The Story of YOU: Meet Our Members: Kristin Jamberdino

Member Spotlight: I spent a very long time concerned with how I’d explain my life to other people. I created a neat, easy to tell “story” of who I was, based on my career and hobbies. And it would have been an amazing life for the right person, but I wasn’t that person — I was just defining success based on what others would think of me. Eventually, I finally started trusting myself and choosing for myself. And I don’t plan on going back.

Name: Kristin Jamberdino

Age: 41

Lives In: New York, New York

From: Buffalo, NY & Overland Park, KS

Who are you? Answer that in any way that feels appropriate to you.

I am a marshmallow with a steel spine. I was reading Sassy magazine in the 6th grade (shoutout to my dentist’s office for introducing me) and even then, I wanted to talk to everyone around me about “important” issues, because I knew the world was so much bigger than my little corner of it.

I am an advocate to my core, but one that wants to plead her case and let others come to their own decisions. I am always a million seemingly incompatible things — an indie kid, an athlete, a dreamer, a pragmatist — and I feel comfortable being any and all of them. I am a Pisces Sun and Moon with a Taurus rising, and I never know if that fits so well because astrology is true or because of my Piscean gullibility.

I am the kind of woman who reads recaps of television shows I’ve long stopped watching because I don’t know how not to be in the pop cultural conversation (which is why I’m not a spoiler-phobe).

I am an awkward nerd and a confident speaker. I will encourage you to live the life that’s right for you, no matter what it is, as long as you treat others well. I am a part-time lawyer (at least compared to my prior life in big law), and am much happier for it. I am a Grown Ass Woman.

What’s been your greatest reward in the choices you’ve made?

The ability to live my life on my own terms. I spent a very long time concerned with how I’d explain my life to other people. I created a neat, easy to tell “story” of who I was, based on my career and hobbies (one of which became a begrudging side hustle, mostly because it fit my story). And it would have been an amazing life for the right person, but I wasn’t that person — I was just defining success based on what others would think of me. In Lynsey Addario’s book “It’s What I Do,” she talks about how the questions of love and career “seemed essentially the same question: How do you want to live?” Eventually, I finally started trusting myself and choosing for myself. And I don’t plan on going back.

Tell us something we wouldn’t know about you by looking?

I am a former litigator and it was not my highest or best use as a human. Based on the aforementioned marshmallow-ness, you might not look at me and know that I am a slightly fearsome boxer and kickboxer. I have kicked punching bags over. I accidentally kicked someone across a room when we were training together (she was fine, I’m still scarred). When a coach asked me to compete, I quickly realized that I couldn’t commit, not because I couldn’t take a punch, but because I couldn’t bear to hurt someone else — even someone who was a willing participant in a fight. And boxing classes have been the one workout that sustained me during the pandemic, possibly because it’s easier to feel like a badass in a tiny apartment when you’re throwing fire.

What is the most important thing to you in your life outside of work or professional pursuits?

I am on the board of two amazing organizations. The first, the Bronx Documentary Center, is an organization that started as a tribute to Tim Heatherington, with a focus on increasing representation in journalism, photography, and documentary filmmaking, and quickly became a hub for activism in the South Bronx, and a safe space for students to learn, grow, and dream. As a junior law firm associate, I saw a tweet from a journalist promoting a writing workshop with Sebastian Junger for charity, and thought “Heck yeah, I want to do a charity writing workshop with Sebastian Junger.” Not only did I learn something about my writing in a six hour workshop (which shocks me to this day), I had my first (not my last) ever squash blossom quesadilla, and realized that the organization, the people running it, and the community they served, were incredibly special. So I started coming to more events, donating, and supporting their mission. Eventually I was asked to join the board. The second is the Sundara Foundation, which started with training women in India to recycle soap to provide to their communities, and has expanded to support women entrepreneurs across the world that are working in the water, sanitation, and hygiene arenas — also to benefit their communities. (If you want to hear more about either organization, PLEASE get in touch with me! It’s my very favorite thing to talk about.)

What has been the biggest *aha* moment you’ve had being a part of the DGAW™ community?

I’m an ambivert — if I have a purpose for talking or being present, I am completely fine. But if I’m a total rando in a room full of strangers (especially if those strangers know each other), the fear of wasting other people’s time makes me an awkward mess. DGAW® is such a supportive, thoughtful community that it made me realize that I can be myself, even my awkward, messy self, in everyone’s company, and it’s okay.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Do you have a morning routine or ritual?

I do exactly what you’re not supposed to do — I pick up my phone. I try to get through my daily games (Wordscapes, Boggle, Plants vs. Zombies, Clash of Clans) before checking email or doing anything else, so it’s slightly meditative, but that’s a HUGE excuse on my part, I know it. To add fuel to the bad rituals fire (shame me, I deserve it), after my morning glass of water, I usually have some Diet Coke, because morning coffee makes me unbelievably jittery, but caffeine is necessary for my soul.

Favorite room in your home and why?

My living room is where all of my favorite non-people things live — art, music, books, television, and, for the past year-plus, my workouts. Also my pink tinsel tree that I bought to inspire me in writing holiday rom-com scripts. I was supposed to take it down once I completed the first one, but a script is never really *done*, is it?

Anything else you’d like to share or like us to know?

It is truly incredible to be a part of DGAW®, where people are so open, interesting, thoughtful, and community-minded. I feel lucky to be here.