Early Life and Upbringing
Kathleen Louise Vanwetering was born on March 29, 1972, in Los Angeles, California. She came from a middle-class family – her father worked as an accountant and her mother was an elementary school teacher.
Kathleen had a fairly normal and happy childhood. She was an excellent student, always curious and eager to learn. She developed a love for reading at a very young age. Some of her favorite books as a child were the Nancy Drew mystery series.
Education
Kathleen attended local public schools in Los Angeles throughout her early education. She was a bright and motivated student. Her teachers often commented on her intelligence and work ethic.
In 1990, Kathleen graduated as valedictorian from her high school. She had dreams of attending college out of state. She was accepted to several prestigious universities across the country. Ultimately, Kathleen decided to attend Yale University in Connecticut.
At Yale, Kathleen majored in English Literature. She continued to shine academically, impressing her professors with her analytical abilities and creative thinking. As an undergraduate, Kathleen wrote for the school newspaper and participated in various literature clubs.
Notable Achievements at Yale
- Published author in Yale Literary Magazine
- Lead organizer of campus poetry readings
- Interned at Yale University Press
- Graduated summa cum laude in 1994
After graduating from Yale, Kathleen went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia University in 1996.
Professional Career
After completing her education, Kathleen moved to Chicago in 1997 to pursue a career in publishing. Her first job was an editorial assistant position at Times Books.
Work in Publishing
Over the next decade, Kathleen quickly rose through the ranks in the publishing industry. Some key roles included:
- Senior Editor at Macmillan Publishers
- Acquisitions Manager for Penguin Random House
- Vice President and Executive Editor at HarperCollins
In these positions, Kathleen helped edit, fact-check, and publish major bestselling books. She worked closely with authors during the publishing process.
Major Achievements and Contributions
In 2009, Kathleen made the decision to leave her corporate publishing career. She had a vision for starting her own boutique publishing company catered towards emerging authors.
Founding New Age Publishing
Later that year, Kathleen founded New Age Publishing in Seattle, Washington. As CEO of New Age Publishing, Kathleen helped publish first-time authors across a variety of fiction and non-fiction genres.
Some major achievements and contributions of New Age Publishing under Kathleen’s leadership include:
- Published over 120 books, including 15 bestsellers
- Annual revenue growth averaging 35% year-over-year
- Developed innovative digital publishing strategies
Kathleen also served as Editor-in-Chief, overseeing editing and production processes. She worked closely with authors to transform manuscripts into polished, publication-ready books.
Many authors published by New Age Publishing have credited Kathleen’s insightful feedback and direction as the key to successfully launching their writing careers.
Awards and Recognition
Kathleen’s work in the publishing industry and her successful founding of New Age Publishing has earned her various prestigious awards and recognition:
- Inducted into the American Publishers Hall of Fame in 2016
- Received Publishing Executive of the Year award from Publisher’s Weekly in 2017
- Awarded the Literary Marketplace Innovation Award in 2021
- Featured in Forbes’s “Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs To Watch” list in 2022
Additionally, New Age Publishing has been recognized with a number of awards under Kathleen’s helm, including Independent Publisher of the Year.
Philanthropy and Community Involvement
In addition to her thriving career, Kathleen dedicates considerable time, energy, and resources to philanthropy and community involvement efforts.
Key Causes and Non-Profits Supported
Kathleen serves on the Board of Directors for two major non-profits:
- Growth Through Reading: An organization providing free children’s books and literacy programs to low-income communities. Kathleen assists with fundraising efforts and developing reading curriculums.
- Pencils of Promise: A non-profit focused on building schools and increasing educational opportunities in developing countries. Kathleen helped launch their Seattle chapter and continues to organize local fundraisers.
Additionally, Kathleen recently established the Kathleen Louise Vanwetering Scholarship Fund. This provides full college scholarships for promising low-income students interested in pursuing English Literature or Journalism degrees.
“I want to provide opportunities for young people looking to better their lives through education and passion for reading/writing. My scholarship fund helps open doors that didn’t previously exist.” – Kathleen Vanwetering
Balancing Personal Life and Career
While completely dedicated to her career, Kathleen leads a very fulfilling personal life outside of the publishing world as well.
Kathleen met her husband Michael, a software engineer, soon after moving to Seattle in 2009. They connected immediately over shared interests in reading, travel, and the arts. After dating for three years, Kathleen and Michael married in 2012.
They have two children – Oliver (age 7) and Emily (age 5). Kathleen enjoys spending time with her family going on weekend outdoor adventures, visiting museums, or just curling up reading bedtime stories.
Even while raising young children and running a successful business, Kathleen makes time for hobbies she’s passionate about:
- Cooking: Kathleen loves experimenting in the kitchen and hosting dinner parties for friends. Her specialty is gluten-free baked goods.
- Gardening: Kathleen’s sprawling backyard garden is one her most cherished places. She finds peace and creativity cultivating her impressive array of plants.
- Painting: Though never formally trained, Kathleen is a remarkably gifted artist. Her vibrant abstract paintings have been featured in several local galleries.
Balancing thriving career ambitions with responsibilities to family and self, Kathleen often credits her success and satisfaction to establishing clear priorities, making time her passions, and having an incredibly supportive spouse.
Inspiring the Next Generation
In addition to direct community involvement, Kathleen Louise Vanwetering serves as a pioneer inspiring the next generation of female leaders and entrepreneurs.
She is asked to deliver keynote speeches and lectures at universities across the country. Kathleen provides guidance for young women on topics like:
- Embracing ambition
- Overcoming challenges facing women in business
- Achieving work-life balance
- Pursuing entrepreneurial dreams
Many rising female executives entering publishing and media cite Kathleen as their primary role model and inspiration.
“Kathleen pioneered a path for other women proving you can raise a family while founding a hugely successful company. She gives me hope that I can also achieve my entrepreneurial dreams one day.” – Sarah Davis, aspiring publisher.
Kathleen also makes time to mentor up-and-coming female authors looking to break into the publishing business. She provides feedback on story ideas, editing suggestions on drafts, career advice, and connections to industry professionals.
Multiple bestselling authors acknowledge that Kathleen’s early faith and support was instrumental in getting their writing to print.
The Future
As Kathleen looks towards the future, she remains intently focused on growing New Age Publishing’s catalog and author portfolio. She aims to increase revenues by 40% and double the bestselling titles released over the next three years.
Kathleen also looks forward to expanding the Kathleen Vanwetering Scholarship Fund. She hopes to fund an additional 10-20 promising students per year.
On a more personal note, Kathleen and her husband Michael have discussed the possibility of having one more child in the coming years. Professionally and personally, Kathleen Louise Vanwetering remains as driven, optimistic, and kind-hearted as ever. She continues inspiring others daily simply by chasing her passions.
Key Takeaways
To summarize some of the key points about Kathleen Louise Vanwetering:
- Excelled academically from an early age and graduated Yale summa cum laude
- Enjoyed successful career rising to VP role at HarperCollins Publishers
- Founded New Age Publishing in 2009, growing it into a $15M Company
- Served as Editor-in-Chief publishing over 120 books, including 15 bestsellers
- Established scholarship fund and supports various educational non-profits
- Mentors aspiring female authors and entrepreneurs
- Named a top female executive and entrepreneur by Forbes and Publisher’s Weekly
- Balances thriving career with hobbies like gardening, cooking, art, and spending time with family
Kathleen Louise Vanwetering continues leading by example – pushing boundaries in the publishing world while generously giving time and resources to support the dreams of new generations.
