Kat Koppett Asks: “What Would Kristen Do?”

Leading up to the August 24 ‘ Change Makers’ benefit, as WAM celebrates its fifth season, we take a look back at the people who helped get us here.

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Kat Koppett is a woman who wears many hats. She is the Co-Director at The Mop & Bucket Co. (MopCo) improvisational theatre company in South Schenectady, New York and the eponymous founder of Koppett & Company, a consulting wing of MopCo. She first met Kristen pre-WAM, when she auditioned for MopCo and Kat knew she had big plans on the horizon. As their paths crossed over the years, from collaborating on projects or simply showing support for each others work, she has found her to be nothing short of inspirational (a recurring theme amongst WAM supporters).

How did you get involved with WAM?

I met Kristen when she auditioned for MopCo.  We were delighted to have her with us, but clearly she had much bigger fish to fry. We reconnected a couple years later and decided to join forces to produce The Capital Region/Berkshire 24Hr Play Festival, which we did for three years. It remains one of the highlights of our creative endeavors in the region.

What work do you primarily do for WAM?

We partner on The Capital Region/Berkshire 24Hr Play Festival, as well as support and attend each others events whenever we can.

How do you feel about WAM turning five years old? What’s your hope for the next five?

I can’t believe it! It’s such a short time to have accomplished so much, but it also feels like WAM has been part of our cultural landscape forever. Kristen is a force of nature, and I had no doubt that she would be successful. It’s wonderful to see her dreams come into fruition.

What’s your favorite WAM memory?

The 24 Hour play festivals. I loved all of it; inviting incredible talent in the region and cross-pollinating, to our opening ice-breaking activities, to staying up all night and experiencing the final product on their feet. Together WAM, Mopco, and all our artists were able to create such a wonderful, supportive, creative, and playful environment. It seems like that is what WAM is all about all the time, too.

What woman inspires you and why?

Other than Kristen? Malala Yousafzai. I had the opportunity to work with her as a speaker coach and became more aware of the work she’s doing and her incredible spirit. She has an astonishing commitment to providing opportunities for all girls, and she approaches it with such joy and humility.  Her modest yet fierce commitment to education, truth and courageous action make me realize how much more I could be doing to help the world myself.

What advice would you give to women who are just starting to establish themselves in their careers on how to claim their places confidently?

Ah, advice. Don’t think you have to figure things out before you do them; dive in and see what happens. Follow your passion and be curious along the way. Ask for advice then trust your gut to follow that advice or not. Some of my most-successful endeavors have come from doing what I wanted to do, even when I thought I should do something else. Ask for help. Collaborate. Say yes more. Know that most of the people that you think are incredibly successful and confident also often feel insecure and confused. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Ask yourself, “what would Kristen do?”

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