YMCA CEO Catie McCauley: "God's Plan Was Better Than Mine" - How Faith & AI Transform Communities

[0:16]  Welcome back to another episode here on the Heart and Hustle podcast. Today's guest, her parents met at the Y. She met her husband there, too. And now she's actually running the place, literally. Katie, DNA is YMCA. Katie, I ask you, when did it hit you? This place isn't just your history. It's actually your purpose.

[0:36]  It is. It's been a part of me since before I was born. Like you said, my parents met at the Y. I learned to swim at the Y. I grew up in Y programs. It's truly a part of my DNA and what I do. And I'm just I feel so blessed to be able to wake up and serve this organization every day. I and it's just a cool story to know, right, that your parents met there before you were born, but then you actually as an adult went into the tech space. Um, dipped your toe a little bit, right? But what was that moment you knew I can't do this? I I I got to go back

[1:09]  there. There actually was an exact moment um driving home. So, I graduated college and didn't really see the Y as a full-time career for me at the time and had tiptoed in the the tech space. Uh, and was truly unhappy. But I can remember the moment driving home from a corporate office uh and and actually I was driving to the YMCA to go work out with friends in a place that was very comfortable. And uh in that moment I realized I don't know the uh ins and outs or the family dynamics of anybody I'm working with. I spend more of my time with these people and I don't know very much about them. And it was that moment that I realized, am I in the right place? You know, I just feel so connected when I'm with people at the Y. And um it's really what drew me back to the YMCA and pursuing that as a career was just that family aspect. And I could tell you right now, you know, my team exactly what's going on. I know what they did last night. I know what they're going to be doing tonight. Um we I know their family dynamics. We are truly a family. And that's what I wanted. I wanted that that feeling, that purpose um for my for my career.

[2:24]  I love it. And I think uh you also mentioned you called it a God thing. Can you take me to into that moment of clarity? I love when I speak to leaders and and the leader I spoke to previously, it was really just how God has played a a part in our lives. Sometime we really didn't even notice. Now we're older. We get it. It makes sense. But could you kind of get take it to that, you know, that moment when it was just also clarity? Why a God thing? Um do you believe he was just kind of taking you off path to chase your purpose? So, I always say it's God's time, right? That his plan is better than than ours. And it's easy to say that and I've always said that. Um, but he's he's uh proven to me over the years that it truly is his plan. Um, I am very organized and I like a plan. I like to know a toz and he sometimes comes in and says, "It's not your plan. You know, you don't get to decide every single moment." And so, um, because of that, as I've gotten older, I can look back and see how he has worked throughout my life. And his plan was greater, let's be honest, right? 100%.

[3:25]  But there was a moment, uh, working in San Diego in that tech space. I knew on that car ride, I knew this wasn't the right place for me. I started looking at opportunities at the Y in, you know, in those those next few weeks. But it really was a God moment and what brought me back to the Y. They had a position that wasn't even posted. and the membership director there at the time remembered me because of my last name. Now, I'm going to date myself because this was before computers. They went to a file drawer and found my membership card and uh called the phone number on that card, which happened to be an old number that I wasn't using. That phone had been in a drawer in my, you know, at my in my desk for a couple weeks. I had gotten a new phone uh just because I had moved. And that number actually went to uh this old phone and my sister was in town visiting from out of town. She was uh in college at the time. And because of roaming, I had given her that phone because it had two weeks left on the plan. I'd given her that phone to use just so we could connect after work. And so she got the call that day about this position at the YMCA. Had that not happened, had she not had that phone visiting, you know, that week, uh, been out of school that week, had I not given her that phone, um, would I have gotten that call? That was all that has to be God, you know, like that just has to be God. So, I got the call. She was like, "My sister's at work. She's got another number. Call her." Um, and then the rest is history. Really?

[4:52]  I love that story. Yes, that was definitely God. Like you take back to those moments. It, you know, he he lines it up really good for you. Um, and there's also this there's this beautiful humility in how you lead. Um, you know, talking to you last time, filling the gaps, not really taking credit. Where does that come from? Is that a mom dad thing that you've seen growing up or where where do you that leadership stem from?

[5:14]  Yeah, that I you know, I think that is definitely rooted in my parents and how they they lead. Um, also, you know, working for the YMCA as a nonprofit organization, just knowing the need. It's not about who gets credit. It's about serving the the people that need us the most. Um so that humility and I've seen over um time you know that certainly my mother many times just working so hard and you know the grind of all that comes with you know working and taking care of kids um and not being the one at the center in the front of the newspaper or on you know getting that that credit. But um you know that that's probably where it stems from for me. But as an organization, I think uh the Y is uniquely positioned to be able to serve our community.

