The Power of ‘Just Start’ – Kitty Brandtner
Invested Podcast | Season 2 Episode 3
Kitty Brandtner was totally engaged and fulfilled in her corporate sales role when a pivotal event led her to advocacy work and founding a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Hear her story about tapping into your passion, avoiding overthinking and jumping in to achieve meaningful change and personal fulfillment.
In This Episode
Sarah Gaul
Managing Director, Baird
Sarah Gaul is a Managing Director in Baird’s Global Investment Banking business. As a senior member of the firm’s Financial Sponsors Group (FSG), she provides advice and support to private equity firms.
Kitty Brandtner
Founder, March Fourth
After 14 years as a full-time sales executive, Kitty Brandtner experienced a pivotal event that led her to full-time advocacy work. What began as grassroots efforts turned into founding a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, March Fourth, focused on ending mass shootings in America.
Moderator:
Angela Pittman Taylor
Director of Corporate Communications, Baird
As director of Corporate Communications, Angela oversees Baird’s global Public Relations and Internal Communications practice. Additionally, she leads Baird’s Chicago-area brand strategy and advises on the firm’s Inclusion & Diversity marketing strategy.
Transcript
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Meet Kitty Brandtner, founder of March Fourth
Angela Pittman Taylor
Welcome to Invested. We are hosting a mini-series on how to build and sustain fulfilling, engaging careers throughout the different seasons of life with bold and authentic choices. We're talking to several women about their stories in doing this, and we really hope that listeners will find wisdom and inspiration from those stories.
My co-host for this mini-series is Sarah Gaul. Sarah is a Managing Director in our Global Investment Banking business. Sarah, welcome. How are you doing?
Sarah Gaul
I'm doing so well. And can you always intro me? That was, like… I feel like I also would like a walk-up song, if possible.
Angela Pittman Taylor
I was just thinking, walk-up music would be lovely.
Sarah Gaul
Yes, yes, yes. But I am doing great, and I'm so excited to be here.
Angela Pittman Taylor
Awesome. Well, today's episode is about pursuing dynamic careers. And so I'll turn it over to you to introduce our guest.
Sarah Gaul
Amazing. So, we are so excited. Our guest today is Kitty Brandtner, who was pursuing a full-time corporate career but then experienced really what can only be described, I think, as a seminal moment in her life, which was the 2022 mass shooting at the 4th of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, which compelled her nearly immediately into advocacy work, which then eventually led her to founding a nonpartisan nonprofit, which is focused on ending mass shootings in America. Three years in, and Kitty now serves as the co-president of the organization March Fourth. So, welcome, Kitty. Thank you so much for being here.
Kitty Brandtner
Oh, my gosh. Thank you guys for having me. This is so exciting.
Sarah Gaul
This is so exciting. And I'm sure you hear this all the time. But there was a part of me speaking of a walk-up song. I was like, should I sing “The Life of a Showgirl?” Right? Yeah.
Kitty Brandtner
You guys, I'm not a Swiftie and everybody sent me that song and I'm like, I – so, no.
Sarah Gaul
Okay. Okay. Next time. I'm glad I didn't lead with it, Kitty. You know what I mean? I like it. I like it. I made the right choice of not singing on our podcast.
So, um, okay. We're so glad you're here. There's so much to unpack. Let's start at the beginning. You were working at a really successful staffing agency. Tell us about that career journey.
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Kitty’s unique career journey
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah. I was the girl that changed her major 16 times. And then my – I think they call it a career counselor, was like, “Do you want to graduate?” And I was like, “Yeah, no, yeah, absolutely.” They're like, “Okay, well, none of this coincides, so you got to pick a lane.” “Oh, okay, well, I'm good at reading and writing, so I'll be an English major and get out on time.” I didn't know when people would be like, “What do you want to do?” My answer was, “What is there?” I had a single working mom who raised me and I knew she was in construction project management and I didn't know about that. When I graduated, my boyfriend, now husband, was like, “You should go into sales.” And I'm like, “Ugh, like used cars.” Like, no, no, thank you. That's not what it is. Unless you're literally a used car salesman [or] woman.
