Katie Boody, co-founder and CEO of the Lean Lab, answers The Pitch‘s questionnaire
Name: Katie Boody
Occupation: Co-founder and CEO, the Lean Lab, for innovation in urban education
Hometown: Prairie Village
Current neighborhood: The West Side!
What I do: I develop educators and community leaders into innovators creating bold and impactful solutions for public ed in KCMO.
What’s your addiction? Coffee and scary movies
What’s your game? Darts
What’s your drink? Gin gimlet
Where’s dinner? Vietnam Café
What’s on your KC postcard? The view of downtown from our West Side windows
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” We birthed bebop and burnt ends.
“Kansas City screwed up when …” We turned our back on our public education system.
“Kansas City needs …” To get serious about supporting community-led innovation in public education.
“In five years, I’ll be …” Still developing educators into awesome leaders in Kansas City.
“I always laugh at …” Our pets. I currently live with a blind and deaf Rottweiler, two adventurous cats and a 1-1/2-year-old puppy. They’re all simultaneously enticed by one another’s company and terrified of one another’s presence. It’s hilarious.
“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” True Detective.
“I can’t stop listening to …” Eddie Palmieri’s Vamonos Pa’l Monte.
“I just read …” Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by Tom Kelley and David Kelley.
The best advice I ever got: “Did you have a good day? Good. Well, tomorrow is going to get harder, so enjoy it now and get back to work.” My mom, almost every day.
Worst advice: Being told I wasn’t ready for a leadership position.
My sidekick: Carrie Markel, my co-founder and chief operating officer. She’s brilliant, keeps me sane, makes me laugh every day, creates a mean spreadsheet and makes great sandwiches.
My dating triumph/tragedy: I spilled an entire bottle of expensive sake on the first date with my boyfriend. Luckily, he has stuck it out, and we’re still together almost five years later.
My brush with fame: I wish!
My 140-character soapbox: If we’re all nice to one another, work really hard and really work together, we can build a powerful and amazing city.
What was the last thing you had to apologize for? Making an irresponsible and hasty business decision.
Who’s sorry now? Those who doubted my determination to build a connected community dedicated to improving public education in KCMO.
My recent triumph: Launching our first fellowship program out of the Sprint Accelerator. We have four lead innovators working on teams to launch awesome, needed and innovative solutions that will impact Kansas City kids. Our Demo Day is July 11 at the Sprint Accelerator. Everyone is invited!
The Sprint Accelerator (210 West 19th Terrace) hosts Demo Day from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 11.
