Women's Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is excited to continue our podcast series, Tips From The Trail, hosted by WPLN Founder & President Larissa Martinez, where we explore the path to political office, from the decision to run to election day.
In our latest episode, we're joined by Congresswoman Kat Cammack, who represents Florida's Third Congressional District. Before being elected to Congress, Congresswoman Cammack managed a successful congressional campaign and spent nearly a decade serving as deputy chief of staff. Today, she serves on the House Agriculture and Energy & Commerce Committees and chairs the Republican Women's Caucus.
She joined Larissa to discuss what it takes to balance the demands of public service, campaigning, motherhood, and life outside of politics. From learning to set boundaries to protecting time for family, she shared practical lessons about prioritizing what matters most while navigating a demanding career.
Check out highlights from their conversation below and listen to the full conversation wherever you listen to podcasts.
Carrying Her Mother’s Legacy Forward: Vanessa’s decision to run for office began with her mother. Raised in eastern Kentucky, Vanessa’s mother participated in the federal Head Start program before becoming a teenage mom. When Vanessa started school, her mother enrolled in community college, became a kindergarten teacher, and eventually served as a school superintendent.
When her mother announced her retirement, Vanessa found herself asking who would pick up the torch she was laying down. Because education represents such a significant portion of Kentucky’s state budget, Vanessa saw the legislature as a meaningful place to continue that work.
Don't Wait Your Turn: One of Rep. Cammack’s biggest messages to women considering public office is simple: don't wait for someone else to tell you it's your turn. Throughout her career, the congresswoman has met women who feel they need to wait until their children are older, until they have more experience, or until the timing feels perfect before pursuing leadership opportunities. But as she emphasized, there may never be a perfect moment. “Lines are for movie theaters and amusement parks. They're not for your life, and they certainly are not for political office." For women considering a run for office, her message is a reminder that leadership doesn't always follow a predetermined timeline. Your experiences, ideas, and passion for serving your community can help you determine when you're ready to take that next step.
"Are you making progress or making noise?" In a fast-paced environment where there is always another headline, challenge, or opportunity demanding attention, the Congresswoman explained that it can be easy to confuse being busy with being effective. Early in her time in Congress, she tried to accommodate nearly every request that came her way. Over time, that approach left her exhausted and made it difficult to maintain her health and personal relationships.
A fellow member of Congress offered advice that stayed with her: "You need to learn how to run your schedule, or your schedule will run you." Today, she is more deliberate about protecting mornings with her husband and daughter, keeping Sundays for family, and evaluating whether an opportunity truly aligns with her priorities. Her experience offers an important lesson for women on the campaign trail: effective leadership isn't about doing everything. It's about knowing where your time and energy can make the greatest difference.
Motherhood and Public Service Can Go Together: Rep. Cammack also spoke candidly about becoming a mother while serving in Congress and the challenges of balancing a growing family with the responsibilities of public office. She described returning to work shortly after giving birth, navigating limited accommodations for breastfeeding in the Capitol, and learning to incorporate her daughter, Augusta, into aspects of her public life. While acknowledging that every family's circumstances and needs are different, Kat emphasized that motherhood has given her a new perspective on her responsibilities and priorities.
She also highlighted the importance of having people who can help make that balance possible, including her husband, family, friends, and staff.
She now brings her daughter to certain meetings and community events, demonstrating that family life and public service do not always have to exist in separate spaces. For women who worry that family responsibilities may prevent them from pursuing office, her experience offers a perspective on the importance of finding an approach that works for their own circumstances.
Remember to Enjoy the Journey: As the conversation wrapped up, Larissa asked the congresswoman about her Election Day traditions. She recalled the anxiety of her first primary election, when her team had planned dozens of stops throughout the day and the pressure of waiting for results felt overwhelming.
Her advice to candidates was to find ways to manage that stress and, importantly, to keep a journal throughout the campaign. Documenting your experiences can help you reflect on the people you've met, the lessons you've learned, and the work you've accomplished along the way.z candidates can become so focused on the next task or challenge that they forget just how extraordinary the experience of running for office can be.
Whether you're preparing for your first campaign or already serving in public office, taking time to reflect can help you appreciate the journey and remember why you started.
Balancing priorities is an ongoing part of leadership. This episode remind us that pursuing public office doesn't require having every aspect of your life perfectly organized. It requires understanding your priorities, building a reliable support system, setting boundaries, and being willing to adapt as your responsibilities evolve.
If you're considering public service, WPLN is here to help. Explore our free, self-pace. Explore our free candidate training resources on our website to learn more about how you can take the next step and check out our upcoming events where you can register for virtual and in-person programs and connect with a national network of women leaders.
Check out the full episode on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Congresswoman Kat Cammack represents Florida's Third Congressional District, which includes 12 counties in North Central Florida.
Raised on a cattle ranch outside Denver, Colorado, Rep. Cammack comes from a family of commercial sandblasters and participated in 4-H and rodeo programs growing up. After graduating from Metropolitan State University of Denver, she managed Ted Yoho's successful 2012 congressional campaign and spent nearly a decade serving as deputy chief of staff for Florida's Third Congressional District. Rep. Cammack holds a master's degree in National Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. She serves on the House Agriculture and Energy & Commerce Committees and chairs the Republican Women's Caucus. She lives with her husband, Matt, a firefighter and paramedic, and their daughter, Augusta.
WPLN, is a national nonprofit educating, organizing, and inspiring center- and right-leaning women to seek public office at all levels across the U.S. and become effective leaders. The views and policy positions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not represent endorsement by WPLN.