Meet Navy McKee

We were lucky to catch up with Navy McKee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Navy, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I love this question – I’ve learned to turn that difference into my edge.

When I first entered the stormwater industry, I was a 22-year-old young woman without an engineering degree, straight out of a San Diego State sorority. I walked into rooms filled with men who had been doing this work for decades and told them I had a better way to solve their problems. Safe to say, I wasn’t exactly what they expected.

But I didn’t let that intimidate me—if anything, I used it to my advantage. Being different makes you memorable. If you can surprise people and then impress them with your expertise, your preparation, and your confidence, that contrast works in your favor. People don’t forget you when you bring something real to the table.

Early on, I could’ve played the imposter syndrome card. But the truth is, sitting in self-doubt and feeling sorry for yourself won’t get you anywhere—it can tank your business before it even gets going. If you don’t believe you deserve to be in the room, how can you expect anyone else to?

What changed everything for me was putting in the work—learning the technical side, refining how I communicate, and showing up like someone who belongs. Because I do. Over time, as I grew more grounded in my knowledge and vision, the focus shifted. I wasn’t “the girl in the room”—I was the expert with a solution.

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?

At Kai Pono Solutions, we’re protecting the places we love—starting with our waterways. I grew up in Hawai‘i with a deep love for the ocean, and it became clear to me early on that pollution, especially from urban runoff, was silently damaging the very ecosystems we rely on. What’s worse is that most people have no idea that runoff—from our streets, parking lots, and sidewalks—is the leading cause of water pollution.

I started Kai Pono because I wanted to change that. The stormwater industry is filled with scientific jargon, and let’s be honest—it’s not the sexiest space. But that’s exactly why we’re here: to make stormwater cool. Our low-cost, retrofittable filtration device is built for real communities, especially those that are often overlooked. And beyond the tech, we’re creating a brand that connects with people who love the ocean and nature, but may not yet understand how our built environment affects water quality.

We’re expanding our impact on both the East Coast and West Coast, working with cities to clean up urban runoff and improve climate resilience. We’re also raising funds to scale manufacturing and bring this solution to more communities across the country. At the end of the day, we want people to not only care about water—but to understand how it works and advocate for it. Because once you do, you realize that protecting our water isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a human one.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Curiosity. Never, ever be afraid to ask questions or look “dumb.” I promise you—curiosity is a power move. The more you ask, the faster you learn, and the more confident you become in what you know. That confidence will move mountains for you. Your ability to walk into any room and speak with conviction comes from a foundation of genuinely wanting to understand everything, even if it means raising your hand and saying, “I don’t get it yet.”

2. Share your wins—loudly and often. Brag about your progress. Post it on social media. Celebrate the small stuff just as much as the big milestones. Entrepreneurship is full of highs and lows, and documenting the journey not only keeps others in the loop but also keeps you motivated. Learn to ride the waves and keep showing up, especially during the plateaus when it would be easy to quit.

3. Speak about your solution any chance you get. One of the most underrated superpowers is public speaking. Entrepreneurs often hold back out of fear that someone will steal their idea or that they are “nervous”—but the truth is, unless you’re talking to a direct competitor, that risk is incredibly small. Every time you pitch, present, or explain your idea, you get better. Mess up early and often, stutter, sweat, fight your heart palpitations, but don’t wait for the “oh $#!*” moment to realize you should’ve practiced when a huge company changing opportunity shows up. Own the mic.

Bonus tool: Every entrepreneur should be using Calendly (seriously, they should sponsor me at this point). It syncs with your Google Calendar and lets people book time with you easily. Skip the endless back-and-forth emails—send the link, let them pick a time, and keep it moving. Total game-changer.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I feel incredibly lucky to work alongside my dad, who’s been one of the most influential people in my journey. He’s a contractor with decades of experience and the person I consider my “grey hair”—someone I can lean on when things get tough or I need honest advice. He’s taught me nearly everything I know about the construction and infrastructure world. I have vivid memories of being 7 or 8 years old, sitting on his lap while he drove excavators or helping him install the hardwood floors in our childhood home. Those early moments made a lasting impression, and now they’ve come full circle in the work I do today.

One of the most important things you can have when building something from scratch is a person or two you can turn to when things don’t make sense. Running a company can get overwhelming quickly—things start to blur, priorities clash, and you lose sight of the bigger picture. My dad has been that grounding force who helps me zoom out and figure out what really matters in the moment. His calm, steady presence has helped me stay focused, especially when things feel chaotic.

My parents have always empowered me and my sister (who’s now a surgeon) with the belief that absolutely nothing is impossible. They raised us to chase our wildest dreams, ask questions fearlessly, and go directly to the source when we see something we want. That mindset has been a game-changer—and it’s a big reason I’ve had the courage to take the path I’m on today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kaiponosolutions.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiponosolutions/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navy-mckee/