Casey Keen

I attribute my success to consistency, resilience, and a willingness to learn in real time. I’ve spent years building trust by showing up prepared, staying adaptable, and doing the work thoroughly, whether in executive environments that demand precision or in advocacy spaces that require empathy and courage.

Equally important, I’ve learned to let lived experience inform leadership. Navigating birth trauma, postpartum complications, and systemic gaps in maternal care clarified my values and sharpened my voice. Instead of separating professional excellence from personal truth, I learned how to integrate them. That combination, operational discipline paired with emotional intelligence, has allowed me to create meaningful impact, build credible partnerships, and sustain momentum over time. Success, for me, hasn’t come from a single moment or title, but from staying grounded in purpose, listening closely, and continuing to build even when the path wasn’t clear.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was simple: be excellent where you are, and let that excellence compound. Titles change. Roles evolve. But reputation follows you. Early in my career, I learned that consistency builds credibility. If you handle details well, protect trust, solve problems before they escalate, and treat people with respect, doors open in ways you can’t always predict. Excellence isn’t loud, but it’s powerful. I’ve also learned that growth doesn’t always look like a straight line. Sometimes it’s lateral. Sometimes it’s deeply personal. The key is to keep building skills, stay adaptable, and never underestimate the long-term impact of doing your work well, even when no one is applauding in the moment.

Don’t wait to feel ready, start writing anyway, and take your work seriously from the beginning. Treat writing as a craft, not a hobby, and learn the business side alongside the creative one. Publishing rewards persistence, clarity of voice, and the ability to revise far more than raw talent. Read widely, write consistently, and get comfortable with feedback without losing yourself in it. Protect your voice, but stay teachable. You don’t need to write what’s trending. You need to write what’s true for you, and do it well. Most importantly, understand that writing careers are built over time. Rejections are not a verdict on your worth or your future. The women who last are the ones who keep going, keep learning, and keep showing up on the page long after the initial excitement fades

The biggest challenge in the writing world right now is standing out in a crowded digital ecosystem without sacrificing depth or authenticity. So much content competes for attention that writers can feel pressured to chase trends instead of telling the stories that matter. That tension can dilute meaningful work and make it harder for important voices, especially those rooted in real experience, to find an audience.

At the same time, that challenge is also the greatest opportunity: readers are hungry for connection, honesty, and lived truth. Platforms like social media, newsletters, podcasts, and online communities allow writers to build direct relationships with audiences without gatekeepers. There has never been a better time for writers with clarity of voice and purpose to create work on their own terms and find the people who truly value it. For writers focused on topics like maternal health, emotional complexity, and lived experience, the opportunity lies in forging communities around stories that have historically been overlooked or simplified. The industry rewards those who can combine craft with courage and use new tools thoughtfully rather than reactively

The values that guide both my work and personal life are integrity, empathy, discipline, and courage. Integrity means doing what I say I will do, protecting trust, and holding myself to a high standard whether anyone is watching or not. In executive environments, that looks like precision and discretion. In writing and advocacy, it means telling the truth responsibly and backing lived experience with research and accountability.

Empathy shapes how I lead and create. I believe impact happens when people feel seen and understood. Whether I’m supporting senior leadership or writing about postpartum realities, I approach the work with emotional intelligence and respect for complexity. Discipline keeps ideas from staying ideas. Consistency, preparation, and follow-through are what turn passion into results. And courage is what allows me to speak about difficult topics, challenge systemic gaps in maternal care, and share stories that are often minimized. Growth requires discomfort, and I’ve learned that meaningful work usually lives on the other side of it. At the core, I value connection, excellence, and purposeful change. Everything I build is rooted in those principles.