And so I signed up. I just was applying to everything. It was a really good time to be finding a job in 2009. And I was like, “I'll literally do anything, you know, whatever.” So, then I applied to the staffing agency and they're like, “Do you just want to work here?” And I'm like, “Sure.” They're like, “Okay, when can you start?” I'm like, “Literally, I'm literally doing nothing. Like, I'll start right now.” Okay.
Sarah Gaul
A compelling candidate, Kitty.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah, I just really – yeah, I just dove in and I just was a sponge and our CEO and COO taught me everything, you know, I knew. And it was just like, be yourself and, you know, build rapport. I'm like, “Oh, this is so fun. Okay. I'm not selling used cars.” I was there for 14 years and I literally thought I would die there in a good way. And I loved it. And I loved meeting people and learning and dipping my toe in all these different industries and was fulfilled. And, you know, the pandemic came, I had three kids. I had a three-year old girl at the time. And then I had twins in June of 2022.
Sarah Gaul
Oh, wow.
Kitty Brandtner
Fun. But, you know, I had some nice flexibility too, being that it was COVID, you're working from home. Still, I was super fulfilled. So that was kind of… I didn't, I wasn't missing anything. Does that make sense?
Sarah Gaul
Yes. And that's exactly what I wanted to ask you about. You know, did you consider – I mean, I know it wasn't advocacy work, but were, you know, your headspace was like sort of looking for the next opportunity? Not at all. You were totally fulfilled.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah.
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What was the moment that changed everything for Kitty?
Sarah Gaul
Wow. Wow. And then life changed. So, let's talk about this seminal moment. July 4th, 2022, Highland Park, mass shooting. Just tell us, set the stage for us. Tell us about that day and what that meant for you.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah, there was some seedlings prior. I was 25 when Sandy Hook happened and I was a naive 25-year-old that was like, this is so horrible. And I am sure the adults in the room will figure this out by the time I have kids. And so, you know, moving through life, et cetera, and once I had kids, you know, things kind of change. And when Uvalde happened, that was May 24th of 2022. And not only was it so horrific, I had my oldest – my daughter was five at the time. And so that was like Uvalde's last day of school. And I knew that I was sending my daughter to kindergarten in August. Like, this is now very much my problem.
Sarah Gaul
Okay.
Kitty Brandtner
And then in just over a month, on the 4th of July, I was taking my kids to their first parade in Winnetka. They – you know, COVID – they'd never been to a 4th of July parade, had obviously picked out their little needlepoint outfits six months in advance. Like, we're so excited. It's a cute little main street-type thing.
I'm with my sister who owns a business in Highland Park, and she starts getting text messages like immediately that like people are running and, you know, your first instinct is, “It's not, it's probably fireworks, guys.” Like, it's the 4th of July, you know, or like, “No, there's no way it's a mass shooting.” Obviously quickly we realized, yes, yes it is. And after this shooter had killed seven people, injured 58, and obviously traumatized thousands, and all of us on the North Shore and beyond are sheltering in place because no one knows where this guy is. So, not only are we locked in our house, windows, doors, everything, but you're making sure your friends and family are safe, are accounted for.
I remember getting a text message of a picture of a two-year-old boy, and my boys were two at the time. And he had blood on his socks, and he was in shock, and he was in the care of a friend of a friend. And it was just this mom group of like, “Does anyone know this child?” Because he was alone. And, you know, my first instinct was like, “Oh, no, he got separated.” But no, he was orphaned that day because his parents took him to a parade. And that rocked me. And I always say it was the worst day and I wasn't even there. So I think that first day was just so horrific.
