Rebecca Kramer | YWCA Women of Excellence
TK: What inspires you?
REBECCA: I am moved by a desire to serve students and families who attend public schools. I relish the process of engaging the community, families, and staff in supporting our children in the learning process. Fostering learning in others motivates me to keep learning myself and inspires me to take risks. Being an educator allows me everyday to learn something new and to make valuable connections with people in my community.
TK: What have you learned about yourself through the challenges of the past year and a half?
REBECCA:I believe that challenges can be overcome by activating compassion, fostering communication and utilizing collaboration. I have learned, particularly during a pandemic, that helpers are all around us and it’s important to acknowledge them and appreciate their gifts and talents. I believe that adversity propels personal and professional growth. Events in my life that are difficult teach me important lessons, tend to lead to significant change and always make me a better, stronger person.
TK: How do you take care of yourself?
REBECCA: I attempt to take care of myself by monitoring eating, sleeping and exercising patterns. Finding a balance between home life and career is difficult and requires an attentive mindset. I believe you can’t be productive in either role if you don’t maintain a healthy balance. The best thing I can do for myself is spend quality time with family and stay connected to friends and colleagues.
TK: What is the best advice you've ever been given? Or what advice do you have for others?
REBECCA: Lead with your heart because it’s the emotional connections that leave a lasting impression, build trust and compel us to act. It is true what John Maxwell said, that “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Leading with your heart means for me to care about what you do, share your love with others while you do the work and have the courage to be vulnerable.
TK: What is your vision for our community? Has it changed through the pandemic and racial justice reckoning of 2020?
REBECCA: My vision for our community is to work together to solve problems that impact access to a high quality of life, often associated with poverty, race relations and social, emotional well-being. We can only do this by being willing to engage in open dialogue, confront our personal perspectives, share our talents and work relentlessly toward disassembling any barriers. It requires listening, really listening to others and being willing to engage in the work, even if others aren’t ready or willing.
TK: The mission of YWCA is to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. What does YWCA's mission mean to you?
REBECCA: I whole-heartedly align with the YWCA’s mission. Our community will thrive when all people have available to them the ability to be a productive member of our community in any capacity. With support, love, and compassion, we can lift each other up and work towards a more equitable community.
The YWCA is on a mission to empower women at all stages in their careers. Diversity in leadership is particularly vital to our vibrant business community in the Greater Topeka Area.
