At SPS, Kathleen...
- Learned negotiation as a tool to fight gender inequality
- Developed a nuanced understanding of conflict resolution
- Did research in the Philippines on female empowerment
- Acquired the background she needed to explore a new path…
You were an established PR professional when you came to Columbia SPS. What drew you here?
When I worked at Ketchum, which is an international agency, I was part of the Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility team. I was looking for a way to build on my experience and steer my career toward social change. I wanted a position that partnered with nonprofits in some way. I was looking for programs that were international, or something that could translate into that field.
Did NCER fill the bill?
I would say so. The program has an international perspective. My course of study combined exercises in negotiation and conflict resolution and applied them on a global scale.
You also found negotiation and conflict resolution as a way to deal with gender inequality, didn’t you?
Yes. Women tend not to negotiate their salaries. I’m a self-identified feminist, and I was aware of that wage gap even before I got into the program. There’s an art to getting what you want. If you can’t get the salary you asked for, negotiate for a parking space, more vacation, for the budget to attend a conference. Conflict resolution is very transferable to your personal and professional life. The whole process taught me how to engage without being defensive—or offensive.
How did the SPS program help you in changing the direction of your career?
I really gained a professional outlook by graduating from a prestigious school. When I finished, I got interviews with nonprofits. I eventually connected with the International Rescue Committee, where I’m working today