[6:06]  We don't always do the greatest job of um promoting ourselves, but that's not what it's about. It's about serving, you know, our communities and meeting them where they are and and fulfilling those needs.

[6:17]  You have a story because every branch is very different, but do you have a story from your local branch that makes you say, "Yep, this is why this is why I do it. This is why we do it."

[6:25]  Yeah. So, one of the cool things I think we spoke about, you know, nationally, the YMCA, we have three pillars, youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. So, everything we do across the the country is going to be fall within one of those those areas of focus. Um, but each location is different. Even here in the the the CSR, the greater Augusta area, each of our YMCA's looks different because our communities look different, you know. So, we're fulfilling needs based on those those community needs. One of the things that I'm most proud of here in our community is our place to dream program. That's one that just uh if from a um a servant perspective and just from a God um perspective and how we can fulfill a mission. This is a bed program where we provide beds to kids that need them. Um this is not something that happens inside of our YMCA. That's the other cool aspect. This is not in our gyms. This is not in our aerobic studios. This is not outside in our pools. This is in the homes of people that live in our backyard. And these are kids that don't have a safe place to sleep. Uh and these are kids that need the Y to step in and serve in in this way. And so this is a a program that I'm very passionate about raising money for and sustaining and continuing to serve these kids that need these beds. Um we talk to families all the time. We're reuniting families. I had a call yesterday with somebody who works for DSS and we already have um partnerships with DeFox and where we're uniting these families that need a safe place to to stay and or to sleep and because of the Y and because of our bed program they're able to reunite and get the kids back in those homes. So, it's just one of those programs where you when you leave and you know you've given the kid and many times it's the first bed that they've ever had, you know, you've made a difference.

[8:12]  That is so cool. um when you talk about what the YMCA does, right? Cuz you I've never heard that from a YMCA. You hear free swimming lessons, you hear the gym, you know, but to know that that's where you guys are at and and really trying to meet people where they're at, right? This is the YMCA that's in the community and that's what the need is. So, we're going to meet them where they're at and we're going to try to help with that sense, but also still to have that standing building that people can come and also feel safe in, right? Go and know that there's community in there cuz you mentioned community is what brought you back to the YMCA. when you thought about tech, I didn't have community. Where where are the people that, you know, just show up and, you know, just love on one another? You weren't seeing that, right? And that you get to do that is pretty cool. Um, how long have you been now at the head of the table when it comes to your specific YMCA?

[8:57]  So, I've been the president and CEO in this role just since January. I've worked for the Y for 27 years and I've been at this uh local organization for 17 years and I was in the number two seat um for eight and then just took over as the president and CEO in January. So, I'm pretty sure there's some programs and things that you put in place, but now being there right ahead of the table, the number one, what are some of the things that you would love to see? Because obviously, you know, we we take our past leaders and they already did amazing, but now is our time to really keep the needle moving forward. What are some of the things that you're wanting to implement, especially in this space of um if there's any embracing AI, right? Because that's kind of where everyone's kind of looking at, especially with what's going on in the government funding cuts and all that. um where's your thoughts on what you get to do now as the true leader of this organization?

