A Coffee and a Conversation with an Australian living in New York: Kathleen Simmonds
The Australian community has always recognized the unique challenges faced by our women members, and has recorded a Podcast series discussing some of those challenges.
Below are excerpts from our conversation with Kathleen.
Kathleen, where were you born and raised in Australia?
I was born in an Army Base Hospital in Townsville, and then I moved every six months of my life until High School when my Dad said “That’s enough, we’ve got to stop moving”, and we left the Army and I grew up on the Gold Coast.
What did you do in Australia before moving to NYC?
I was a practicing Lawyer in a top tier International Corporate Firm, King & Wood Mallesons … and then I packed three suitcases and I came here.
What inspired you to pack three suitcases and move to New York?
I was a dancer and a dance teacher, and I always had a love of the Arts; Musical Theatre in particular. In my last year at the law firm… I was cast in a regional production of Chicago. It was an amazing experience… and I got my bug back for acting, singing and dancing… which triggered a need to get out of the profession.
I studied for the GMAT and I applied for every good MBA program on the East Coast of America… and starting fresh. At the same time there was one deadline that hadn’t passed and that was for an acting school here in New York… So I went to The Actors Studio and studied for three years in a Masters of Fine Arts.
More in the Podcast:
Kathleen shares her experience facing the professional and personal challenges of moving to New York. Kathleen also passes on her advice to Australians who are looking to follow their NYC dream.
You can listen to the full Podcast by clicking the link below.
Click here to listen other Australian Women in our Podcast series
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