We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Val Kleinhans a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Val, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
There aren’t a lot of women who look like me. Society sort of frowns on pale dark-haired women. If they’re not frowning on it, they certainly label them a “goth” without knowing whether they’re part of that culture. It seems like tan tanned blondes are what’s encouraged. When I’m speaking with a crowd that I’m not part of, I’ve learned I can be successful when I simply share my story in an authentic way. All of us can relate to the human experience. The right ears find you.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a podcaster that hosts three podcasts. I’m very interested in music, mental health, pop culture, and fashion. I realize the audiences interested in these subjects vary – so, I created three separate podcasts that discuss these things. One More Light with Val Kleinhans is a podcast that aims to destigmatize mental health care. All Octaves with Val Kleinhans celebrates musicians and their fans. Very Vogue with Val Kleinhans is where we have fun chatting about fashion and pop culture.
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?
Communcation skills are key! It helps to be curious and ask questions. This helps us reach better understandings of each other – and it makes for great interviews! I did have previous audio editing experience as well, and I primarily use Adobe Audition for this purpose.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I’m currently trying to grow my social media presence, which can be a struggle and time consuming. However, I believe that if I stay consistent with it, I’ll grow. I think that’s how to make the algorithm work for you. Just keep putting content out. I’d love to find some sponsorships for my podcasts as well, but I’m not sure where to begin there.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valkleinhans.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/valkleinhans
Image Credits
These images are mine. I took and edited them myself.