[9:48]  So, I am in a um wonderful position in the fact that I get to build on the legacy that's already built. We have a very successful organization here in the greater Augusta area. And so, just building on that that foundation, but really cool to be able to kind of put my own stamp on it. Um working on the culture of our organization. I want this to be the best place to work. I want every single person that uh gets a paycheck from R YMCA to love coming to work as much as I do. You know, I want them to wake up every morning and enjoy. And of course, there's going to be, you know, parts of our job description that are hard or that we don't love as much as others. but for them to wake up and come to work and enjoy what they do and to know in their heart that they're making an impact. Um, even when they don't see it every single day. Some of our positions do, but we have a lot of behind the scenes that don't necessarily get to see it, but for them to know in their heart and to believe that we are making a difference every single day. I want to create that culture. And so, working through that, it's through staff development and um through team building and those kind of things. That's one of the things that I'm most passionate about and kind of changing that culture, making it a place where everyone enjoys coming to work and they feel um connected and committed, but also um have opportunities to grow. I want to be able to open doors that were opened for me uh and see these staff thrive, you know, and go from a camp counselor to a branch exec to a VP and be able to continue their career in the Y as well. Um, I also love uh the technology piece and incorporating that um not as a replacement tool but just making us you know I always tell my staff let's work smarter not harder you know and if there is an AI tool or some type of um software that can create a environment where we're able to do our job and it makes it a little bit easier. Let's go for it and and use those tools and resources to to do that. We have to do that at this point. you know, we're working with um staff teams that are much younger now and that's the uh energy that they have. So, being able to keep up with with that, we need to to make sure that we're at the forefront. So, I encourage our staff to bring those um new softwares and technology to me to have those discussions to see where they can fit into the nonprofit um space and from a leadership space. You know what's so good is that you mentioned young leaders that that is even a thing in your mind because I as a leader myself I I do ask ourselves why are young leaders not in this space. Um, I also think it's something that we don't talk about at the high school level, right? Everyone wants to go be a teacher, a basketball player, whatever. Like, but no one ever says, "I want to go run a nonprofit. I want to be a leader to a nonprofit." But there's so much good in that as well. Um, you know, it's not about chasing the money, but truly chasing purpose and passion, really making a difference in our communities and impacts in our communities um at high levels. So, I'm excited that you're you're working with our young leaders and and letting them know that, hey, we we accept you as who you are. We need you, right? we embrace what you bring to the table. So, I'm I'm quite excited about what that actually looks like. You've also um in a world that's really kind of almost obsessed with AI. I can imagine that AI becomes a topic everywhere and anywhere.

[12:58]  You said it's it's a tool. It's not a takeover. I'm 100% agreeing with that. What does that look like at the Y level? Um are you guys using things like chat GBT co-pilot or are you guys um thinking even further than that? So yes, we do use chat GBT and we're just in the early stages of that and my leadership kind of taking over and and um supporting that that effort. Um the Y is neat in the sense that we have a network of um a a national organization and so there's wise all over um and we're able to connect in that front and so we actually have some um

[13:32]  some enhancements to chat GBT that are focused on Y. So through marketing and through um you know membership through um sport sport development uh there are these tools within our chat GBT that we can kind of ask questions to. They call them AI advisors um their Y advisors and they're all named these cool you know names. So our staff are kind of getting involved in in that and um working um with the voice of the Y. So if they're writing something uh they can use that tool to help create um that document in the voice of the Y. So you utilizing that. Um also getting really creative with our job descriptions. We have like just like you said, these young professionals don't necessarily see the Y as you know the career path coming in. But what we've done with some of our job descriptions is making them uh create them in a different way that they're more appealing to folks. Uh and so you using AI to help us uh write those creative job descriptions has really helped as well.

[14:29]  Hey, real quick. Have you enjoyed the podcast? We first want to say thank you and we also just want to give you a little insight of what we're up to at Francis. Some don't even realize that we're working with organizations to help them use AI to create that real human communication experiences where that's actually supporting your your families, those patients or the entire community. We're actually creating tech that connects. Check it out. Francis.ai. I love that you mentioned Chatt and how you put it in your voice and I guess it's that kind of that worksp space in chat to be I just tapped into it right so you can add all these seats but as long as you created the voice anything that you do you know outside with that voice that own I guess it's creating your own GPT inside chat GPT right um I actually just did that with my assistant and I said hey can you go ahead and do these frameworks can you do these questions and that was my first time and I'm like wow this was so good Yes, it's really amazing especially when you give that that platform and the Y has very strict guidelines and and um branding standards and all and the voice behind it. Exactly. And so really just dumping that in and you know when it creates something it's using that voice which is really impressive. It's neat.

[15:40]  It is.

[15:41]  The other space that's exciting for us here locally we're the first um to launch the I call it the AIdriven technology based um fitness equipment called ejym.

[15:52]  Okay. and it's taken wise over by a storm across the country. We just launched this about 60 days ago. And it's basically a in um the easiest way to explain it is like having a personal training or a coach with you along the entire 11 pieces of equipment. So while you're working out, it uses technology um and it essentially gives you a personal trainer. So you're doing each piece of equipment. It knows your height, your weight. It does a strength test so it knows exactly how you, you know, need to exercise, what you need to do to make sure you don't plateau. It gives you a bio age. Um, we had over 500 people on board on this piece of equipment in the first 30 days. We have now 60 days in, over 700 people that have onboarded onto this piece of equipment. Um it it's also uh from a uh timing perspective, you can get a full body workout in about 22 to 30 minutes. And so that's really been attractive to people. But um there's also a video game element to it. As you're doing your reps, it's counting them for you, but it's also, you know, there's a screen that you're kind of playing this video game um as uh thing. So it's pretty it's it's really neat, but it's a way that we're utilizing, you know, that technology piece to connect with people. Um because my favorite part about it is it's really connecting with the user, you know, and um when we onboard somebody, it gets it gives us a chance to communicate with them and see what their goals are and put those in and then we're able to track that person to make sure that they're not falling off, that they're doing the right thing, and gives us one more um way that we're able to connect with our members.