And then I woke up the next morning on the 5th of July, and I went from like devastated and depressed to just really p----- and angry and spicy, and I always stayed like an arm's length away from advocacy, mostly because I didn't think I was smart enough to understand, you know. I donated and so I'd get the emails and it would be like six paragraphs of different bills that are happening or legislation or, you know, Congress. And I just was like, “I'll just donate. I don't get it.” I have ADHD, that's too much reading on your students.
And so I quickly started educating myself on the internet, as one does. I ended that day just saying, “I get it.” I know this is hard. I know that I'm not the first one to say, “Enough.” I know I am a white privileged woman saying, “Can I speak to a manager?” I also know I cannot go to work tomorrow. I can't just go. I brought these kids into the world, and I think I want to go to D.C. and scream at the top of my lungs, and if anyone wants to come, here's my email. And then I woke up and I had 300 emails in my inbox. And so on the 6th of July, I'm crying actual tears of hope and, you know, possibility for the first time.
Sarah Gaul
Well, I have to say, I have tears in my eyes and chills because it just – I wasn't there. But it takes you right back to that day and all of those emotions and the fact that you then did something with that is just so incredible. So that was July 5th. You're p-----. You're educating yourself. Tell us about those next seven to nine days and sort of what happened.
Kitty Brandtner
That was crazy. So, it's actually kind of fun to reflect on because what we did as a group of strangers was insane. And in the moment, you know, it's insane, but you're just fueled by adrenaline. So, 6th of July, I'm getting emails, right? “Oh, I can help you set meetings in D.C. I'm a lobbyist and I live here.” Great. “I'm in PR. I can help you get media.” Great. “I'm in event planning. I can help you with the permits.” Great.
Sarah Gaul
So, this is all over the country.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah, this is my Instagram like being shared. I'm like, “Great. I have no idea how to do this – like, let's do this. I don't know anything but, okay, we'll figure this out.” And I remember looking at my husband being, like – he's in logistics and I was like, “I think I need you to book 60 flights for me.” He was like, “What?” And I'm like, “And I think it needs to be on our credit card.” And he was like, “Okay. Okay.” And we just made it work. Within 10 days of being a thing, we were in D.C. with 600 people. So, we have 600 people. We rally, we march. It is the most surreal feeling. I just remember bawling during it. And we meet with 30 legislators.
Sarah Gaul
I do have to reiterate that this was literally seven days after Highland Park. And you literally mobilized over 600 people.
Kitty Brandtner
In D.C. like a team did like it was like this. You know, some staff now at March Fourth and volunteers are day-ones. It's really cool because what people can do when they just decide to do it. Especially moms. Yes.
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Inside the founding of March Fourth
Sarah Gaul
That is unbelievable. Okay, so huge milestone. Are you like, “Okay, we're formalizing this. This is March Fourth.” I mean, tell us about that.
Kitty Brandtner
Well, we named it on the 6th of July when we started the Slack channel because we had to put something on the permit.
Sarah Gaul
Okay.
Kitty Brandtner
And so, we're like, “What is it?” And I remember the Slack conversation. It was like, “It's a March and it's after the 4th and that's kind of a forward motion. Great, go.” Like, that was as much thought. Like, check, next thing. And sometimes, and you guys probably know this in business, sometimes the best decisions are those instinctual – like, go.
Sarah Gaul
So, at this point in the timeline, you are still working full time at LaSalle, right? And you've got three young kids. So, tell us about – were you like, “This is now my career,” or how did you think about that?
Kitty Brandtner
So, this – I didn't know what I didn't know, which was everything.
Sarah Gaul
Right? Almost, yes.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah, I guess. I mean, my CEO was from Highland Park. His brother was at the parade. He was our, you know, one of our first donors. He was like, “Go.”
Sarah Gaul
So, you leave and then you're like – you're sort of institutionalizing March Fourth then. Is that fair to say?
Kitty Brandtner
I mean, so I went part time for like eight months.
