40 Under 40: Kay Kerina is putting young Mainers on the path to career success
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Kay Kerina manages the state-funded Maine Career Exploration Program.
Professional accomplishment: Being a support for young people behind the scenes. Sometimes it’s a pep talk before a job interview and other times it’s advocating with a young person at a workplace.
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Current state of mind: Excited to drive change.
Passion project: I am extremely passionate about the arts, and specifically dance. I also spend time cooking, and if you ask anyone that has eaten a meal from me, it is about 99% garlic and likely I grew it in my garden — my other passion project.
‘Lightbulb’ moment: In college when I was working at the center for career development, In some of my friends started asking if I would help them prep for interviews or look at their resumes.
That’s when it clicked in my brain. Connecting people to that same feeling I had when I went to work and loved it, was what I wanted to do. Almost eight years later, I still am that friend that has the pulse on careers, and I absolutely love helping people connect to meaningful work.
Audacious goal: I want to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, Mbrumba Kerina, who was a political leader in Namibia. I want to serve my country at the national policy level as well and follow in his legacy. He is one of my greatest inspirations, and I want to make him proud.
Favorite quote: “We have tomorrow. Bright before us. Like a flame” — Langston Hughes, in the poem “Youth”
Influential book: “The Final Revival of Opal & Nev,” by Dawnie Walton. The book taught me about why it is so important to be completely unapologetically me at all times.
Favorite movie/podcast/TV show: “Ever After,” “The Adventure Zone,” “Downton Abbey”
Best way to recharge: I am huge reader and currently in the middle of about four books. I can’t get enough when it comes to reading. I also am a huge hiker and nature based adventurer. When not in town in Portland, I am likely to be in the mountains or on some body of water with my paddle board.
At age 60: I would like to be winding down my career after heading my own nonprofit, and still working on elevating youth voice through authentic community supports and engagement. I will hopefully also be enjoying time traveling and eating my way around the world.
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