[17:29]  That is so cool. actually have never heard of it, but it's it's like okay, like it's almost kind of cutting the middleman out a little bit in a sense, but

[17:37]  people feel more comfortable doing it on their own versus especially when they're starting off. Some people really feel comfortable um doing it on their own. So, that really helps out and gets people into the gym a little more and and to feel comfortable, you know, that they get accurate information. And that's, you know, when we talk about tool, as long as we prompt it well, we give it the correct data and we're using it correctly, it's truly a gamecher. Yes.

[18:00]  You know, it saves us time, saves us energy. To me, I'm a very, you know, I my wife likes to say that I um she says, what what's her exact word? Um I forgot, but I use chatbt. Oh, idoli. idolize. She said, you're trying to idolize chatbt. I'm like, babe, this is like my assistant. What are you talking about? like it's truly this resource that I I'm like so grateful to have um because it it helps with as you mentioned um wording emails um if I'm onboarding it helps me really kind of keep things organized. I can throw some Excel spreadsheets and it would make it the way I need it or put it together the way I need it. So yeah, I I I truly do love it and I love the thing that you guys are already doing. If you can actually think about AI, creating maybe your own AI tool and a sense of community engagement. um what would that actually look like for for the Y and who it's his actual audience?

[18:56]  So, you know, internally that's been created. Those were those tools I was talking about internally for our staff team. So, that's pretty cool that nationally, you know, they've already gotten to us to that to that level, which we're excited about and kind of um yeah, I'm sure that will be tweaked over time. Um externally, how that's going to, you know, how we could communicate and connect with our community. Um I think this egim is the first piece of that just utilizing you know technology to enhance what we already have. So we have selectorized equipment at every Y across the the country but utilizing this um tool to make it more user friendly um to make it so that we can connect in easier better ways to make sure that people are doing it correctly. Um, all of those things are tools that I think will help us in the future be able to help build that that community. From an outreach perspective, I hope that um, technology continues to help us connect with our donors and as well as the needs, the resources. Um, I know one, you know, way our our team utilizes AI currently is we'll have 80 different sites where we're delivering food this summer. So, we're part of a large food program and delivering, you know, we've delivered 3.6 million meals since CO out of this office. And when you think about the logistics of that, you've got six buses and nine vans going different directions all over a community trying to make sure that we hit all the neighborhoods that needed everywhere we said we would be on time where we said we would have it. um the logistics behind that get really complicated and to do that on a whiteboard like we've done over and over and on Excel spreadsheets um you introduce AI and all of a sudden it's got your routes and your calculations and where people are going and you've minimized the time that spent you know people you know uh burned the candle at both ends and all of a sudden AI has taken it and formulated it and we're already executing like we're on the road hitting we're able to get more done you know so uh I I look forward forward to being able to expand the resources for the community by using the technology that that's available.

[21:07]  So this AI piece, is this something that you you know I know you just kind of taken over since January. Was AI already being implemented or is that you just thinking ahead and say we need AI in this space to help us a little bit?

[21:18]  So I think staff individually were using AI. Um some that were feeling more comfortable with it um you know for the last several months even before I took over. Um but setting a culture where that's um and not necessarily an expectation but where it's accepted uh I think is something that um more staff are being more willing to dive in you know um where you know not to say that it wasn't supported before but we were so unfamiliar with it and what the opportunity was that now that we talk about it and we put it forth and we share things that we've created um it makes it a little bit easier for um the general you know staff half team to kind of accept and and and use it to their advantage. And it's been neat to see some people that were resistant maybe in the beginning kind of just blowing through grant writers and those kind of things that like, "Wow, this really is amazing. Like, you should see what I could do." We're like, "We told you.

[22:13]  You really can. It's amazing."

