Gendered Experiences in Leadership with Amy Kemp

We are now in the first days of autumn, and there isn’t a better time to be in New England. When I first moved to Boston, one person told me that spring was the best time in New England. I never again trusted anything that person ever told me. Fall is the best time, and perhaps September is the best month in the fall. Not that I don’t like the winter, because I do (as long as there is snow to Nordic ski on). But when things get a bit cooler and the leaves change, the sweaters and hoodies some out, it is a pretty fantastic time of the year.

Another part of autumn is the fall sports season. The general sport of cultural choice in the US is of course football. My daughter plays field hockey, which is another great fall sport. I have no clue about the rules or the strategy, but it is fun to watch. And there is something great in seeing teams of young people do something else other than be on their phones. Sport definitely gives them a sense of self and structure and camaraderie that much of contemporary society can take apart, especially for young women. Additionally, I can say that my daughter is lucky enough to have great coaches as well, as the type of coach you have can dictate the type of season you have.

As the father of three daughters, one of my main goals as a parent is to give them a sense of confidence and worth that comes from inside of them, and isn’t dependent on external affirmation. I’m not a woman, so I don’t know what it is like to be a woman in society. But I am aware enough to know that there can be challenges unique to women who live in a culture that has been molded around patriarchal foundations. Those traditions can be hard to overcome given how embedded they are in explicit and tacit ways, often giving to the notion “That’s just the way things are because that’s how they’ve always been.”

My guest today is a woman and a former athlete, who also is a leader who helps others (especially women) realize the leadership potential they already possess. Amy Kemp started her career in education before shifting to sales, where she began to appreciate her leadership abilities. Both fields share in common the need to motivate people through leadership. Also, both areas can present challenges to women who exhibit those leadership qualities. These experiences led her to write the book “I See You”, which she describes as a guide for women to make more, have more, and be more - without more work. 

We talk about the challenge of teaching Shakespeare and why discomfort is vital to growth. We explore how bureaucracy can be the enemy of innovation, and how processes can override creativity. Amy talks about the presence of “yelling culture” in leadership, and the need to shift that dynamic. Finally, Amy shares the origin of her book's title, "I See You," which was inspired by a meaningful conversation with a woman who felt unappreciated, misunderstood, and generally not seen. This connects to broader themes of visibility and judgment, particularly in social media, and how these concepts relate to the book's title and its broader implications for women in the workplace. 

Through her coaching work, Amy helps clients receive pay raises, acquire high-paying clients, and achieve work-life balance. She emphasizes that her role is not about telling people what to do, but rather creating a space where they can find clarity and make their own decisions about income, quality of life, and purpose. 

Amy Kemp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-kemp-7842a1a6/

Amy Kemp: https://amykemp.com/