57.777 --> 00:38:58.677
But if I'm not okay,

00:38:58.777 --> 00:39:00.438
I will never be able to do that

00:39:00.498 --> 00:39:00.938
elsewhere.

00:39:01.278 --> 00:39:02.239
And how I raised my son,

00:39:02.280 --> 00:39:05.320
I think is an act of resistance, right?

00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:06.581
I love how many of you- Those are

00:39:06.601 --> 00:39:08.061
all great self-care tips.

00:39:09.018 --> 00:39:09.938
Yeah, absolutely.

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:11.199
Those are all amazing.

00:39:11.320 --> 00:39:13.621
And I love how you ended with stepping

00:39:13.661 --> 00:39:15.681
away from all of this overflow,

00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:18.661
the internet and news coming from whatever

00:39:18.722 --> 00:39:19.943
form you receive it.

00:39:20.282 --> 00:39:22.164
You need to push back or step away

00:39:22.204 --> 00:39:24.164
from it and make sure you prioritize

00:39:24.184 --> 00:39:24.543
yourself.

00:39:24.563 --> 00:39:25.605
So I love that you say that.

00:39:25.664 --> 00:39:26.385
Thank you so much.

00:39:26.844 --> 00:39:27.865
With that question,

00:39:27.965 --> 00:39:30.286
our intention is that our listeners are

00:39:30.347 --> 00:39:33.847
able to pull what resonates to them and

00:39:33.867 --> 00:39:35.307
then they can apply it to themselves

00:39:35.347 --> 00:39:37.369
because we want to truly make sure that

00:39:37.827 --> 00:39:39.349
people are taking care of themselves.

00:39:39.929 --> 00:39:41.612
Sometimes people don't know how to,

00:39:42.112 --> 00:39:43.614
because you don't know what you don't

00:39:43.653 --> 00:39:43.914
know.

00:39:44.315 --> 00:39:45.456
So we talk about it,

00:39:45.777 --> 00:39:47.197
then it can resonate with other people.

00:39:47.237 --> 00:39:49.221
So thank you for being vulnerable and

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:50.963
thank you for sharing your truth with us.

00:39:51.724 --> 00:39:52.864
And I'll leave it there.

00:39:53.164 --> 00:39:54.065
Yeah.

00:39:54.646 --> 00:39:56.929
So to our listeners and our viewers,

00:39:57.422 --> 00:39:59.344
Don't forget to subscribe to Conversations

00:39:59.364 --> 00:40:01.565
with Karen and Kat on YouTube,

00:40:01.606 --> 00:40:03.847
Facebook and IG and wherever you get your

00:40:03.887 --> 00:40:04.628
podcast.

00:40:04.987 --> 00:40:07.750
Remember that you are part of the

00:40:07.789 --> 00:40:08.630
conversation.

00:40:09.210 --> 00:40:11.652
Thank you for joining us on this episode

00:40:11.711 --> 00:40:13.574
of Conversations with Karen and Kat.

00:40:13.873 --> 00:40:14.054
Well,

00:40:14.094 --> 00:40:15.775
we are impacting the world one

00:40:15.815 --> 00:40:17.016
conversation at a time.