In this episode of Life of And, Tiffany sits down with Kelly Hiller, CMO of Purdue University, to talk about what it looks like to hold ambition and family in the same hand. Kelly opens up about preparing for Purdue’s most significant media moment, the expedition to confirm the discovery of Amelia Earhart’s plane, and the personal conflict of leaving her family behind for the most extended work trip of her career.
From the weight of mom guilt to the courage it takes to pursue once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, this conversation is an honest look at how to chase big dreams without losing yourself in the process. Kelly shares what she hopes her daughters learn from watching her, and how to reframe guilt into living your values differently, not abandoning them.
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What You’ll Learn:
- How to navigate ambition and family responsibilities without regret
- Why guilt is often more about perception than values
- What it means to model courage and resilience for the next generation
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(03:13) The Amelia Earhart expedition
(05:51) Navigating work and family responsibilities
(08:58) Preparing the family for the trip
(11:36) Support systems and emotional preparation
(14:55) Logistics and practical solutions
(23:02) Family meetings and communication
(29:52) Reflecting on the experience
(33:11) Planning Thanksgiving and birthday celebrations
(35:19) Reflecting on past mistakes and learning
(36:42) Importance of family presence and support
(39:16) Balancing work and family responsibilities
(45:20) Preparing family for temporary absence
(47:43) Maintaining family connections during absence
(01:02:53) Courage, legacy, and the Boilermaker way
For more from Kelly, check out these links:
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