Rethinking fear
USA
One of the first five females in the U.S Secret Service, trail blazer, innovator, inspirational speaker, overcoming adversity speaker
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“The perfect blend of warmth, humor, and information … I only wish you had all day to talk."
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About Kathryn
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“Use your fear as an action, not an excuse. If you do it scared, imagine what your life could be no matter what life dares you to do; do it scared.” – speaker Kathryn Childers
In the late 60’s, speaker Kathryn Childers was expected to be a teacher, find a husband, and quietly settle down. Instead, Kathryn took off to Washington D.C., and started a secretarial job with a Colorado Congressman. Not her dream job, but by great chance in 1970, the United States Secret Service decided to recruit female special agents, and Kathryn was hired as one the first five women in their history to carry the badge and a .357 magnum revolver.
Proceeding through uncharted waters with an aim and a sense of humor, Kathryn protected Caroline and John Kennedy, Jr. while traveling with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, the First Family – the Nixon’s, and foreign dignitaries such as the Queen of Spain. On the flip side, she also worked undercover to ferret out threats against the President and counterfeiters.
Her marriage to a Corpus Christi psychiatrist brought her to Texas. Kathryn hosted her television talk show for 18 years and started a media/publishing company that published and sold more than 100,000 books based on a fluke Christmas Eve Texas snowstorm.
Kathryn credits the Secret Service for jump-starting her fascinating life, and perhaps it was her willingness to step into the line of fire that set the stage for a lifetime commitment to community service. Kathryn initiated First Friday, a group that has funded more than 16,000 free mammograms. In her spare time, Kathryn dons elaborate clown garb to cheer up youngsters at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. No surprise, she is “Sassy the Sheriff” complete with boots, spurs, and a big red nose!
As she retires to Rockport, she and her husband loaded up their two cocker spaniels and hit the road in their 25-foot Airstream trailer, seeing America by day and writing her book “Do It Scared” by night.
See keynotes with Kathryn ChildersKathryn Childers’ decision to just “do it scared” led to her an appointment as one of the first five female Special Agents in the United States Secret Service. After smashing that glass ceiling, she protected the President, First Family, foreign heads of state as well as John and Caroline Kennedy while traveling the globe with Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Even Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis noted, “Agent Clark (Childers), you live such an interesting life.”
Audience takeaways:
Kathryn brings the perfect balance of a one-of-a-kind experience blended with story-telling charm taking audiences on a jaw-dropping ride-along sharing anecdotes of training and protecting some the world’s most important people
Kathryn coaches students to “sell their sizzle” by weaving nuggets of advice garnered during her 60 exciting years and four amazing careers into this presentation. She shows how to leverage one’s “backpack of experience,” nail an interview, and be interested versus interesting in on-stage interviews.
Audience takeaways:
As a U.S. Secret Service Agent, broadcast journalist, author, philanthropist, publisher, wife and mother, Kathryn Childers adjusted both her career track and personal life many, many times over. Although accustomed to change, her husband’s dementia and sudden retirement from a thriving psychiatric practice threw this “reinvention veteran” a curve ball. When retirement presented unexpected challenges, Kathryn quickly learned that aging gracefully was not her only option!
Audience takeaways:
After being appointed as one of the first five female United States Secret Service Agents, Kathryn put together a patchwork of unbelievable careers including life as a broadcast journalist and host of her own local television show for 18 years.
Audience takeaways:
Kathryn Childers shattered gender barriers as one of the first five female United States Secret Service Agents hired in 1971. Feeling like “a mouse in the pocket of history” during tumultuous times, she shares stories of protecting President Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and the Queen of Spain.
Audience takeaways:
Her personal anecdotes of protecting the youngsters while traveling with them and their mother to Greece, Austria, Hyannis Port, Washington D.C, and New York City are both entertaining and heartwarming. Kathryn takes you on her remarkable and unlikely journey how a young woman with an elementary education degree from Colorado landed at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!
“Look up ‘role model’ and there you see Kathryn Childers. A trailblazer throughout her life, she tells women of all ages to be brave, take risks – ‘do it scared.’ She is a most eloquent speaker – and funny! And I should know, after my 30 years of keynoting on stage with celebrities for audiences of thousands. Kathryn is the real deal who inspires and is unforgettable!
MIMI DONALDSON
“Kathryn was an amazing speaker! Everyone wanted her to talk forever! She had her five main points for people to take away from her presentation, which was great as it allowed our audience to have tangible things to work on when they left. And all of her stories were so captivating. She was hilarious, relate-able, interesting, knowledgeable, and super sweet. She even bought me a sweet tea from Chick-Fil-A
MEREDITH MILLER
Kathryn Childers might be one of the best motivational speakers I have ever heard. She spoke to a group of women lawyers, and she had the entire group spellbound – no small feat for a slightly skeptical crowd! Since this was a lunchtime event, and many lawyers have to be in the courtroom by 1:30 p.m., people start to leave by 1 p.m. She stopped her speech to allow the herd to leave out the back door, and almost no one left! I had never seen that and still have not since.
KATHLEEN DAY
We are so grateful to you for sharing your lifetime of adventure, danger, accomplishment, and great fun
Candace O’Keefe
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