Beyond Burnout Weekly / keynote speaker

Black Honda with driver's side window down with door locked

Good Things Come In 3.5's

Three unexpected milestones reminded me how far the caregiving journey has brought me. Then one rain-soaked car became a not-so-subtle reminder that even high achievers need to stop, breathe, and pay attention.

Chef Maria Kemp
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Chef Maria embraces her mother, "Little Mama," from behind as they smile together during a joyful moment at a nursing home in 2012, reflecting the love and bond that shaped Maria's caregiving journey.

Before “Caregiver Advocate" There Was Her

Before there was a keynote stage or a caregiver advocacy platform, there was Little Mama. The story behind the work I do today starts here.

Chef Maria Kemp
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Chef Maria Kemp, chemistry professor Dr. Nicole Snyder, and members of the Dermalytixs team stand together holding a large ceremonial check for $25,000 after winning first place in the Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition at Davidson College

We Took First Place Again. $25,000 This Time

Five 18-year-old freshmen. Seven minutes to present. Three minutes of questions. What helped our team win first place and $25,000 at the Nisbet Venture Fund Pitch Competition had less to do with the slides and more to do with mastering the message.

Chef Maria Kemp
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African American Chef Maria Kemp stands in front of a purple backdrop in a white chef jacket and pink glasses telling her Last Story Standing speech called "I Never Stood Down"

No Notes, No Teleprompter, Five Minutes On the Clock

Stepping onto a stage with no notes, no teleprompter, and only five minutes to tell a deeply personal story was both terrifying and exhilarating. While I didn't place in the competition, I walked away with something equally valuable: a deeper appreciation for the craft of storytelling, the courage to try something new, and a renewed commitment to leveling up for the next stage.

Chef Maria Kemp
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