HerStory™: Kathryn Dudley

HerStory™ featuring Kathryn Dudley, Principal & Co-Founder of RogueSearch. Kathryn shares her 24-hour rule and how her commitment to allowing space for people has shaped her career accomplishment.

I am most passionate about . . .
Being kind.

I really believe we were put on this Earth to serve and help people.
Everyone I encounter, I want them to leave the conversation feeling good. Whether I am at the grocery store, at the coffee shop, or on a walk. People are hard enough on themselves as it is, and we have the opportunity to interact with them and build them up instead of tearing them down. To quote the shirt of a man I saw on my walk, “love cures all” – and that is the point of everything.

My greatest career hurdle has been . . . 

Stealing from the movie title- Me, Myself and Irene – I would say Me, Myself and I: I have been my best and worst enemy!  I have been responsible for many hurdles. I own it – I regret it!  I wish I had more confidence in my earlier career!

My greatest career accomplishment has been . . .
Allowing space for people.

I get to coach individuals to be themselves. To take the fundamentals of their job duties and how to use their own personality, their own attributes, their previous work experiences to have the confidence to do the tasks of their jobs. They don’t have to replicate me, or another person, but take the best traits of themselves, and the best traits of what they see, and allow their personality to shine. I have an amazing team, and I have grown so much as a coach. Thank you, God, for showing me how to be a better coach and mentor to my team.

I believe the greatest opportunity for future generations of women leaders is . . .
Bond together. Leave high school cliques behind.

Embrace the high together. When you reach that height, reach out your hand to have others join you. We are not in competition with each other. We are here to climb together and build each other up.

The mentor who has the greatest impact on my career has been . . .

My first is God.
I don’t know how or who I would be without Him.
If you believe and lead a Christian life, it means that you are living your life with kindness, and
it will transcend into your career.

David, my husband, has been a great co-pilot.
I was a division 1 athlete. I was competitive. I was driven.

I worked 24/7 and I was going to make a name for myself.
In that drive, you sometimes forget to be kinder…David would remind me to be curious not furious and look at different perspectives. We check each other, and we balance each other.

If I could meet one person who I believe has had the greatest impact on the growth and development of women, it would be . . .
Mother Teresa.

I have this quote in my office and it reminds me of the focus I want to have every day:
“People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”

Princess Diana.
She took a lot of heat. She was told to do and act a certain way for most of her life, but then, she didn’t anymore. She was stylish and passionate and represents strength and conviction.

To me, inclusivity means . . .
Give back in any way possible.

We need to share everything that we learn.
There’s often a fear in people that if they share their secret sauce, they’ll lose their power.
Share your struggles and how you overcame it…don’t hide the recipe.

The greatest piece of advice I have to give women is…
The 24-hour rule.

When you get an email that you don’t like, or someone says something that causes anger to stir
inside of you, wait 24 hours to respond. I guarantee in 24 hours your response will be kinder, and you will have a much better answer for them.

Don’t respond when you’re angry.  I read the book Untamed by Glennon Doyle –  she talks about emotion and how to figure out where its coming from within you… She says, “Sit in it” and figure it out. Don’t try and figure it out right away, don’t call your friends. Sit it in it until you figure it out. When you do, you will have a much different perspective and your heart and mind will be clear and work together for the best answer to come out.