[22:15]  That's so good. I'm happy that you guys are on board. I speak to a lot of leaders um and I think I've may have spoken to one um maybe a month ago from a different YMCA. I can't remember exactly which one, but it's not wasn't on the AI journey yet as of yet, right? Um, but to see another, you know, especially for YMCA, something that's been around for so many years that we all are very familiar with that is saying, "Hey, we we see it and we're jumping on board, right? You guys are really ahead of the curve when it comes to this huge organization that is playing a part on how can we better everything that we're already doing. We're already good, right? We're already making community impact. How do we make it even better um faster?" Right? That's one of the best things I was actually speaking to. He used to be a narcotics officer for 27 years and then he's now in the nonprofit world, right? He's a pastor and he's kind of talking about um we have to do things fast. It be it becomes the difference between saving somebody's life and someone taking their own, right? So, what you guys are doing is really jumping on board very fast while some people are still in fear. Um so, kudos to what you guys are doing at the at the Y. This is pretty cool. Um, I do want to talk something really cool about you as well is that you don't just separate uh you don't separate faith from leadership. How does that actually show up in your hard decisions? I can only imagine that it becomes a little, you know, tug at times, but how does this show up?

[23:33]  Well, first I'll just say that I feel very blessed to work for an organization where we are able to pray before our meetings and talk about our faith and our God. You know, the why being a Christian organization. Not every CEO can can say that and and can you know um do that. And so I feel very blessed that I work for an organization where I can. Um but I made a promise to myself and to God when I took this position that I was going to put him first in every single decision. Love it.

[23:59]  So whether that's a budget decision or a staffing decision or a small decision that we're they're we're making um I try to make sure that we're putting God first. And I don't think we can go wrong with that. That's, you know, what I tell my team. Anytime we're faced with a tough decision, if we put God first and um we uh are are putting the the community and the resources, we can't go wrong with any decision we make as long as God is at the at the helm. Um I will say from a faith perspective, that does drive the the leadership. When you make the decision to put God first and to lead in faith, you're making a commitment to lead differently. There's going to be people and um you know, there's going to be challenges to your to your leadership. Not everyone um is going to be on board with that. So, when you make that decision, you have to make sure you're not making it lightly because you do have to make the commitment to lead differently. Um and so, I did make that that decision coming in as the CEO. Um it's part of my DNA. It's what I truly believe. Um but I have also seen how um when the leader shows up in that way in that space um that that um effect that it has on the association and the community, how many things truly have come together. And again, it's his plan. You know, it is God's plan and it's in his time. But we've seen um partnerships come together. We've seen community resources fall into place. uh and you know putting him first has really made that that that difference. Um we have our theme for this year uh at this association is better together and that's rooted in John 17:21 which is our foundational verse for the YMCA. May they all be one. And I truly feel like if we work together as a staff team, if we work together as volunteers and we work together as a community, we're going to be better for it. And so, um, we've seen that play out since January when I took over over the last five and a half months. Um, looking at ways that we can partner. The Y doesn't go into a community to compete. You know, we're not going into a uh into a community to say we do this the best and we're going to take over. Um, we really are looking for ways that we can work together. And if we're really good in this space and somebody else is really good and why don't we work together to make it even better, you know, and that's where better together comes from.

[26:27]  I can sit here and just listen to you. You're so good. You're so good. I can tell that this is very genuine. This is very authentic. This is what you want to see. I'm also a big believer when we talk about speaking things into existence. I believe and I can imagine that you also agree. We plant seeds when we just say the things that we want to do or, you know, I I kind of go back to when I was a young kid and thought to myself, you know, one day I'm going to um I'm going to be a host and I'm going to be on a stage. Well, this is my stage. Here I am hosting, right? You just don't know how it's going to happen. Like,

[26:56]  oh yeah,

[26:57]  yeah, yeah, yeah. In your mind, you might have thought something else. God's plan was a little bit different. He gave it to you, but Exactly. So, I ask, what is your We talk about long term. You're in a special place. There's going to be a lot of impact that you're going to make, but I can imagine that you've already created a a short and long-term plan. So, for yourself and for the organization, what does it look like 5 years? What do you want to see um happen within the Y that you're leading? Um or some of the programs you want to implement? Do you have any of those ideas? Just so I can go back and say you said it here first, Katie. It's happening.

[27:29]  Yes, exactly. Well, I do I just wanted to to touch on that for a second because it's so funny. I started doing that recently, you I'm like, I'm going to say that so I actually do it and then I'm gonna I'm gonna say that so it actually comes to fruition. One thing that I've been saying for years out loud in front of board members and everything, we have the place to dream program, right?