Sarah Gaul
Okay.
Kitty Brandtner
And I, you know, our CEO and I just had a conversation like, “This isn't doable.” And then I'm like, “I know.” And it was that risk, right? Where I'm used to earning my living and I was volunteering and I'm like – my husband and I had a very frank chat, you know, and he has been my number one supporter in life, but also March Fourth, where he's like, “This is something you're meant to do – do it.” You know?
And so I think I have a crazy motor. I think it's the combination of ADHD and anxiety. And so I'm like – you just go. So, it was just a huge kind of learning curve. And I think in the beginning, we really didn't know what we were doing. But a lot of what our scaling has been is getting more mature in some of these things. So, what can we do next?
We then started bringing influencers, social media influencers that we call amplifiers, to the Hill because they can authentically go through this experience and then share it with their audience. And you reach different people and bringing mom bloggers and health food and all this different stuff. And they're like, “Hey, by the way, I care about this in a nonpartisan way. I just want kids to go to school and come home alive. And if you want to learn more, you know, join us.” And so that's kind of a few of the things that we've done as we've scaled.
Sarah Gaul
It's so incredible. And I literally have written down, I would like to say, that you make advocacy accessible. So, as I'm hearing you talk about this, was there any point where you were like, “This is too hard. This is too emotional.” You know, “I just... I can't do it.”
Kitty Brandtner
Not I can't do it, but, “This is heavy.” And it is.
Sarah Gaul
So hard.
Kitty Brandtner
I mean, getting to know these parents and family members, because it's not just schools, right, who have lost someone. It can be any of us. And I think that's the key here is why it is such a human issue. It’s like, do you go to the grocery store? Do you, you know, even if you don't have kids, like, have you gone to a concert before? Have you gone to… it is so random, so non-discerning, like it just can, it could be anyone. And so you see yourself in these families. And I remember, especially early on, like, I just felt very weighted by a lot of these stories. And it's also fuel. And so all of us need to stand up and say, no, this is a collective problem and stand shoulder to shoulder with those that have been impacted.
Sarah Gaul
I would love to talk about sort of the skill sets that you've developed, right? And like coming back, you know, you sort of mentioned sales and how you could sort of harness some of that, just the way that you're sort of stretching yourself personally and professionally. Like, did you ever… of course you didn't anticipate this, but just how much you've grown personally through all of this?
Kitty Brandtner
For sure. It's been incredible. And I think that's the addicting part is just pushing yourself into strange and unfamiliar areas. But it's also, as you guys know, as leaders, like if you don't know something, you bring somebody in that does. And so that's what's been so special is, like, I can't plan an event. Like, I can't do the logistics. I can't. I know I am limited and those are my weaknesses. And yet we have this team who crush it.
So I think part of it has been this fun journey of building this thing with like-minded, mostly women and, you know, tapping on people who, even if this wasn't their – and in fact, almost 100% of the people, this wasn't their background, but the transferable skill sets, you know, like my SVP, who oversees most of the organization and was in HR before this, did a little recruiting, but was in like corporate HR, M&A. And so she can look at a complex thing. It's like, there's transferable skill sets there. And so I think that's what's really cool.
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Balancing important work, advocacy and parenting
Sarah Gaul
All of this is, of course, sort of inextricably linked to being a parent. I would love to hear sort of your reflection of, you know, you're doing this for your kids. How do you balance all of this? I can imagine your kids are still so young, they don't totally get it, but, like, they see mom doing super cool things.
Kitty Brandtner
I think that's the biggest thing is, like, my dad left. I was eight. My mom was always a working mom and was always kind of instilling in me whether she maybe knew it or not, that you gotta rely on yourself. You can do anything. I wanted my, especially my daughter to know she can do anything. Like, you can do anything you want. You just have to decide and then you have to start.
