Her Story
About Katherine
Katherine Dederle recently graduated from UNC Charlotte in August with a degree in communications. She has spent the past couple of years in a management position at a bar in Uptown Charlotte, where she has applied communication practices to improve coordination among staff, management, and stakeholders. Dederle is now seeking to pivot into internal and corporate communications, noting the overlap with marketing and the need to build additional skills to advance. While returning to school, she achieved placement on the Chancellor's list, joined the Honor Society, and earned all A's despite personal difficulties. She attributes her success to the opportunities available, such as FAFSA eligibility, and to maintaining discipline and grit, living by the principle to shoot for the moon and land on a star. Dederle values locking in on goals, surrounding herself with community, and saying yes to meaningful moments while setting boundaries.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katherine
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think given that I have the opportunity to do so. Sometimes it's a pain, sometimes life gets a lot, but considering the opportunities that we have in this country, like not many people qualify for FAFSA, so that was a blessing in itself. Baking each and every day as it comes. When I decided to go back to school, my life started falling apart at the same time, but that didn't stop me from getting on the chancellor's list, being part of the Honor Society, and getting all A's. If you really want to, you'll find a way to make it happen.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Not directly from counselors, but seeing the tenacity in all of my professors and how they were able to navigate their jobs and their lives was always really inspiring. One thing I try to live by is shoot for the moon and you'll land on a star. The people that have that grit will make it happen one way or another.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Honestly, I would just say rip it. Like, just do it. If you find something, sign up for something, you're gonna have to follow through with that. Maybe you don't have that motivation in you, but you have to at least practice. Discipline is a practice. For things that maybe you might not want to do, you'll be forced to do it, and then you'll be glad that you did it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Communications and marketing kind of overlap. If you want to do marketing you would have to probably teach yourself a couple more skills. I'm going for internal and corporate communications, so it's gonna be climbing up the ladder a bit. It's not something that I have seen in this very moment that has a high demand as much as I had anticipated it to, but that's not to say that it's not possible. I just gotta make my own doors to open.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Saying yes to the moments, and saying no to comments. Some people think they can do it all, and unfortunately life is gonna be a little boring for a bit, but you kind of have to lock in if this is what you really want. Set down, grind. Grounded in opportunity, community, and surrounding yourself with tribes.
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