Her Story
About Kathleen
Kathleen O'Donnell Dew, also known as Kat Dew, is a San Diego–based author, speaker, counselor, and spiritual director whose life's work centers on helping women reclaim their identity, heal from trauma, and step into their God-given purpose. She currently serves as Spiritual Director at Safe Passage Heals, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and children affected by domestic violence, where she provides counseling, advocacy, and even courtroom representation for survivors who cannot afford legal assistance. Her path to this calling was forged in her own experience of profound loss — including divorce, the death of a stillborn child, the sudden passing of her eighteen-year-old son, and later the loss of her second husband to cancer — trials that she transformed into a ministry of empathy, healing, and restoration for others walking through similarly dark seasons.
Kathleen's writing reflects the same themes of faith and purpose that define her counseling work. Her debut book, Divine Setups: Coincidence or Destiny?, explores the idea that unexpected moments in life are often guided by a higher hand, while her follow-up, Special Ops Women: Identity, Authority, and Impact, draws inspiration from her son's service as a U.S. Air Force Pararescue Jumper to encourage women to recognize their own inner strength and calling. Beyond authorship, she has spent decades as a life coach and ministry leader, holding roles as Vice President of Dewnamis Ministries Inc. and President of A Single Heart Ministries, through which she has offered marriage counseling, discipleship programs, and motivational speaking across Southern California and internationally in more than thirty countries.
At the heart of Kathleen's philosophy is the conviction that identity must precede assignment — that true confidence and impact flow from understanding who one is before pursuing what one does. She has carried this message to audiences at healing crusades, ministry summits, and survivor-led events, including a gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she helped give voice to women who had long felt overlooked or forgotten. Guided by compassion, faith, and an unwavering commitment to service, Kathleen continues to mentor and uplift women toward lives marked by hope, resilience, and renewed purpose.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kathleen
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my lifelong relationship with God and the divine guidance I've experienced throughout my life — what I often call "divine setups." My faith has given me the resilience and consistency to keep showing up for others, even through my own seasons of loss and hardship. It's that foundation of faith, combined with a commitment to persistence and service, that has shaped every opportunity I've been given.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best guidance I've ever received didn't come from a mentor in the traditional sense — it came through my relationship with God. At thirteen, I committed my life to Christ during a Billy Graham crusade, and I held onto the promise of Daniel 11:32: those who know their God will be strong and will do great things. That scripture has carried me through every season of my life and taught me that real strength comes from a personal relationship with God, not just religious tradition.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to first discover who they are before focusing on what they do. Identity has to come before achievement. I'd tell them to be present in the moment, to make space for reflection and for God's guidance, and to genuinely invite that presence into their lives so they can learn to hear and follow it. I also urge them to seek wise counsel and never let painful experiences or feelings of inadequacy define their future. Every woman carries extraordinary value and the capacity to make a lasting impact once she steps into her authentic purpose.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see is the difficulty of separating identity from performance — too many women measure their worth by titles, achievements, or others' expectations rather than their intrinsic value. On a practical level, I also see real challenges in the harsh litigation environment and the lack of resources available to survivors of domestic violence. At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity. Through storytelling, books, summits, and collaboration, we can give survivors a platform, amplify their voices, and help women become transformational leaders in their families, communities, and organizations. When women understand their identity and purpose, they become a force for healing and restoration in the world.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion, faith, and service guide everything I do. My commitment to helping others has been shaped by decades of ministry, travel to more than thirty countries, and also by profound personal loss — including divorce, the loss of a stillborn child, the death of my eighteen-year-old son, and the passing of my second husband. Rather than letting that grief define me, I've turned it into a ministry of healing and empathy for others walking through their own dark seasons. I also hold deeply to empathy, authenticity, integrity, deep listening, empowerment, and inclusivity — values that shape how I show up for the women I serve and for my own family and community.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.