Her Story
About Kendra
Kendra Kenney serves as Executive Director of a nonprofit dedicated to feeding hungry people in Hernando County, Florida. She has held this role for approximately four and a half years, managing all facility operations, volunteer coordination, donations, and compliance with the Florida Department of Health. Her professional journey began in marketing 25 years ago in engineering plastics, where she earned her MBA after completing an undergraduate degree in business. She later worked in marketing for a telecommunications company during its bankruptcy and rebranding, followed by roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers and a law firm focused on property insurance claims. This experience led her to seek positions that help people, culminating in her current nonprofit leadership. She values confidence and self-advocacy, particularly for women in professional settings, drawing from her own career challenges.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kendra
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
When I think back of some of the things as a woman I had to go through just to prove my value, you know, the things that you face every day, you're always looked at differently than your male counterpart. You have to make yourself known, but you can't be too assertive, and then you're considered aggressive. It's walking that fine line. The older I became, the more confident I was in who I am. I knew what I know and what I could do, and I wasn't going to let anybody simply just because I was a woman try to tell me otherwise. Learn confidence in yourself, take the word sorry for the most part out of your vocabulary. We're always apologizing when something goes wrong. Assume the responsibility but you don't have to apologize for everything. Own up to it but you don't have to apologize for everything.
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