Meet Kaylee Kennedy

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaylee Kennedy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaylee below.

Hi Kaylee , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t necessarily about eliminating it entirely but rather learning to manage and live with it. It’s normal for intrusive thoughts to arise occasionally. Alexi Pappas, an Olympic long-distance runner, uses what she calls the “rule of thirds” to manage expectations and emotions. According to this rule, when pursuing a goal, we should expect to feel great, fine, and crappy in equal measure. This perspective helps normalize the ups and downs experienced during the journey towards achieving great things.

To address imposter syndrome, I try to recognize these intrusive thoughts without letting them dictate my actions. I allow myself to feel whatever emotions arise, process them, and then continue moving forward. Acknowledging that doubt is a natural part of the process can help in mitigating its impact and maintaining momentum toward your goals.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

In 2014, I founded K&K Swim School with a mission to bring swimming lessons to young children in rural Canadian communities using third-party pools. What started as a personal endeavor—teaching children the same age and level as my own—has blossomed into a thriving community with over 200 young instructors helping children across two Canadian provinces.

At the heart of K&K Swim School is our unique swim curriculum, Swimful, which stands for Swimming with Mindfulness. This curriculum is designed to eliminate the fear of water by teaching new learners to embrace and love the water through playful activities and gradual submersion exposure. Our approach celebrates every milestone, from the very first splash to confident swimming strokes, fostering independence and a lifelong respect for the water.

Our mission goes beyond teaching swimming skills. We aim to create an environment where swimmers can connect with the water, trust their abilities, embrace challenges, and experience personal growth. We want every child to feel inspired and empowered by their time in the water.

In response to the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent closure of swim facilities, we innovated and launched watermellow Swim School, a fully online platform. Watermellow uses the same principles and foundations as K&K but offers a global reach. We provide remote swimming lessons for babies and young children in bathtubs, hot tubs, or home pools, with real-time instruction via Zoom. This pivot has allowed us to continue our mission despite challenging times and has opened up new possibilities for reaching families worldwide.

Looking ahead, we strive to keep expanding K&K into new cities across Canada, with a new location set to open in Cochrane soon. This growth allows us to bring our Swimful curriculum to even more communities, helping children everywhere develop a love for swimming and the confidence that comes with mastering this essential life skill.

We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on children’s lives through the joy of swimming at K&K and watermellow Swim Schools!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities and skills on my journey have been drive, passion and grit. Here’s how each has played a crucial role in the success of my brands, along with some advice for those starting their own journeys:

1. Drive – Creating a mission

Our mission at K&K is to connect, trust, challenge, grow, and inspire. We strive to create an environment where swimmers can connect with the water, trust in their abilities, embrace challenges, experience growth, and feel inspired.
Having a clear mission statement gives your brand a purpose and direction, fostering a constant and healthy drive to improve. My advice is to define a mission that resonates with your values and goals. Let this mission guide your actions and decisions, ensuring you are always striving for something greater!

2. Passion – Doing what I love

Like many new moms, I found it challenging to find natural and enjoyable ways to connect with my babies. As a swim instructor, I decided to integrate my love for swimming into something that would benefit both me and my children. Pursuing what I loved made the journey fulfilling and meaningful. My advice is to follow your passions. When you are passionate about what you do, it shows in your work, and you feel proud of your accomplishments. This passion will not only keep you motivated but also inspire those around you.

3. Grit – Learning to pivot

As mentioned previously, the pandemic hit K&K hard with the closure of public pools halting our operations. This wasn’t the first roadblock we encountered, and it certainly won’t be the last. Learning to pivot and adapt in the face of adversity is crucial. It’s okay to feel disappointed when challenges arise, but resilience is key. My advice is to embrace perseverance and grit. When obstacles come your way, allow yourself to feel, but don’t let them stop you. Instead, pivot and find innovative solutions to keep moving forward.

By focusing on these qualities – drive, passion, and grit – you can navigate the ups and downs of your journey and build something truly impactful! It’s not just about reaching the destination, but also about growing and learning along the way.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

We are actively seeking new or expecting parents with a social media presence or a podcast to partner with us in spreading the word about our online watermellow lessons. Early childhood swimming provides significant cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits, and our highly trained instructors are dedicated to helping families build these essential life skills. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experience with a wider audience!

We would love the opportunity to discuss the importance of early childhood swimming, the unique benefits it offers, and the story behind Watermellow on your podcast or through your social channels. To show our appreciation for your collaboration, we are happy to offer complimentary lessons in exchange!

If you’re interested in partnering with us, please reach out via our website contact us page or social media channels (www.watermellow.com). We look forward to working together to promote the joys and benefits of early childhood swimming.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://watermellow.ca AND https://kkswimschool.com
• Instagram: @watermwellow.swim AND @knkswimschool
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kkswimschool AND https://www.facebook.com/watermellow.swim
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaylee-kennedy-3b781543/

Image Credits

Karim Zayed