Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: Hi! I’m Kailee and I’m a wife to Justin, mom of three beautiful young kiddos, Archer, Mackoy, and Millie, and a dog mom to an energetic German Shepherd, Olive. Most days our life is pure chaos chasing around the kids but we wouldn’t have it any other way. My husband and I met at our hometown high school in Clara City, MN. When I have downtime, I enjoy reading, spending time with my family and friends, enjoying my parents’ lake place, and holiday baking; and am excited for my newest venture into all things sourdough.
I attended North Dakota State University for both undergrad and pharmacy school where I graduated in 2015 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy and minors in chemistry and business administration. After graduation, I moved to Minneapolis where I completed two years of postgraduate residency training in ambulatory care pharmacy practice. In the fall of 2023, I started in my current role of the Pharmacy Quality Manager at UCare, a non-profit health plan serving MN and western WI where I lead a team of pharmacists who support our members with their medications through telephonic medication reviews and helping them overcome barriers they may face related to their health and medications. I feel fortunate to have found a company that values and encourages giving back to the community.
Q: Who are some people who have been influential in your journey?
A: There have been many strong women leaders in my life who have seen leadership potential in me early on in my career, taken a chance on me when I had very little leadership experience, and continue to be mentors and women I look to as examples of the type of leader I want to be. However, the most influential people in my journey have been and continue to be my parents, siblings, and my husband. Growing up, I had the opportunity to see firsthand through my parents, Tom and Lisa, how working hard, serving others, and never giving up when facing adversity are staples of a life well lived. My mom is one of the strongest and most selfless women I know. Without their encouragement to dream big and support and confidence in me when facing setbacks, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Q: What drives you?
A: At a young age, my parents instilled in me the importance of serving others with a compassionate heart and the value of being involved in your community. I believe this, along with my faith, is where my drive for wanting to lead a life of serving others in both my personal and professional life stems from.
Q: Tell us about some resources that have changed the way you view leadership.
A: In a previous role, when I was a new manager, I had the opportunity to complete an Emerging Leaders Program. Through this program, I was able to dive into content related to the different styles of leadership, communication skills, and a focus on growth mindset. It also helped me better understand the important difference between managing and leading others and allowed me to further develop my self-reflection skills so I can work to continue to grow as a leader.
Q: What are some important life lessons you have learned?
A: You never truly know what someone else is facing so always lead with kindness; you may just be the difference they need that day. You will make a mistake (or multiple) at some point in your life, take the time to reflect on what happened, apologize when necessary, and learn how to approach differently in the future.
Q: What are some of your favorite things to do in our community?
A: Having young children, we like to try out the different indoor and outdoor playgrounds/experiences and as they get older, getting more involved in community activities. You can catch us at the zoo most Saturday mornings in the Spring-Fall months! We enjoy time spent at the downtown and West Fargo Red River Valley Farmer’s Markets, supporting our local businesses, and trying out different restaurants, bars/breweries, coffee shops, etc.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: This is a question I always struggle with answering because while it’s important to have a vision and goal for the future (I’ve had many), I think it is equally important to also keep an open mind to opportunities that may come outside the scope of your vision. In 10 years, I hope to be involved in a community organization that I am passionate about, continuing to work for a company that invests in the community and its team members, and spending as much time with my family as possible.
Q: What are you hoping to gain from the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program?
A: While I’m excited about the personal and professional growth I know I will gain from this program to be the best mom, wife, colleague, and leader to my team that I can be, I’m also hoping to become more connected to our community and create connections with other passionate and driven women in this group. My husband and I relocated back to the Fargo-Moorhead area two years ago and had two of our three children since moving so I haven’t invested as much time into finding ways to give back and contribute to the community as I would like and I look forward to learning more about the ways I am able to get more involved. I’m also excited to take the time to reinvest in myself through this program.
