Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerstin Recker.
Kerstin let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Curiosity, determination, and flow. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I was always curious about the world around me, the places I hadn’t yet seen, and the bits of life I didn’t quite yet understand. The curiosity of my beginner’s mind was a gift that allowed me to dream, to imagine what was possible, and to change the way I approached any problems I faced. It helped me see I could make a positive impact on those around me. I carried it with me into adulthood, and it motivated me to discover new things and see the world from unique perspectives.
My inquisitive nature has led me down a path filled with adventure. I’ve had the chance to travel and live in many exotic places such as Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Guam, Cambodia, Haiti, New York, Miami, Cuba, South Africa and France, to name a few. Working as an international business professional at NTENT, a search technology company, and as an advisor for a tech-forward enterprise like Authentifi, has allowed me the privilege to learn from other people, embrace other cultures, and apply those lessons to the work I do.
Add to my curiosity the element of pure determination. I truly believe I’m capable of achieving anything I set my mind to – we all are. I refuse to let “no” cloud my hunger to succeed. When things don’t go my way or I hit a wall, I refuse to throw in the towel and instead find another way to reach my goals. This determination brought me to New York City for undergrad and graduate school at New York University. It drove me to become one of the youngest managers at MTV Networks, running integrated marketing campaigns for global brands and agencies including American Express, T-Mobile, P&G and Coca-Cola. It’s what drove me to quit my job and travel the world for a year right as I was climbing up the ladder, what drove me to start a nonprofit that provides solar energy to remote villages in Africa. It’s what drove me to become the Head of Strategy and Marketing at NTENT and to become a founding advisor at Authentifi.
The last part is flow. I live by the belief that if you open your mind and your heart to the world around you, possibility flows in. In doing so, you go beyond limits, welcome abundance, and harness the magic of flow and potentiality.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always going to be challenges in life, business, etc., but I view challenges as opportunities for growth. When I joined NTENT, I didn’t really know the ins-and-outs of search technology – I had a huge learning curve. But I was curious and confident in my ability to learn. Instead of being worried about looking silly by asking a question, I sought out time with engineers to help me better understand our technology. I continue to ask questions and employ my curiosity to make us better as a company. This type of thinking has led me be in charge of the Strategy, Marketing and Account Management teams at NTENT.
Another example of my drive to overcome obstacles happened while I was traveling to isolated areas of Africa, where I became acutely aware of off-grid energy challenges. Rather than adopt a mentality where there was nothing I could do, my curiosity and determination prompted me to find a way to make a difference. When I returned to the U.S., I launched a nonprofit that supplied over 2,000 solar lanterns to villages in remote sections of Tanzania.
After two years our approach wasn’t sustainable, we had to shut down. But that didn’t stop me from believing I could make an impact. Instead, it challenged me to think more strategically about how to solve problems. This led me to Authentifi, where I am a strategic advisor for this early-stage, tech-forward, social enterprise. In this role, I’ve been able to combine my knowledge of technology and global business with lessons learned from my nonprofit, and my degrees in Economics and International Affairs. At the end of the day, my challenges have been equally as rewarding as my curiosity, determination and flow.
So, let’s switch gears a bit and go into the NTENT and Authentifi Story. Tell us more about your work.
As Head of Strategy, Marketing and Account Management at NTENT, I admire the company’s relentless determination to apply search technology in innovative ways. NTENT is a leading provider of Search and Content Evaluation technology solutions for partners across the globe, in multiple industries. Using Artificial Intelligence, we make it possible to correctly understand and answer a wide variety of questions for any product or service, by applying credibility scoring systems to content, voice and search interfaces.
As a founding advisor, I’m passionately proud that Authentifi is determined to improve the world through charitable giving. The company is making it easy for nonprofits to report on impact, building stronger connections between donors and nonprofits. Authentifi is a tech-forward social enterprise that is changing the world of charitable giving. Donors have greater transparency into how their money is being utilized, and nonprofits have better tools to communicate their impact and secure feedback from recipients directly. With Authentifi, donors can support verified causes and organizations, and feel confident in the direct impact their money has on communities in need. Unparalleled accountability ensures everyone’s best intentions are fulfilled.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
It depends on how you define luck. I do think I have the luck of being born in a place where I have the food, health, education and freedom to succeed. I think it’s our individual responsibility to do good things with the gifts we’ve been given – and that’s different for each person. I think intention and determination have more to with our outputs than luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ntent.com , https://www.authentifi.io/
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA 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.
