Her Story
About Khanner
I wear many hats in my professional life, but everything I do centers around mental health awareness and suicide prevention. I'm currently the reigning Mrs. Virginia Regency International, and full-time I serve as a children, youth, and young adult music director for two different churches. Before this, I taught middle school chorus for 5 years in a very challenging demographic, and I was recognized by the state of Virginia as a leading and rising educator in my first year of education, which was exciting to be recognized across the entire Commonwealth for my leadership and stewardship of the job as an educator. I also act part-time, finding creative outlets to express myself outside of music. My platform started in 2016 after I saw one of my classmates die by suicide in college. It wasn't an environment where we talked about those things, especially at a historically Black college where it's almost foreign to talk about anxiety. That life experience prompted me to have more open dialogue in all spaces. I went into education to help youth find their voices because I was once mute, I did not talk, but I sang more than I would talk. So I wanted to reach the youth while they are in that pliable age to find their voice and their reason to keep going, especially post-pandemic, finding the outlets that reach them best. That pulls all three things together: addressing mental health and suicide prevention, going into the arts, and ministry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Khanner
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to authenticity. Authenticity is the roadmap to success. When you navigate life, the challenges, transitions, and growth, publicly and privately, eventually you learn to lead with both grace and resilience, so others can connect, not seeking perfection, but connection. If I wasn't myself through and through, I wouldn't be where I am. And my mentor, if she was not true to herself, she wouldn't have impacted my life the same way. So whether it's ministry, pageantry, or performance, being true to who you are will be the roadmap to success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received came from my mentor Claudia Plowden, who normalized rest for me. She taught me to take the time I need to reset, because the classroom will be there, but I need to be healthy enough to be there in the classroom. She instilled in me resilience and the importance of breaks. She talked me off many ledges when it came to first year of teaching, or any teaching, in a pandemic age, or even with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and their hormones. She mentored me beyond the classroom as a musician, as a woman, even in faith.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Authenticity is the roadmap to success. When you navigate life, the challenges, transitions, and growth, publicly and privately, eventually you learn to lead with both grace and resilience, so others can connect, not seeking perfection, but connection. If I wasn't myself through and through, I wouldn't be where I am. And my mentor, if she was not true to herself, she wouldn't have impacted my life the same way. So whether it's ministry, pageantry, or performance, being true to who you are will be the roadmap to success.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value to me is being present for someone to feel seen and empowered to grow into being more. I believe we all need somebody to take the time to not only listen, but walk through things with us. Once you see the heart of the student, you see it just takes somebody walking through life with them to make the difference. I don't take it lightly to be invited to walk life with someone. Whether it's helping students through college auditions, preparing them for scholarships, or just being there through every challenge, that connection and presence is what matters most to me. It's about authenticity and connection, not seeking perfection.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Virginia
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.