And I think, yeah, she was five when I started this, she's eight now. She drew a picture of the earth and she was like, “I think that's what you do at March Fourth. You just give the world a big hug.” And I was like, “Oh,” but like, that's it. You just want your kids to feel empowered. Yeah. And to know that like, if you see a problem, you can fix it. You know, you can fix it. You can work at something that that feels impossible. And you don't listen to anyone that says you can't. And that's, you know, been really… I think it's you asked about balance there. No, I'm horrible at balance. Like, that doesn't exist. There are times where it's horrible. There are times when it's great. And it just is what it is. I just want them to take away that empowerment and impact that like, you don't have to be directly impacted by something to do something about it. That's the main driver.
Sarah Gaul
Amazing. And that is such a good thing to teach your kids. But what I want to talk about, which it feels like a hard pivot, but I don't think it is, is your newest professional venture, a children's clothing store. So, I want to hear all about this, where this idea came from, because I think there is some there's some connective tissue.
Kitty Brandtner
Yes, it does feel like the other side of the circle. And really at the end of the day, it's solving problems. I think I really… like, in my town and the surrounding five suburbs, there was nowhere to go buy a piece of children's clothes unless you drove to the mall where they will tell you that their inventory is online. And I'm like, “My son has red sauce on his shirt and we have family pictures and I just need a shirt.” And so it was really that, I mean, literally six months ago, I met a friend of a friend and we started talking about this and we're like, “Why doesn't – I feel like we should just open it.” Like how hard, I'm like, I said, “How hard can it be?” Like if I can –
Sarah Gaul
This is six months ago. This is six months ago. Okay, cool, cool, cool. Yeah.
Kitty Brandtner
Like, I can sell kids’ clothes to moms that want to buy kids’ clothes. Like, okay, let's do it. And I think it's given me a lot of the lightness and a lot of the, you know, other creativity to balance a lot of what I do on the other side. And it's very connected, like a lot of the brands – we carry women-owned brands. And a lot of the brands that we carry, I met them through March Fourth. So, it does feel like it's all connected and yeah, it's just fun. And yeah, I'm a little stretched thin as we open Saturday, but it's temporary and everything's fine.
Sarah Gaul
But you literally went from a concept six months ago to you have a brick-and-mortar store that is cute as cute in your suburb, which is just incredible.
Kitty Brandtner
And then I built a little office for March Fourth in it.
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Kitty’s advice for pursuing a dynamic career
Sarah Gaul
Yes. Perfect. Oh my gosh, that is incredible. But literally, how do you do it? Like you said, stretched thin. You have quite a bit on your plate now.
Kitty Brandtner
I think, but, like, meet a mom that doesn't. We all do. And like, yeah, I'm unhinged. Like I said, I don't watch TV. I don't have hobbies. So I just like – I love just, like, being crazy. And luckily I met friend now that is equal, like, matches my crazy and we'll be like, “Oh, this deck, this deck and I have this idea.” But I think that's again, it's everybody has so much on your plate on their plate. And it's like, I just posted something on Instagram, actually. And it's like, “Just start.” That is the only… just start. If you want to do something, just do it. Like, is it going to be perfect? No. But if you don't start, you can't make it better. And that's what March Fourth taught me.
Sarah Gaul
So I was gonna ask you what your advice was to pursuing a dynamic career, and I think it's that – just start something.
Kitty Brandtner
Just start, doesn't need to be big, but just start, you know?
Sarah Gaul
Right, right, one thing at a time.
Kitty Brandtner
Just, yeah, but if you overanalyze things, or even analyze things in my case, you won't do it. And it's a gut thing, and that I think as you get older, you realize the importance of your intuition. And that's led me through March Fourth. And then it was like giving yourself permission to be yourself. Same thing where you're like, “This is a gap.” And this is so I know we could figure it out. Like, we're not experts, but like, nobody was an expert in what they – it's just you learn by doing. And I think that's the advice is just like, what fills your cup?