[27:48]  That's where we provide beds to kids that need them. And I've been saying for years, I want to have everybody try to sleep because everybody says, gosh, that must be how can kids sleep on the floor? That's terrible. I would never be able to do that. And I always said,"Well, one night I want everybody in the whole CSR to sleep on the floor and then wake up the next morning and post about it, you know, and then tell us their story of how it felt sleeping on the floor." And so I said, I've said it for several years. I was like, "One day we're going to do this." Guess what? In March, we did it. We actually did it. We pushed out. It was called Dream On. It was a challenge we put out on Facebook and our community and the supporters of the Y all slept on the night or all slept on the floor for one night and then woke up the next day and posted about it. And man, the impact was really cool. So, it's neat to see, you know, those things come to to come to fruition. But, um, as far as vision for the the why in this organization, um, yes, we have our strategic plan. We have our five-year plan and what we, you know, what we want to accomplish over the next five years and where the next new Y is going to be and how we're going to renovate th this Y and expand child care and resources and those kind of things. So all of that is definitely um on the radar and a part of my overall all plan. Um but if I had to um say what is Katie doing to um you know put her stamp on it or it's really around that staff development piece. I truly believe if we have a team of people who love what they do that's going to trickle into every single aspect of the YMCA. I mean, could you imagine showing up as a four-year-old to a swim lesson, and having a swim instructor that was so passionate, just loved what they did? Translate that to every single thing we do. The group X instructor that's coming in to teach a class in the morning, the after school, counselor that's taking care of kids in the afternoon. If we are all passionate and we have the right people in the right positions at the right place at the right time and all that's God. If all of the people that we have working for us enjoy and love what they do, that passion is going to drive and it's going to be a force that nobody can reckon with. It's going to be God putting his cinnacles out into our community, making sure that every life is touched in the way that they need to be touched. Um and it's going to create transformational change in our community. There's going to be an impact that um you know, nobody's going to be able to deny. And I think it starts here with our leadership team, not just me, but my team of people who um have a huge responsibility to make sure that we're instilling that in the people that work for us and that we're treating them with kindness and that we're caring and that we're honest and respectful. And then that's hopefully is going to um programs which ultimately touch our community. And that I hope is what we're able to accomplish over the next 5 years is a community of people that love and support their why, but love and support their jobs and ultimately put God first in everything we do and love him so that we can love others.

[30:46]  So good. So good. I got a question. You mentioned how your mom and dad were in this. Were they CEO as well?

[30:52]  So my dad was. So they met actually not as as CEO. they met as young like aquatics directors and lifeguards um in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. And so that's how but my dad ended up as he retired as the CEO in Savannah, Georgia actually.

[31:08]  Okay.

[31:08]  So the reason I asked that is because um you're a woman leader in this space and what did you take from your mom even though your mom may have not been co she was a leader I can imagine in her you know at home and in her work. What do you take from mom as a leader and what are you imple what are you giving your kids on leadership?

[31:27]  Yeah. So my mom is a very strong leader in everything that she does. She always has been whether it was you know in PTO or whether it was running her own business whether it was you know working for the school. She was a teacher for a long time too after she left the Y. Um she was always a leader. She was born a leader. think that stems from my grandmother who I get a lot of my um you know wisdom and all all and also my my faith is also from my from my nana as well um but I will say you know looking up to my mom there was nothing that um she couldn't do it was I am woman hear me roar like you can do anything you set your mind to what do you want to be what do you want to do you've you know there was so much support um which I take you know as a mom now of before. Um I try to make sure and and you know I just pray that I'm a sliver of as great of a mom as as she was. Um trying to instill that into my kids too. But what I will say giving my dad credit is there was no difference in us, my sister and I as a girl or a boy. It didn't matter. And he also never let us win at anything. if we came close to winning, we knew we came close to winning because he wasn't going to let it. It didn't matter if it was playing horse in the backyard, you know, basketball or if we were playing Candyland, he was going to make us work for it. If we were going to get and and I say close to winning because I don't know that I've ever beat him at I came close one time in handball. Uh and all of a sudden, I'm like, "Oh my gosh, I almost beat you." And he was like, "I was playing left-handed." And I'm like, "For real." So, um, so I do owe a lot of my leadership style um to to him, but also just that support in knowing um that I had the ability to both of them, my mom and dad. And then my husband is a huge he's played a huge role. you know, we met in the YMCA, too, and he's seen me in my career from, you know, the the ground up, and he has always just been so supportive, especially from a um woman standpoint and in the leadership role, been super supportive to make sure that I was able to um have that confidence to to do the roles that I've had over the years. Even when I doubted myself, he was there to say, "You've got this. You're already doing it." you know, and so I, you know, I thank him all the time for just giving us that confidence and for um raising three girls that I hope have that same sentiment as well that that he's instilling in them.

