For many VIDA members, Greer Kern’s face is the first thing we see when we walk into the office each morning. As VIDA’s community director, Greer manages a lot, from detail-oriented things like making sure events at VIDA go off without a hitch, to big-picture stuff like building relationships and creating a culture that’s nurturing, positive, and supportive. Plus, she makes a mean pot of coffee.

We caught up with Greer to learn more about all the incredible things she does for the VIDA community, what surprised her most about how VIDA took shape from an idea to a place, and why the next time you fire up an audiobook, the reader’s voice might sound surprisingly familiar.

OK. What does a Community Director do?

I’m like one part mother hen, one part girlfriend, one part cheerleader, and one part party hostess. I want everyone who walks through that door to feel celebrated. I feel the pace that life moves at today feels very detached, and I want to create a calm space that is supportive, joy-filled, and intentional to help manifest what each person is looking for.

Everyone is a part of building the VIDA energy, and I feel my role as community director is ever so softly moving that energy into realization. Sometimes that takes the form of events I can bring to the membership. Other times, it’s requesting that a member facilitate a series of classes on a topic in their wheelhouse. I also work with the team to acknowledge people’s birthdays and big happenings in their lives, whether that’s something hard like a sickness in the family or something great like a promotion.

I also do things like member retention and relationship building, and I manage and plan member and public events. I offer concierge services, and I connect members to other members. Plus, I take care of the plants and fluff up the pillows and make sure the space looks beautiful. As VIDA expands, I’ll be overseeing the additional locations, hiring staff, selecting vendors, and that sort of thing.

You’ve been part of VIDA since the early days. Is there anything that’s surprised you about watching this community and space take shape?

In the beginning, VIDA was just an idea. Then it morphed into a physical space, and we spent a lot of time thinking about what we could add to that physical space to make life work for all people. But I never thought that the very people within that space would contribute so much time and energy to literally co-create what VIDA is today. I thought there would be far more managing of the experience. Just how much people want to be a part of this creation has been a huge surprise for me.

Tell us about a time you overcame–or at least successfully grappled with–a major challenge in your career.

I was in commercial property management for years. It paid well and there was job security. I wasn’t happy, but I stayed because of fear. Then I was laid off in 2019. After moving through that experience, I came to realize it was the best thing that ever happened to me. Because I wouldn’t have left otherwise, and it would have changed the chemistry of who I know I am to be. That’s when Melanie and I came together and the VIDA opportunity opened up.  Now, if an experience presented to me doesn’t bring me joy and it doesn’t feel right, I just don’t do it. That’s not to say I can’t weather challenge, but I’m not pushing the boulder up the hill anymore. It has to feel good.

What does the phrase “work-life balance” mean to you?

To me, work-life balance means that there is time to dream and create, time to implement and build, and time to support others and allow others to support me while being a part of a community.

I know our society is not there yet, but I think we’ve started the conversation and we are building notable momentum. Many women are pushing back, saying “I’m not buying into the social conditioning. I want more from my life.” That means being willing to be vulnerable and ask for help, and being willing to share your story, your pain, and your joys.  Go out and get what you want in life. You can have it–and more!

Can you tell us about one of your hidden talents or interests?

I love being on stage, I really like public speaking, and I literally get goosebumps when I see a mic in the studio. Voiceover work is something I’ve always dabbled in. Even when I was a kid, my cousin and I would take out the Sunday paper and record ourselves on a little cassette tape, making commercials. I’ve done spots here and there, but never took it to the next level professionally. Now it’s something I’m committed to doing. I just hired a voiceover coach and will start to create my demo tape in April.

My money voice is the voice that is soothing and relaxing, the kind of voice you want to hear when you’re being told information or helped in some way. But I do all sorts of different characters, especially when I’m reading stories to my three-year-old son. Right now, I’m trying to get in touch with my rocker voice. I also do this really fun, young, excited voice. I would love to record audiobooks. I would love to do narration, commercial spots, and characters. I’d even love to be the voice throughout Disneyland when guests walk about the park, and the voice for anything automated–like the grocery store self check-outs!