Congratulations to Kim Gebbia Chappell (’06), VP of promoting and communications at Bobbie, an natural toddler system firm, on being named an honoree on this yr’s UGA Alumni Affiliation 40 Below 40 class.
After graduating from Grady Faculty in 2006, Chappell began her profession as a neighborhood information reporter in Wilmington, North Carolina, and went on to spend 10 years as a reporter and anchor, climbing up by means of 4 totally different markets earlier than changing into the night anchor and managing director for an ABC affiliate. Throughout Chappell’s time as a journalist, she gained two Emmys, a Nationwide Edward R. Murrow award and greater than a dozen RTDNA and AP awards.
Chappell then moved to San Fransisco to grow to be the primary in-house public relations rent for an e-commerce startup known as Weebly, the place she ultimately grew to become head of communications. Chappell’s subsequent cease was on the fintech firm Sq., the place she led all model and goal communications, earlier than touchdown her present function at Bobbie. At Bobbie, Chappell oversees three exterior companies and a crew of greater than 20 entrepreneurs.
Outdoors of the workplace, Chappell is a proud mother of three youngsters underneath 5 years outdated. In her neighborhood, Chappell is an lively board member of the Elizabeth Ann Seton Fund, which helps assist and lift funding and consciousness for the NICU in Austin, Texas, an lively member of Chief, knowledgeable networking group for C-suite girls, and extra.
Beneath are responses Chappell offered about her experiences at UGA and dealing within the business.
What expertise throughout your time at Grady Faculty had the largest affect on the place you might be as we speak?
Grady cemented a hustler, deadline-driven basis in me that has carried me by means of each chapter of my profession, from information to public relations to advertising. It has grow to be my secret weapon, and it began the basement of Grady (with a VHS tape modifying machine. I do know, I’m outdated.) I discovered that there’s at all times time to get one thing finished, and there’s at all times an answer to the issue. If you work in a newsroom, the 5 p.m. deadline comes at you day-after-day, and irrespective of in case your interview falls by means of or the graphic didn’t get made, you must discover that 90-second story to fill the air. And in some way (I nonetheless don’t understand how) I at all times made one thing occur. Your hustle, your grit, your sheer capacity to maintain a dash tempo are your secret weapons.
What would you inform your 20-year-old self?
Cease renting costly flats and throwing away your horrible (early) information wage on lease, and simply purchase a spot as quickly as you possibly can to construct fairness on a tough asset and begin constructing wealth past paycheck to paycheck. Even when it’s only a one bed room! I’d additionally add that as a girl in a newsroom (or any job) you possibly can and will advocate for your self – whether or not it’s a better wage, an extended maternity go away, a promotion you deserve, or a protected and clear place to pump. Make your case and ask for what you need.
What ability(s) or recommendation ought to graduates and younger alumni have for achievement early of their careers?
Observe the cash and the information (sure, even in information!) that can assist you develop your individual profession. Hold a observe in your telephone with each little every day win or accomplishment you’ve. You need to have the ability to stare at one thing by the tip of every work week. In your annual evaluation along with your supervisor or if you end up pitching your self for a brand new function or at a brand new job, have the ability to stroll that individual by means of the tangible influence of your work. Perhaps it’s elevated visits to the station web site due to the story you wrote or the elevated engagement and following in your social media that results in loyal viewers, information ideas or skilled relationships. You should definitely write down what number of award-winning or top-rated sweeps tales you wrote, shot and edited. It’s additionally the HR piece – what number of occasions did you cowl for a colleague or say sure to a morning or weekend shift with out asking? If in case you have the information and the numbers that present your influence and your worth to the enterprise, they’ll’t argue with it! Additionally, that is for all the ladies studying this: in the event that they make you a suggestion, ask for a minimum of $10,000 extra. They’ve a buffer inbuilt for this, however it’s normally on the fellows who’ve the gumption to ask for extra. We’ve bought to vary that!
Is there a chunk of recommendation from one in every of your Grady Faculty professors that also guides you as we speak?
Professor Michael Castengera, a legend inside the Newsource partitions, as soon as reviewed my first bundle in entrance of the category (which I believed was Emmy-award successful!) and he instructed me it was “a failed try at mediocrity.” It caught with me as a reminder that what you assume is nice isn’t at all times nice. Be able to take criticism out of your managers and your friends, and as an alternative of getting defensive or digging your heels in, keep in mind to pay attention and be taught. He went on to inform me why it was not a terrific story and the way it may have been higher. And what? He was proper.
What does success imply to you?
Skilled success is once I get up with that fireside in my stomach, excited to create one thing new and make a tangible and constructive influence on the corporate I present up for, the shopper we’re working to serve, and the crew I get to guide. I’m satisfied private success with three children and a demanding job is nearly surviving with persistence.
Are you at present working in your “dream job”? If not, what’s your dream function?
I really really feel extremely blessed that I’m in my dream job because the VP of promoting for Bobbie, an mom-led natural toddler system firm. It took me 4 newsrooms and two tech corporations to get right here, however it’s probably the most rewarding, disturbing, difficult, joyful job I’ve ever had. And it additionally got here on the identical time I used to be within the throes of constructing my household with three children underneath 5. It’s humorous how life can throw all of it at you without delay. We constructed the corporate from a basement begin up in San Francisco to a touchdown $172 million in enterprise capital to launching into Goal, lately buying a producing facility and changing into the third largest full stack system firm within the U.S. in simply three years. However it’s not the expansion that makes it rewarding – or our backing from celebrities together with Ashley Graham, Meghan Trainor, Tan France and Naomi Osaka. It’s the truth that, on the finish of the day, I get to assist mothers and oldsters of all walks of life feed their infants with a wholesome product. The way you select to feed your child is an emotionally charged subject – it’s private, stigmatized, politicized and riddled in disgrace and guilt. If I will help one working mother like me really feel just a little extra supported, then I’m in truth dwelling my dream job!
Favourite podcast:
I’m horrible at consuming podcasts, so I’m going to go together with the one I began for Bobbie, “Milk Drunk.” (Mothers test it out!)
One job-related device you possibly can’t reside with out:
My Stanley Cup, Ember Mug, Slack, InShot. (Couldn’t select only one.)
Favourite restaurant in Athens:
The Final Resort. We nonetheless speak concerning the iconic gorgonzola dressing. (IYKYK)
Favourite place you’ve traveled:
The Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily (the place my ancestors are from). We hiked Stromboli, an lively volcano, in the course of the night time and watched scorching lava spew out two tales excessive simply toes away from us. It was unbelievable.
Merchandise in your bucket checklist:
I need to be a kind of mothers who has stacks and stacks of lovely photograph albums of all of her children and life recollections for once I’m outdated as an alternative of letting them simply disappear on iPhones.
Date: September 20, 2023
Editor: Jackson Schroeder, Jackson.Schroeder@uga.edu
