Besides that, I find the most critical and powerful mix of skill sets to be the following: 1) a curiosity for the Earth and ocean system 2) a skepticism to do your own research and ask tough questions, and 3) a passion to combat the climate crisis.
Who is your biggest inspiration? Beyond the paycheck, why do you continue to wake up and go to work each day?
I have had a lot of strong women in my life who have served as inspirations at different points in my career. I would say that right now my biggest inspiration is back to being my mom. As the first woman firefighter in San Diego, she had to deal with being shot down over and over at work. Sometimes that is how I feel in a job working on climate, where I am continually reminded of how far we have to go, how little time we have and how slow progress moves. However, she stayed committed to her passion, and so will I. Speaking of passion, I love working on a highly passionate team. Coming to work each day is easy when everyone is working apart but together towards a common goal. This goes for the day-to-day tasks, but also as an organization. We aim to serve and act as stewards for the ocean. There is something really special about that!
What do you like to do when you are not saving the oceans?
When I get the chance to be by the water, you cannot get me out of it. I love swimming, paddle boarding, scuba diving and snorkeling, and I just picked up surfing. If I'm inland, you can catch me hiking with my dog Cora or reading a book in a hammock.
This interview was answered by Gabby Kitch (interviewee) in her personal capacity. The opinions expressed in this article are the interviewee's own and do not reflect the view of NOAA.