Sarah Gaul
Yes. And I think you're such a beautiful case study in how dynamic careers can be, right? It doesn't have to be a straight line and just what...
Kitty Brandtner
For women, it rarely is. Right? Like my husband and I have been working almost the same amount of time and like I had three kids and so did he. And yet, you know, like, so I think that's the thing is like... It shouldn't be a straight line. And it's kind of nice that it isn't because it gives you opportunity to pivot and to dip your toe in. And you can start and make a mistake or start and realize you hate something. Now you have that learning, you know, to move forward with. So, it's all about just giving it a try.
Angela Pittman Taylor
You know, we covered a lot of ground.
Sarah Gaul
Yes, it was so nice.
Angela Pittman Taylor
And we talked a little bit about, there's always self-doubt in there, some little portion here or there. Sometimes that voice is very loud. And you talked a little bit about that in terms of just being unsure about what you know or if you were able to do that. Can you just talk about kind of your inner dialogue or how you worked through that, connect these feelings of inadequacy kind of a little bit to like still pushing forward anyway. Because I think that for women leaders, that is something that is present at various moments in various quantities. How did you work through that?
Kitty Brandtner
Okay, so if my husband listens to this, he's gonna make fun of me, but because I'm like, I feel like I'm a poster child for therapy. It's just a safe place to like get stuff out of your body, like feelings, need to get out. And we all know the repercussions of when you shove it down, not good. So, I dealt with really severe depression and anxiety in high school and suicidal ideations. And so I've been on that side of not letting it out and what can happen, which is very dangerous. And that's why I talk about it. And so I think what I have learned is like, you need to be vulnerable. You need to let it out. It's that space to like get all of my insecurities out and understand why I have them. It's just so helpful to get it out and then organize your thoughts and then kind of come back to like, “Okay, yeah, no, that instinct was right.” Like, the self-doubt is there but I know why it's there and I know that it's not powerful. Like, I can give it power or I can't. So just carve that time out for yourself because it helps you show up as a better mom, as a better partner, as a better friend, and obviously a better employee and worker as well.
Sarah Gaul
Go therapy. I couldn't, I couldn't see that coming.
Kitty Brandtner
I'm sure. Yeah.
Angela Pittman Taylor
As a sister of a psychologist, I co-sign that.
Kitty Brandtner
Yeah, girl. Oh, love it.
Sarah Gaul
So many amazing nuggets. I feel like that's like a beautiful place to end. I just, I can't thank you enough for your time. This was such a wonderful conversation.
Kitty Brandtner
This is so fun that you guys are highlighting, you know, these stories because it again, to the vulnerability, like sometimes you just need to hear that somebody else gave it a shot. And it's like, you know what? Yeah, I'm gonna do that thing. I'm gonna start that Etsy shop. I'm gonna go work at that coffee shop. I'm like – whatever it is. So, I hope that that's a takeaway for someone.
Sarah Gaul
Oh, absolutely. I cried. I cheered. Like, what? What more can you ask from a conversation?
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How to connect with Kitty Brandtner and March Fourth
Angela Pittman Taylor
Thank you so much for joining us. Hey, Kitty, before you sign off, could you just tell our listeners where they can learn more about you online, where they can connect with you, if you want them to connect with you.
Kitty Brandtner
Yes.
Angela Pittman Taylor
Where can they find you?
Kitty Brandtner
Follow us on Instagram. So March Fourth on Instagram is March-underscore-fourth (spelled like the 4th of July)-underscore. But also if you just search it, it'll come up. WeMarchForth.org. And then if you want to come to my little brick and mortar shop in Winnetka, Little Elm, feel free.
Sarah Gaul
Amazing. Thank you so much, Kitty.
Kitty Brandtner
Thank you, guys. This was so fun. Thank you.
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All investments have some level of risk and this should not be considered a recommendation of any products or services discussed today. The opinions are those of the guest and not necessarily those of Baird.
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