[33:54]  I love it. No, I think it's important. I think it's important to just kind of share that because um you know, a lot of times women leaders get under under overlooked I would say not even underlooked, overlooked um and sometimes even underutilized. Right? We have so many great women leaders that may not get that seat because a man just won't allow it to happen, right? We see that happen all the time. So, it is it is huge for you to be in this role as a leader with your girls watching, right? They get to see your mommy be a leader. You're truly the role model. And it's not about us. It's not about the work that we do. It's about those that are actually watching and those that we get to share our testimonies to. You know, it's going to be a young little girl that didn't know they can do it until they seen Katie, you know, and say, "Oh, but look at her. She's doing it. Yeah,

[34:35]  why couldn't I, you know, why can't I? And that's why I love to do what we do here at the Heart and Hustle. We really get to have these conversations, highlight some of the amazing leaders, um, with some phenomenal stories. Who would have thought mom and dad met each other at the Y, then, you know, the next generation met each other at the Y, and who knows, maybe your daughter meet somebody at the Y. Who freaking knows?

[34:55]  Many, many years from now.

[34:57]  Exactly. Exactly. Um, for someone that's disconnected, how can the YB the YMCA become their their anchor? Um, you know what I would say is I, you know, I just invite everyone to go visit your local YMCA, see what they have going on. It is not just a gym. I promise you that every single one of them are doing more than what you probably know. Um, so go uh go see what they have going on, ask questions, get involved. Um, we are a hub for transformational change, not just a gym. And each Y is unique in supporting their community. Um, the other thing that I really love about the Y is that we have something for everyone. You know, there are lots of really wonderful organizations out there that are very specific in who they serve. Um, but the why is unique and that's one of the reasons why I feel like every single staff person we have should be able to find something that they are passionate about because we are from birth to death. You know, like that gamut of what we offer is is so broad. Um, but it also means from a community perspective is there's a way to get connected. If you want to volunteer for youth program, if you want to volunteer for seniors or pickle ball, after school program, summer camp, a food program, the better, you know, there is probably something at your local Y that you can get connected with. And I promise you that Y needs you. you know, that why needs uh our community to step in and support, whether that is through volunteering, whether that's through joining, you know, the the the Y or the programs or through donations and support through philanthropy.

[36:32]  I'm happy you shared all that information because it's always when someone says YMCA, they go for the free swimming lessons. Yeah.

[36:39]  You know, I'm not going to lie to you. The last the I just we took our daughter to the YMCA for the swimming lessons.

[36:45]  Yeah. Before that, the last time I walked into YMCA had to be when I was 10 years old. I am 35 years old now. Right. So, we we when I walked into it, I was like, "Oh my god, I haven't been into it." You just always remember that first time you step into YMCA and what the YMCA looked like in your own community cuz they were so pivotal in our communities. We at least walked into them, you know, a handful of times, but knew that when we walked in, it felt very family, right? like the way I you can walk into a Planet Fitness, no knock on Planet Fitness, and you can walk into YMCA, but it's very genuine when someone's from the YMCA says, "Hey, how you doing?" They really truly care. You can see it in the sense of YMCA, while Planet Fitness is almost just a job. They're just there, right? So, there there's a difference there. So, I'm happy that you were able to share that there's so much going on, especially as we're going into summer for those that may need so much, you know, different things for their their communities or for their kids. I truly appreciate you um sharing that. But now, because believe it, I told you that the time will go by so fast. We're almost about 40 minutes into this. Believe it or not, I put you in the hot seat. And this is one of my favorite questions that I heard from a leader. It is, what is that one gift you didn't know you had?

[37:53]  Mhm.

[37:53]  But you now know. And when did you find out?

[37:58]  One gift.

[38:04]  I'll show you with mine while you think about it. Okay. So for mine was I didn't know my voice was my talent

[38:11]  for a very long time especially growing up people made fun of my voice um because of my my just upbringing right I always felt I was silenced like I could never really speak up and it wasn't probably until I was 30 years old where I realized oh my god my voice is that secret weapon of mine that God has blessed me with you know and now being able to do and realize I'm a storyteller you know when people like oh my god you give me chills oh my god you know people cry I realize like man god has given me the ability to really speak to others, to tell a story, to share my testimony. Um, and it wasn't almost I was 30 years old. Even though I've kind of already been doing it, I wasn't confident in it.

