Meet Ruth Anne Kramer

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

Ruth Anne, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

There have been countless times when I have been the only one in the room who looks like me. I have learned how to be effective and to thrive through the challenges I faced and discovered the lessons learned in those situations. Each time I’ve shown up, I’ve grown stronger. I realized my limitation of believing I did not belong there was getting in my way. I have been a female company commander in the Army of a combined 200 Soldiers and Civilian employees while deployed to Iraq in a male-dominated environment. I have been employed as a social worker in diverse environments such as Washington, D.C., El Paso, Texas, and Hawaii. Being of a different race and culture in new areas has made it difficult to feel as if I could connect with my clients. Allowing myself to be vulnerable, reminding myself of my strengths, using my voice, and being true to myself have assisted me in learning that I belong despite what anyone else says or does. The possibilities are endless once we can own this and step into our fears.

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 a mom, friend, daughter, sister, retired military spouse, and Veteran. I advocate for women, military spouses, and ALL Veterans. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the mental health care industry. I hold additional certifications specializing in working with those affected by addiction and trauma and utilizing sand tray therapy. I served eight years as a Signal Corps Officer in the United States Army. I currently serve as a mental health therapist within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, I volunteer with the American Red Cross as a Reconnection Workshop Facilitator. In my spare time, I love to work out, run, read, play games and sports, watch chick flicks, and am an avid podcast junkie. I live with my husband and three children in Chesapeake, Virginia. I wrote the book “You Belong: A Guidebook for the Career-Minded Woman on the Move,” as a guide for women who either question their place in their careers or are questioned by others, shunned due to differences, or are not taken seriously as active participants in the work setting. The book aims to inspire inner strength to keep pushing forward and encourage other women to share their stories.

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?

There are three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey. The first is the ability to keep an open mind in new situations, where I notice my thoughts, personal judgments, and how those situations make me feel. Our bodies and emotions inform us and can be helpful tools if we listen to them. Secondly, I’ve developed personal mantras to use in difficult situations to remind myself of my strengths in times of weakness such as “Be the change” and “Focus on the now.” Thirdly, I’ve learned to seek advice when I need help. This does not mean I have to take the advice, but it does help me put things into perspective.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When feeling overwhelmed, I do many helpful things, such as breathing, calling a friend, or walking or running. However, there are strategies I implement all the time where I plan to control the things I can so that I do not intentionally create overwhelming situations. I list the top 2-3 items I want to accomplish daily. If the list is longer than this, I place the day and time I plan to tackle the task on my calendar. Many times, we make lists that are not realistic, and then we beat ourselves up for not completing this unachievable list. There is only so much time in the day, and we must set ourselves up for success. Being able to visually see and match up the task with the time we have can make that goal realistic. I additionally work out at least five times a week, meal prep my lunches, and put my outfits together for the entire week the weekend prior. It feels good to prepare the things in my control so that I am ready for everything outside my control.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

The first image of me sitting in the green chair- Tina Dwyer
Image of me in green floral dress- Chris Peek

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