Meet Rachel Kallander

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Kallander a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I gained my resilience without a doubt from my community and my family. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs, immigrants from Sweden, and World War II vets. The matriarchs in my family have thrived under pressure for generations, my parents built a small but mighty empire in Alaska’s fisheries and started out with very little, and my community survived one of the worst environmental disasters in US history.

Being from a family of entrepreneurs, a community of plaintiffs fighting for survival, and raised doing manual labor on fishing boats was, from my perspective, the perfect recipe for demonstrating and proving resilience.

I am grateful for the ways in which my professional career following those experiences have contributed to my resilience as well. I am a 4x founder, a longtime political campaign consultant, and managed to obtain my law degree amidst my Father’s battle with cancer and ultimate passing just before my final year in law school. All of these things were hard. All of these experiences tested me. But that’s how resilience is formed. And I spend a lot of time reflecting and finding gratitude and paying it forward in the mentoring relationships I now have with bright young stars.

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?

I am an entrepreneur, strategist, and coach committed to building platforms that elevate voices, build momentum, and create lasting impact. My work spans Arctic policy, leadership development, impact advocacy, and deploying campaigns and tactics to empower rural communities, fishermen, and other hard working groups of peoples fight for their livelihoods—these passions are all deeply connected to my upbringing in Cordova, Alaska, in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, and the values that my family handed down through generations. I was taught to stand up for the little guy and to speak up, always. It means a lot to me that I get to play a role in amplifying voices in strategic ways that have lasting impact today.

As the Founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, a nonprofit NGO, I lead North America’s largest Arctic policy and business convening. This platform convenes U.S. and international leaders—from tribal chiefs and policymakers to industry experts and scientists—to tackle pressing challenges and opportunities in the Arctic. The global reach and collaboration make this work incredibly exciting and rewarding, and we are currently building out and expanding partnerships with U.S. federal agencies and foreign governments.

Through Kallander & Associates, I provide strategic consulting and advocacy services, supporting clients by building momentum and deploying human capital to achieve specific objectives or wins. Additionally, I am Owner & Publisher of The Cordova Times, a 110-year-old Alaskan newspaper that amplifies voices and stories across the Gulf of Alaska region. The newspaper produces news digitally and prints a 16-page newspaper weekly.

My newest venture, INTRA, reflects my personal journey of personal growth and the healing that is required to live fully aligned in leadership. INTRA offers meditation retreats and personal growth experiences designed to help leaders reconnect with their authentic selves and align with their highest calling. INTRA hosts transformative retreats for leaders ready to take the next step in their personal or professional lives in full alignment with their vision and values.

For me, the thread tying all these endeavors together is a deep commitment to creating meaningful change and supporting others in realizing their full potential. Whether through coaching leaders, convening Arctic stakeholders, or amplifying voices through media, my work is centered on impact and alignment and empowerment.

I’m now preparing to launch new coaching programs and offers in early 2025, designed for catalyst leaders ready to embrace their boldest goals through mindset work, strategic support, and momentum mastery. It’s an exciting time for my ventures, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, three qualities and skills have been pivotal to my journey: mastering momentum and persuasion, learning to identify blind spots and red flags, and honing the art of listening.

Mastering Momentum and Building Human Capital: Success is rarely achieved in isolation. Understanding how to recognize, nurture, and leverage relationships in ways that are win-win and symbiotic has been transformative. Surrounding yourself with people who bring complementary skills, diverse perspectives, and shared vision amplifies your ability to achieve bold goals. My advice here is to cultivate relationships with intention. Be clear about the kind of energy and expertise you need to surround yourself with and invest in building trust and mutual respect across your network. Leave no stone unturned. Avoid burning bridges whenever and however possible.

Learning Blind Spots and Red Flags: Blind spots are inevitable, but ignoring them can be costly. Similarly, being able to spot red flags early—whether in partnerships, strategies, or opportunities—can save valuable time and energy. My advice is to seek mentors or advisors who can offer honest feedback and don’t shy away from self-reflection. The earlier you acknowledge and address your blind spots, the stronger your foundation for growth becomes. And as powerful as mentorships can be, trust your gut. As well-meaning as a mentor might be, they don’t know what’s in store for you and your journey. They don’t walk in your shoes. They can give the wrong counsel even when they intend to support you. You must trust yourself enough to know the difference and listen to your intuition above all else.

The Art of Listening: Effective leadership isn’t just about speaking; it’s about truly hearing and understanding others. A helpful way that I reflect on this idea: A choir singing in perfect harmony means that the singers are hitting different notes, but their harmony is only achieved when they truly listen to one another despite their differences. Listening builds trust, uncovers new insights, and fosters stronger connections. My advice is to practice active listening in every interaction. Whether with a mentor, a team member, or a client, approach conversations with curiosity and a genuine desire to understand. Speaking less and listening more has never come naturally to me. I was always the girl in trouble in class for talking too much – guilty! I consider it a worthwhile personal challenge to practice deep and active listening in my relationships and interactions. For me, this is a lifelong learning pursuit that I’ll never stop practicing.

For those early in their journey, focus on these three areas with dedication and also patience for yourself. They will not only shape your professional path, but will also help you build a legacy of trust, alignment, and impact. I have always wanted to to be someone my clients or colleagues call when they’re in trouble or when it’s time to celebrate. That is a legacy worth striving for in my book!

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is a visionary leader—a catalyst—who feels a calling to create meaningful change but may be navigating uncertainty about how to make their vision a reality. They are ambitious, driven, and committed to impact, yet may often grapple with questions about alignment, strategy, and momentum. Many of my clients are at a critical inflection point in their personal or professional lives, ready to pivot and grow to take their leadership to the next level.

What sets them apart is their deep desire to do work that matters—not just for themselves, but for their communities, industries, or even the world. They’re leaders who want to create movements, not just moments, and they value authenticity, growth, and connection.

I love working with these leaders because they are ready to do the work. Whether it’s through strategic advising, personal growth coaching, or deep inner exploration, they’re willing to ask tough questions, reflect, dream big, and take bold action. Helping them align with their highest calling and translate their vision into impactful outcomes is the most rewarding part of what I do.

My goal is to be their partner in building momentum, uncovering clarity, and stepping fully into their leadership, so they can make the lasting impact they know they are capable of and meant for.

Contact Info:

• Website: kallanderassociates.com ; arcticencounter.com ; thecordovatimes.com ; experienceintra.com
• Instagram: @upnorthwithrachel ; @arcticencounter ; @thecordovatimes ; @experienceintra ; @montaguecharters
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561021691961 (new professional profile)
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-kallander/
• Twitter: rachelkallander ; aesymposium
• Youtube: https://vimeo.com/catalystco