Getting Curious with Kalyn Carpenter
Welcome to Kalyn Carpenter to the Curious Health team as an Account Manager.
With a background in communications, advocacy, and campaigns, Kalyn recently led digital communications at the education arm of a local authority and has extensive experience working in the political realm, spending time as a Senior Communications Officer for an MP in the House of Commons and acting as a Field Organiser and Director in various political campaigns in the United States. Kalyn also has an MSc from the London School of Economics in Gender, Development, and Globalisation with a special focus on sexual and reproductive health programmes and policy.
The common thread through Kalyn’s varied experience is a passion for developing connections and a desire to make a difference. Kalyn’s work is driven by listening to and understanding the experiences of others and analysing data and information to craft campaigns that resonate with their target audience and drive impact.
Getting curious with Kalyn
- Why did you want to join Curious Health?
To put it simply, I felt that Curious Health’s approach really resonated with me. I’ve always been one to dig deeper into things and question how things can be done differently, how we can better understand those that we serve. Curious Health acknowledges the power of asking these questions and creating solutions that are not only powered by the best data and technology available, but also driven by empathy and purpose. With previous experience working in political campaigns, I believe empathy is the most powerful tool you can have: it drives you to ask the right questions, understand and navigate barriers, and can transform lives. Joining Curious was an opportunity to live my values and use my skills to make a lasting difference in the lives of other.
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
As a teenager, I dreamed of being a political journalist. After I gained experience working in politics in a different capacity, I realised there were other ways of making a tangible impact that better suited me.
- What was the last song you listened to?
‘Just Like Heaven’ by The Cure
- What do you do when you’re not working?
When I’m not working, most of my time is spent around food and drink: whether I’m cooking at home, planning a dinner party, or visiting restaurants and food festivals with friends. Outside of that, I enjoy visiting museums, walking tours, Pilates classes, hiking, and kayaking.
- Do you have a go-to karaoke song?
‘Country Roads’ by John Denver and various familiar country songs. I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, so I strategically lean on my Texan roots and play-up the stereotype while selecting songs that others can’t help but join in on. It’s all part of the fun!
- What’s something you’ve done, but you’ll never do again?
I am generally a well-planned and organised individual (for example, I start planning my annual Thanksgiving dinner party five months in advance), but there was a time in my life where I was making an attempt to be more spontaneous. This culminated in me taking a solo trip to Naples, Italy, on a lean budget and without having planned much of anything beyond the bare minimum: I had flights and a hotel, I knew I wanted to eat pizza and sfogliatelle, and I knew I wanted to visit Pompeii. As you would expect, this resulted in several mishaps with transport, accommodations, and getting lost. While the trip was a testament to my resiliency and ability to pivot when things go awry, it was incredibly stressful! I have now happily returned to my organisation overkill.
- What’s your favourite TV show?
I make a point of re-watching Gilmore Girls every Autumn/Winter. I grew up in small town not too dissimilar from the fictional Stars Hollow, so I enjoy the nostalgia. I also regularly re-watch all of Nigella Lawson’s cooking programmes – on the nights I can’t sleep, nothing is more soothing than listening to Nigella describe a caramel croissant pudding.
- What are you passionate about?
Revolutionising sexual and reproductive health at all levels. Whether examining policy, inequalities, and education, or looking at the advances occurring in health tech, fem tech, and medical treatment and research, I feel progress in these areas is integral to solving broader problems of inequality and injustice.