KATHLEEN RODENBURG
Q: Do you have any special or interesting talents?
A: I am a late vocation Academic. I have fifteen (15) years
of business and industry experience, holding senior
management positions at a Tier I organization in the areas
of marketing, sales, supply chain management and
finance. Furthermore, I had many human resource
responsibilities, including training and developing and
mentoring employees, succession planning, organizational
structure design, and hiring and dismissing employees.
Prior to returning to school I most recently was in the
position of Director of Marketing Innovation for Campbell’s
Canada. As such, I bring a very practical perspective to the
classroom. I am convinced that deeper learning will occur through the real world demonstration of theories and concepts. It is important where possible to not only teach students the central concepts and models from theory, but also provide a forum where they have exposure to the real world environment. As an example, classrooms set up as a virtual workplace environment aligned with an existing real-world global organization provide a forum where theories and concepts can be explained using real-world examples.
I am an avid sports enthusiast, both as a participant as well as a spectator. I have completed several marathons. I am very slow and therefore my dream to qualify for the Boston marathon will be a long time coming. I suspect by the time I am 70, the time requirement to qualify for the Boston will align with my age☺. I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (hardest thing I had ever done, next to giving birth;) in 2005 while working in Moshi, Tanzania at Amani- Amani Children’s home provides a safe and loving home, nutritious meals, and Medical care to homeless children in Kilimanjaro. The work involved assisting the organization in the development of strategic plan for fund raising. (However, playing with the kids was the most fulfilling aspect of the experience). I love watching all sports games associated with Notre Dame, ‘the Fighting Irish’!
Q: What did you want to be "when you grew up?"
A: When I was really little (12 years old), a veterinarian, until I realized that even a simple ketchup spill on a table caused an immediate fainting spell…I just didn’t have the stomach for it. I think a more appropriate way to phrase this question for me is ‘What do I want to be when I grow up?’ I still don’t know! I can’t speak in terms of specific career or job title as that continuously evolved for me, and will continue to evolve. What I do know is that I want to always be challenged by opportunities and that these opportunities will often be cleverly disguised as obstacles. I also know that with my education comes privileges and therefore I have an obligation to use these privileges in a meaningful way that makes even small differences toward a better world. Therefore, an ideal career would be one where I would be able to ‘inspire students’, to create their own possibilities, to silence the voice inside their head that says…I cannot do this and encourage them to ask how they can make a difference today and tomorrow. It has been very encouraging and incredibly calming for me to know that the University of Waterloo students that I have come in contact with thus far will go out into the world and be our future!
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