Debbie Kemp, Chief People Officer for MediaCom and C-TEN and HRO Today Association member, talks advice, time travel, and her bucket list.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? Being a member of a leadership team who turned around a business within 18 months and then sold it.
If you weren’t in your current position/career, what would you be doing? I would be a contractor. I love renovating homes and the “doing” aspect of it. Very satisfying to see the finished product.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? To listen…. We have two ears for a reason, and it is so easy to forget how important it is to really listen to what is being said.
What would you tell your younger self now if you could? Step back and see the forest from the trees. It is easy to get caught up in the day to day. Would recommend a little more mindfulness and meditation.
What is your favorite place you have traveled to, and where have you not been that you would like to go? Love Kenya. I have been there a few times and it is still one of my most favorite environments. Love being outside and able to experience the circle of life.
Who has been the most influential person in your life? Oh, this is a challenging one. I might have to say my mother. I am not sure how much I appreciated her influence until she was not here to share it. Yep, definitely my mother.
Have you ever met anybody famous? Yes, living in New York it is hard not to meet someone famous. However, my favorite experience was when I was shooting craps with the coaching staff of the Yankees in Vegas…. They joined the table we were playing at and I helped win them a lot of money.
What is the best meal you have ever had? This is a challenging one to answer. Living in the NYC area there have been many amazing meals. My favorite though is dinner my son made for me: the main course was Coq au Vin.
Favorite book, song, movie? I have so many…. The one that comes to mind first is the movie Family Stone. It is a feel-good movie and one my son and I will watch together a few times a year.
If you could time travel, what time period would you visit? I am not really sure; however, I have read several books about Benjamin Franklin and for some reason am fascinated at what life might have been like during his time.
What items have you crossed off your bucket list? What is one item that is still on the list? Very fortunate to have traveled the world in my roles so many cities in Asia and Europe have been crossed off. However, I would still like to go to Patagonia, Chili. Activity wise, I still have sky diving on my bucket list.
Connect with Debbie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbieckemp/
