Meet Caroline Breder-Watts

We were lucky to catch up with Caroline Breder-Watts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline , thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism springs from the firm belief that there are more good people in the world than bad. I have juggled many careers, tasks and family issues over the years, and have been presented with many challenges. For the past 35 years, I have been a radio host and producer, an actor, a managing director for my own theater company, a director of communications for a major regional theater company, a fundraiser, a podcaster, a voiceover artist, and a wife and mother of two children with learning disabilities. Many of these jobs have occurred at the same time. The kindness and generosity of friends and family along the way continually renews my faith in this principle.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Managing Director of Radio on the Lake Theatre, a Cleveland-based non-profit professional theater company specifically dedicated to the creative development and educational outreach of the audio arts. We provide social emotional learning opportunities for students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, many of whom come from underserved communities, teaching classes in audio theater, voice acting, playwriting and podcasting. We also just completed our first class with low- and no-vision adults through the Cleveland Sight Center. Many of these students come from difficult circumstances at home and are not normally given creative opportunities, and it is a thrill to see our students blossom and thrive through these programs. One young student of ours did not speak during most of his classes, but participated in one of our programs. During the culminating event, he spoke lines from a script for the first time, and the joy on his face was wonderful for all of us.

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. Work hard – even if it doesn’t seem that anyone sees you. They do. 2. Be kind – always treat people with kindness, even when you are are suffering yourself.
3. Laugh!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents (who came from a much more traditional generation) always instilled a belief in me that I could do anything. Being a woman, being too young, too old or too inexperienced didn’t matter. I had the skill and the drive within me to succeed.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
From Burnout to Balance: The Role of Self-Care

Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your