Katie Iliff Oberman

I attribute my success to the core values that were instilled in me from a young age - being responsible, honest, caring, and respectful. Those qualities became the foundation for the person I am today. They guide how I show up as an educator, a mentor, and a leader. People are inspired not just by what I say, but by how I handle situations - with patience, calmness, and a genuine desire to figure things out, even when it doesn't work the first time. My team gravitates toward me because they know I care. The kids I work with feel that love and authenticity, and it makes a real difference. My success isn't tied to one moment or one achievement - it comes from consistently living out those values and allowing them to shape the way I lead. When I embraced who I truly am and invited others to join me, the right people showed up. And that's been a huge part of my growth.

The best career advice I've learned is to pause before assuming a problem is a 'people problem.' Instead of jumping to frustration or blame, I've learned to step back and ask whether the issue might actually be a system problem - something they weren't told, didn't have access to, or didn't feel comfortable asking about. That mindset removes so much unnecessary tension. It takes away the animosity, the irritation, and that pit-in-your-stomach feeling when you think someone 'should know better.' It also puts responsibility back on us as leaders to ask, 'Is there something I didn't explain? Is there support they're missing? How can I help?' Realizing that mistakes often come from gaps in the system - not flaws in the person - has made my team stronger, my relationships healthier, and my leadership more grounded. It's advice I use with my colleagues, my friends, and myself.

My advice to young women is to be patient with yourself. You're going to have moments where you feel nervous, unsure, or anxious - and that's normal. I go through those emotions every day. What matters is giving yourself the space to figure out what works for you and what works for your team. You won't get everything perfect the first time, and you don't need to. Sometimes you'll have to tackle things twice, and that's going to be okay. In the beginning, I thought I had to be so perfect every time, and that just is never going to be successful for anyone. Now I just take a deep breath, and I'm patient. The more patient we can be, the easier it is to get to the end goal. Just telling people, hey, it's okay, we're going to figure it out, has been such a gift.

One of the biggest challenges in our industry is working closely with school districts during a time when education is constantly shifting. There's so much information circulating in the news, and often the districts themselves are still trying to figure out how to process it. That means we sometimes have to take a backseat and wait for their decisions before we can move forward. This past year especially has been full of last-minute changes - adjusting programs on the fly, responding to new needs, and staying flexible as things evolve. It's kept all of us on our toes and really tested the resilience we thought we mastered during COVID. The ebb and flow of what schools require can be unpredictable, and adapting quickly has become a core part of the job. But with those challenges come real opportunities. Every shift forces us to grow, to innovate, and to strengthen our ability to respond to what families and schools truly need. It pushes us to be more resilient, more creative, and more collaborative. And being part of an organization like the YMCA means we're committed to showing up no matter what. We adjust, we learn, and we keep moving forward. The opportunity lies in that resilience - proving that we can evolve with the times and continue serving our communities in meaningful, impactful ways.

The values that matter most to me are responsibility, kindness, and understanding. I take seriously the idea that people - especially kids and young adults - look to us as examples. That awareness shapes how I speak, how I act, and how I lead. I believe in following the golden rule, being gentle, and remembering that you never know what someone else is going through. That mindset guides me in every part of my life. I try to approach situations with patience and empathy, whether I'm working with my team or supporting the kids in our programs. At the end of the day, I want to be a good person and create an environment where others feel encouraged to do the same. I've been fortunate to be surrounded by people who share those values, and I hope the way I show up inspires others to carry them forward too.