SRCCON:POWER is coming up tomorrow, on December 13 and 14! Before then, we’re previewing the folks who’ll be part of the event’s talks. Here’s our Q&A with master of ceremonies Kim Bui.

Kim Bui on Understanding Power in Our Lives and Our Work

Would you introduce yourself to our readers, please?

I’m Kim, and I’m your likely-over-caffeinated emcee for SRCCON:POWER. I’m also the person who is writing the tweets and emails you’ve gotten from us. I’m really excited to be part of this, since I’ve talked to so many people this past year about our power as journalists and power within the newsroom. I just joined the Arizona Republic as a director focusing on audience, breaking news, and innovation.

Could you tell us a little about your work, supporting leadership development and growth for those in the middle tier of management and of their careers? How does this intersect with some of the themes of SRCCON:POWER?

I care so much about the growth of people within our industry. I am extremely fortunate to have had amazing mentors and friends who have helped me see my own power and how I can best utilize it. I’ve tried to relay that as openly as possible, in mentoring and writing The Middles, my (mostly) weekly newsletter on emerging leadership and what that means. The idea is that so many of us feel like we just “fell into” leadership and management and we’re all equally terrified and tired on the inside. I wrote about this in my last issue, and how I’m starting to think about the word “empowerment” differently. We hold power as journalists, but we also often seek to empower those who are underserved or disenfranchised and maybe that’s not the way to look at it. We also struggle with power within newsrooms, with the constant flux of our industry and pivots to everywhere.

What are a few things you’re most looking forward to, related to SRCCON:POWER? Do you have any recommendations for ways that people can maximize their experience with the event?

The best time I had at SRCCON:WORK was at the Thursday dinners, where I dined with a bunch of people I didn’t know too well, and we kept the conversation going in the hotel lobby afterward. It was so warm and inviting and small that I hope people take advantage of that to be vulnerable when they need to and try to find working solutions. It’s a great group to meet new people and talk/vent/cry/laugh freely.

I’m super excited to hear us talk about things that have swirled in conversations as of late, like using the word family, how maps and data can be biased and unempathetic and more.

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