President of Power Living Enterprises
New York, New York
Cheerios Heart Health Recipient * Ladies Who Launch *
National Ambassador, American Heart Association
Just a few recognitions this year for our latest Woman of Brilliant Achievement Honoree. We don't know what your calendar has looked like over the past months, but we are sure you'll be impressed by the accolades Dr. Kennedy has picked up just in 2008.
Terri was named the Cheerios "Heart Health Recipient of the Year". She was also acknowledged for her entrepreneurial skills and creativity by "Ladies Who Launch". As a leading expert on health and productivity management, she was named National Ambassador for the American Heart Association and represented them in the media focusing on their "Search your Heart" campaign.
Tired yet?
She's no stranger to breaking the glass ceiling. Multi-talented Terri was the youngest vice president at MTV Networks' VH1 in the early 1990's. Today, she's best known as a health, fitness and nutrition expert with a unique 360 degree approach to living a healthy lifestyle and is sought after by individuals and corporations alike. Dr. Kennedy is founder and president of the New York-based, Power Living Enterprises, Inc. a business and lifestyle consulting company that helps individuals, businesses and communities create and sustain their long-term goals. She is the founder of Ta Yoga, one of the first yoga studios in Harlem and Chair of the Board for Yoga Alliance, the internationally-recognized non-profit organization that sets standards for yoga teaching in the U.S.
Challenges
Giving Back
Q What is the best career decision you have made to date?
"Well - there were two. The first was joining MTV Networks in 1992, and the second was deciding to leave at the end of 1999. After doing research on Operations Strategy at Harvard Business School, I was able to hone my real-world managerial skills at MTVN. The dynamic environment fueled my entrepreneurial spirit and I launched several businesses for them. However, I left exactly at the right time. If I had stayed, I may have become too comfortable with the job and perks, and would not have had the life-changing experiences as a social entrepreneur."
Q What is the best career advice you have been given?
"Advice from my mom: 'Remember who you are.' For me, this means to be authentic and truthful in what I do and how I interact with people. It reminds me of my own value and reminds me to treat people how I would like to be treated - honorably and with compassion. This is the best way to build long-term win-win relationships in business and in life."
Q What was your first childhood job and what did you learn?
"My older brother would say that I was 'CEO of the family at three.' I earned the nickname 'boss lady' because I wanted to direct everything. I always wanted to 'get things done.' I even dropped out of nursery school because I didn't want to nap and play all day - I wanted homework like my brother and sister. I had also grown up hearing about civil rights and land rights (in Australia), and so I wanted to have equal rights in the household. That was probably the first hint of my passion for impacting social change. When I was around six years old, I created the 'Gal's club. It was a fitness club with three members - mom, my sister and me. We even had membership cards. That gave a hint to my entrepreneurial spirit.
My first real job was working as a Customer Service Agent at Kennedy Airport in New York. I must have been around 14 years old. I greeted the international flights and directed people to their connecting flights. It was a good introduction into the importance of communication. Many of the passengers did not speak English well so I had to truly listen and then find ways to be as clear as possible with as few words as possible. That has proved to be a useful skill today for media interviews."