[38:48]  You know, I wasn't confident in speaking. And and now I'm like, "Oh, put me in front of any room. I'm confident. I I to the point it's like I in my mind I know what I'm going to say at times." But when I get on a stage, it's nothing scripted. It's whatever God is just going to let out, you know? And at the end of it, people's like, "Oh, that was so good." And I'm like, I don't know what I said. Thank God that he gave you all the words that are needed to make this feel good.

[39:12]  Yep.

[39:12]  So, what what is that secret weapon of yours?

[39:14]  Oh gosh. Um, let's see. Secret weapon. Um, you know, I I have to say, and this is five months in, this is me being a little bit vulnerable. Um, is my faith. So, I have always had a strong faith. I said I told you you know that stems from my nana my my grandmother um who instilled that in me and then through my my my parents and certainly growing up in in Y programs. But it wasn't until I accepted this job um that I realized that that faith in the outward spoken faith um has a bigger impact than I ever imagined. Um, you know, I feel like in my role, in my past roles, maybe that was overshadowed by all of the other faith stuff that the the Y does. Um but it wasn't until I truly started um you know putting vocalizing and putting that out there um that things really started to open up and um open my eyes to what that does to your leadership team but also like you said your the speeches when you're standing on stage and how God speaks to you. um you know, but that I I would say that's a secret weapon that I didn't know I had um prior to taking this role and really um putting that faith outward and in spoken word um that has surprised me.

[40:42]  I can't wait to hear more about what you do at the Y. I know it's been a short time. I'm going to have to do this at some point maybe after a year has gone by and figure out where you're at because I think that there is um you could just tell you're just happy you know and it could be a new role but even sometimes you take a new role in the same company it is what it's like just another day but no it seems like you're really excited of what's to come next because you have all these great ideas great team because we're not us without a team right it's never really about us it's about you know everyone else that we can bring up together um and highlight there a lot of the times like now what I'm I actually just had a board meeting yesterday and this gentleman I taken over a board I would say a little less than a year almost a year and he showed up maybe two months in he got brought in by a friend but it's we've been virtual for some time so I never seen what he looked like cuz he was always just no camera and then when we were in person he didn't show up so one day we were at an event and he comes he says hey I'm Michael and I'm like oh I finally you know and I

[41:43]  so he even though he's been with for months. Yesterday, he was the first person on the meeting. And I'm I'm at that place where it's like I'm trying to find everybody's strengths or or what they would love to do, you know, because we're we're a nonprofit, but none of us get paid. We're we're just giving our our love and our passion that we have for this. So, I was asking him, I'm like, "Man, what do you do for for work?" And then he said, "He's a project manager." So, oh, so you think you see things from an aerial view. You know, how to, you know, hold people accountable. XYZ. Yeah, that's what I do. I love and as I'm now as I'm going through the board meeting, I keep calling back Michael. Hey, Michael, this would be something really good. Right. Finding people's strengths and putting them in those places um are so important and you kind of just highlighted that a little earlier. So, I know you're in a good place. I know you're a great coach to the team and I know you have a great team that's going to really um succeed. So, thank you so much for sharing this. What is your your blind question to the next year we have here in the Heart and Hustle?

[42:35]  All right. My blind question is, what's one personal value that has most influenced your leadership style and how do you ensure that it resonates throughout your organization?

[42:46]  Okay. All right. I love it. I just realized you got a better together back there, too.

[42:51]  Yes. Oh, yeah. I have one above me, too, but I don't see it.

[42:54]  Oh, yeah. Yeah. You know, it's funny. I looked at that one plenty of times.

[42:56]  Send you some stickers and stuff. We We love our little track piece.

[42:59]  That is so funny. But Katie, we appreciate you so much for the time, um, for all the information, for continuing to be the resources in our communities. Um, I can imagine that I speak for all in those communities that it never goes unnoticed the work that is being done at the YMCA and I'm just happy that we get to highlight the leaders behind it because a lot of times the work is being done, we don't know who's doing the work. Not that we need the recognition, but it just feels a little bit good. Um, and it just allows us to always keep going. Sometimes this is just that push. It's like, man, I can't believe I did this, you I can't believe these y'all opportunities. I'm always grateful for the opportunities. Every morning I wake up, I'm like, man, thank God that this is what I get to do, you know, cuz people are still living a very comfortable life and unhappy. Comfortable and unhappy is crazy. Um, but living a happy life, doing the things that you truly love.

[43:45]  You can tell that's what you're doing, Katie, and you've done it for years. So, we thank you guys so much. If you guys are still watching, make sure you guys do like, comment, and subscribe. This has been E Fran and our amazing friend Katie. We'll catch you guys on the next episode. Bye.