Her Story
About Kari
When I first started my degree, I was actually going for political science because I wanted to go into law and government. Halfway through political science, I kind of realized that this specific major of Poli Sci wasn't for me, so I switched over to our Strategic Legal and Management Communications Department. I had a professor who was in charge of the organizational communications sector, and I kind of just liked the classes that were under that major, like interpersonal communications and intercultural communications. I had planned to eventually take it to go get my master's, still to get involved in government and things. I graduated with my degree in organizational communications in 2023. After that, I went and spent some time working in Spain teaching English to kids in the public schools in Madrid. Then I came to my job as a transportation manager at Amazon. I've been in operations and transportation for almost 2 years now. I think I have worked in my field and have become successful in my field for the relationships that I've built. They're valuable. In the next 5 years, I would like to go back for my master's in something that'll put me in the government or law space, but while I get my master's, I'll continue at Amazon, hopefully going into supply chain management, and just getting a better understanding of large company structure and the way that it flows within supply chain. Then, in 5 years, hopefully I'll have made that transition over into a more community-based role doing my own form of organizing.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kari
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think for me, it's having a good family structure. My parents played a huge role. They are both, like, they both don't have their college degrees. They raised 6 kids together, and I grew up with 6 of us in the house at the same time, but I'm the youngest by 8 years, so I got to watch my siblings grow up and start their careers while I was still in high school. Watching my family and my siblings make it from where we started to where they are now has been very inspiring, and seeing my siblings build their businesses and build their own career paths has also been super inspiring. Seeing my parents do that for themselves as well without being able to go to college themselves, but put 3 of their kids through college was also pretty cool. I give a lot of credit to my parents and my family in general. The older I get, the more grateful I am for my family, because I know that it is not the same for everyone. I also attribute my success to the relationships that I've built in my field. They're valuable.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say, don't be intimidated. I think that this is a very male-dominated field, and when you enter it, it can be intimidating working in a field that is dominated by men, but especially trying to manage people who could be my father, some who could be my grandfather. I think that at first, when entering the role, I was a bit intimidated by that, but you're in the position for a reason, and just take the skills that you have learned thus far to lead your team in the way that makes sense to you, and then also stick with your gut. People will tell you how to do this, or how to do that, or what they have done, but you only know what works for you and your team. Get to know your team, get to know what you're doing, where you're working, and build relationships also. I think I have worked in my field and have become successful in my field for the relationships that I've built. They're valuable. So, yeah, build relationships and stick with your gut, and try not to be intimidated.
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