In this third edition of the “Warrior Mindset Unplugged” I am pleased to share an interview with my good friend, All-American volleyball player, competitive weight lifter, Brazilian Jiujitsu champion, Army Military Police Captain, and the first female strength and conditioning coach at the United States Air Force Academy. With wit and humor, authenticity and vulnerability, she shares life lessons learned growing up on a farm, how to overcome setback, defeat, and gender bias, along with a powerful message of the importance of growth mindset, empathy, personal belief, resilience, and perseverance. Her ongoing struggle with fertility to realize her dream of having a child and her challenging journey through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is so inspiring to anyone who has battled fertility issues or struggled against insurmountable odds to pursue their dreams!
Kim was a multi-year starter, team captain, academic all-American, and All-American at the University of Minnesota. Though recruited as a hitter, a major abdominal injury left her in the trainer’s room recovering but she soon found new purpose as a defensive specialist/libero and developed a killer jump-serve (I can personally attest :p).
After volleyball she began competing in weight lifting, where her height as a volleyball player was a bit of a challenge in her weight class but she quickly compensated with technique and mindset, and hard work to (literally) stand head and shoulders above the competition, winning Colorado State Games 4 years in a row and placed 13th nationally. She is credentialed as both a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S) and Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). She is certified by USA Weightlifting (USAW) as a Level 1 Coach, and is a LWC referee.
Though well established in an already successful career as USAFA’s first ever female strength and conditioning coach, Kim still felt like she had more to give, so she joined the Army and became a Military Police officer, where she has continued to distinguish herself, including empowering women and breaking down gender stereotypes by “maxing” the men’s fitness test. She deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2016 and has been awarded numerous decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency (Gold).
Warrior: The Art of War for Life - A Podcast on Winning 
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