Katie’s Story
A dreamer and a doer from the day I was born, I've always had a strong sense of purpose and inner knowing of whoo I am meant to serve. An only child whoo loved learning and teaching my friends, I knew I would become a teacher. Inspired by the movie Dangerous Minds, I had a successful career teaching high school history; 3 years on the North Side of Chicago, 3 years on the South Side of Chicago, and 1 year in a rural community in Illinois. It was here I developed the ability to connect and inspire diverse groups of people, facilitate a love of life-long learning, and weave entertaining stories that included jokes, notes from the lesson, and a brave and safe space for students to explore their thinking.
But I also had other dreams. At the age of 10 I dreamed of having my own Club, kinda like the BabySitter's Club, minus the child care. I recruited some friends, charged a yearly membership fee of $2 with monthly dues at 50 cents, and sold tickets to a "carnival" that I held in my backyard using my basketball hoop, croquet set, and whatever else I could find to create games I could sell tickets to play and raise money. The Club was a place for friends to help each other with homework, earn money by working together on local projects, and celebrate our accomplishments; it was also my first business prototype and laid the foundation for how I would approach building my next 3 companies.
After a 60lbs weight-loss and conquering food addiction, I left the formal classroom to sit in a park and generate interest for a new type of workout called CrossFit. A teacher always, I cultivated a community in that park and began developing future staff to coach a diverse range of athletes, from ages 4-74! Our first location was a success! Two years later, we opened a brand new, 12,000 square foot facility that included office space for the Special Olympics, Chiropractor, and a classroom for me to teach wellness and nutrition seminars for our members. It was during this time that I (re)connected with my passion for giving back and began hosting community-driven fundraisers, and launching an international fundraiser for the Special Olympics, RowRasier. I once again began to dream and was ready to DO something new, so I sold the business to my partner, packed up my car to head NYC with nothing but faith and hope that God would do BIG things through me.
I like to think 10 year old Katie would be quite proud of our third career as the Executive Director of a nonprofit mentoring program for kids ages 7 -17. Developing a staff of 150 millennial volunteers longing to make a difference in the world was one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had in my life thus far. I also founded a local CrossFit Kids program, spending my Saturday mornings coaching 3-12 year olds and making exercise fun! The stars were aligning and this leap of faith propelled me into what I am here to DO; partner with Outstanding Women Leaders (OWLs) and the men whoo support us, coaching them along their journey to achieving their higher purpose and dreams and making it OWL fun, funny, and transformational!
Fast forward to today, this dreamer continues to do OWL the things her heart feels called to do with the common thread of educating and coaching people to lead from a place of self-acceptance and self-authority. I have a gift for bringing ideas to life, painting a picture of what reality could be, instead of what it is. My superpowers include offering people a whole new way of thinking, to explore new and different perspectives, and to empower others to find meaning in the important, natural struggles of life. Unafraid to pull out what's hidden or stagnant, I am the fearless warrior ready to compassionately shine a light of truth necessary for transformation. As an added bonus, I'm also a hoot!
Ready to get your hoot and humor on?! Great news, I’m designed to be a ‘stranger of consequence,’ for others on their purposeful path and OWL my first sessions are FREE!
Email katie@owlprofessionalcoaching.com with the subject line: Ready to give a hoot! and lets SOAR together for an hour. OWL guarantee you will be seen, you will be heard, and you will leave with clarity on what to do next.
