Wellness as Renewal: A Story of Personal Reinvention and Purpose

From artist to entrepreneur to community leader, Kathy Kaufman’s diverse accomplishments and ability to continually reinvent herself stand as an inspiring testament to human resilience. At 76 years old, she is still riding her bike 5 miles every day, doing Pilates, and living life to the fullest. But her journey has not been an easy one. What does it take to overcome a traumatic childhood, find success in the male-dominated world of technology, and then pivot to become a pioneering force in the field of personalized medicine? Meet Kathy Kaufman – a true versatile woman whose incredible life journey will inspire you to dream big and never give up.

Kathy’s path has been anything but linear. From her early days as a talented artist, to her surprising turn as a Microsoft engineer, to her current passion for genetics and health innovation, her story is a testament to the power of resilience, curiosity, and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Despite facing sexual abuse as a child and growing up in a household plagued by addiction and violence, Kathy refused to let her traumatic past define her. Instead, she channeled her pain into purpose, using her art as a tool to open up conversations about trauma with high school students.

Growing up in a rural area of Long Island, Kathy always knew she had a passion for both art and science. Despite facing sexual abuse as a child, she was determined to chart her own path. After getting a full scholarship to the prestigious Pratt Institute art school in New York City, Kathy initially pursued a career as an art teacher.

However, Kathy quickly realized that the financial realities of being an artist in the United States were challenging. “In the US, it’s very difficult for creative people to financially survive,” she explains. “No one is going to give you financial support to do art.”

So Kathy decided to shift gears and embark on a technology career, becoming certified in Novell and Microsoft systems. This was not an easy transition, as the Microsoft certification tests were notoriously difficult – designed, in Kathy’s view, to “screen out people who couldn’t take tests” rather than assess real-world engineering skills.

But Kathy persisted, passing test after test and becoming a highly sought-after Microsoft engineer and technology project manager. At the height of her career, she was earning $200,000 a year – working 80 hours a week. “I had children and I did not like that,” she says.

The stress of the long hours and the constant fear of being “downsized” took a toll. Kathy watched as her high-paying tech job was outsourced to workers overseas who would do the same work for a fraction of the cost. She realized the system was rigged against people like her.

“I made $200,000 a year as a Microsoft engineer, technology project manager, but I worked 80 hours a week. And I had children and I did not like that. And so I, and I started getting downsized. Okay. Cause people started come to the country who are experts from other parts of the world and they would do what I was doing they would do it for thirty thousand dollars and so I started getting downsized.”

Kathy decided to take matters into her own hands and start her own business. By learning about the tax code and the advantages of business ownership, she was able to dramatically reduce her tax burden. This financial freedom allowed her to explore other passions.

One area that had long intrigued Kathy was the connection between genetics, health, and her own family’s history of addiction and violence. “As soon as they did the Human Genome Project, it was a long time ago, like over 30 years. I wonder if this is genetic, which it can be. Alcoholism can be genetic. And we know now that American Indians can get addicted to alcohol. The Irish have a tendency to get addicted. Many people are addicted to alcohol.”

Kathy began diving deep into the world of personalized medicine and genetics, attending conferences and immersing herself in the latest research. She was fascinated by the idea that our DNA could hold the keys to understanding and treating not just addiction, but a whole host of health issues.

“I started to get really into, I went to a convention for do with genetics. And I started to get really into, I went to a convention for personalized medicine and genetics. And I started to realize that there’s a lot of injustice in the world, and a lot of things that we don’t know.”

Kathy’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to reinvent oneself. From the arts to technology to personalized medicine, she has never been afraid to explore new paths and challenge the status quo.

Along the way, Kathy has also been a passionate advocate for addressing the trauma of sexual abuse. During her time as an art teacher, she would use her abstract paintings as a springboard to open discussions with high school students about their own experiences.

“I spent 10 years going into high schools, using my abstract art, asking the kids, what do you see here? And they were brilliant. They could see. I mean, that is brilliant, Kathy. I’m really impressed by what you said some time ago, where you wanted to be both an artist and a scientist.”

Kathy’s willingness to confront difficult topics head-on is a testament to her resilience and her desire to make a positive impact on the world. Even as she navigates her own family’s history of trauma and addiction, she remains determined to find solutions and share her knowledge with others.

Today, Kathy continues to be a lifelong learner, exploring the frontiers of personalized medicine and genetics. She sees these fields as holding great promise for addressing not just her own health challenges, but those of people around the world.

“I started to realize that there’s a lot of injustice in the world, and a lot of things that we don’t know. And I started to get really into personalized medicine and genetics.”

Kathy’s journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and pursue your passions. Through her determination, creativity, and unwavering commitment to making a difference, she has become a true inspiration to women and men alike.

-Tishya Sharma, Lawyer, Content Developer and Grant Consultant with She Sight Global