I feel lucky to work with strong women who support each other. - Keely Kelleher

It was a random glance at an outdoor catalog that I first learned about Keely. The story was about a journey of seven girls and three coaches experiencing Iceland, backcountry skiing in the mountains and sailing the Arktika.  (see video below)

Can you imagine being a young girl skiing a few miles from the Arctic Circle?

Keely's Camp is on a mission is to empower, inspire, educate and connect the next generation of girls while teaching them useful skills for navigating in the mountains.

They provide girls with powerful role models and help them think critically about their natural surroundings.

I loved reading her interview and hope you find some nuggets of wisdom from Keely as she shares her story with us.

What did you daydream about when you were a kid?

I'd sit in school drawing race courses, the Olympic Rings, mountains, and rivers. I loved being outside and at a young age I knew I wanted to be a World Cup skier.

What is your favorite thing about your studio or workspace?

It's flexible. Office days mean I can work from anywhere. Right now I'm in a cafe in San Francisco working on the logistics for the Montana Backcountry ski camp. Also, my office is outside...working in Mountains and on rivers teaching girls to believe in themselves. I feel very fortunate.

What have been some of the greatest challenges in your career?

When I was 19 years old I broke my leg training downhill in Colorado.

I just made the U.S. Ski Team and was headed to Lake Louise to race my first World Cup downhill. My leg break ended up taking seven surgeries in three years to fix.

Coming back from my leg injury felt like winning a World Cup ski race to me. I ended up racing World Cup at a competitive level again.

A lot of doctors doubted my return due to my leg complications. The mental fortitude it took to ski race at the World Cup level again changed my life.

My injury was a lesson in resilience and it shaped me into a stronger person.

What does success mean to you?

When your job doesn't feel like a job because it is so much fun. That is success to me.

How do you deal with self doubt or insecurity?

On days when I feel down or am comparing myself to others I tell myself that who I am is enough.

I also think having a supportive group of friends who you can be yourself with and who will love you unconditionally is key.

Who or What inspires you?

Powerful women that build one another up and support each other. I feel lucky to work with strong women who support each other.

What advice has been the most helpful in your life?

Don't look for a job, look for a passion and make your job out of it.

Tell me about a failure that you learned from?

I've failed so many times in my life.

One that comes to mind is missing the Olympic team in 2010. I crashed in the last qualifier and missed making the team. I was devastated. It took me a week of crying and feeling sorry for myself to pull myself back up and reflect on what I did wrong.

I chose to learn from my mistakes leading up to the Olympics and change my mental outlook for the remainder of the 2010 season.

Two months later I won the National SG title and proved to myself that I could bounce back from failure.

I feel like failure has been one of my best coaches.

I've found that if I look at failure as a challenge to improve I can bounce back from it faster.

Failure has taught me to be a work in progress everyday.

Tell Me - Why you do What you do?

The mission of Keely's Camp is to inspire, empower, educate, and connect the next generation of girls in skiing and outdoor sport. Enough said. That's our mission as a staff at Keely's Camp and we are committed to it!

Do you have a favorite song, book or quote that motivates you?

"Happiness is like peeing your pants. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel it's warmth."

Name 1 or 2 women who you admire?

My mom Jennifer Kelleher and all the wonderful women who coach for Keely's Camp.

If you could look back and give yourself some advice as you were starting out, what would it be?

Be easier on yourself.

Being perfect is impossible, don't change for anyone, being who you are is enough.

What one piece of advice would you give to young girls who are trying to navigate their future?

Same as above:
Be easier on yourself. Being perfect is impossible, don't change for anyone, be who you are because that is enough.

Want to learn more about how your daughter could benefit from experiencing Keely's Camp For Girls? Check out her website , follow her on Instagram  or subscribe to her YouTube Channel.

Ski Racer • Outdoor Adventurer • Girls Moving Mountains • Backcountry Ski Camps • Business Ownder