Kathryn Drury Wagner is an award-winning writer and editor. As The Careerist columnist for Hawaii Business Magazine, she explores issues in the modern workplace. In the past, she was the executive editor at HONOLULU Magazine, and she is the author of two books, including Hawaii’s Strangest, Ickiest, Wildest Book Ever! which inspires young readers using science and history facts about the Islands.
Have a question about work, life and that place in the middle where it all gets tangled up? Ask me!
If you have small children, it’s much harder to work from home. It just is. But here are a few ideas from Hawaii Business Magazine’s “The Careerist” columnist Kathryn Drury Wagner, who has been there and done that for seven…
Meet the newly inducted members of the Hawaiʻi Small Business Hall of Fame.
We are continuing to publish stories researched and written before the COVID-19 crisis, such as this one. Burnout is super common among today’s workers. Here’s how we can protect ourselves. Q: Going to work used to be great, but…
Feel like you’re on a roller coaster emotionally? You’re not alone. Here’s how to keep it together while working during a pandemic.
Hawaii Business Magazine’s “Careerist” columnist also offers bonus tips for Hawai‘i’s working parents Amid the COVID-19 crisis, millions of Americans are joining the 5% of the workforce that’s already working from home. On the silver-lining side, it’s an opportunity for…
The federal Small Business Reorganization Act makes bankruptcy a more realistic option for small companies in Hawai‘i The Small Business Reorganization Act has made filing for Chapter 11 protection a lot easier for many businesses. The SBRA was passed by…
When the goals keep changing, it’s hard to know where to focus efforts. Here are some possible solutions. Q: My boss has shifting priorities. One week we’re chasing one goal; the next week, another goal entirely. Or she’ll give me…
Lina Le Enterprise Director of Human Resources Y. Hata & Co. Ltd. Age 29 "My parents are boat people from Vietnam,” says Lina Le simply. After escaping that country following the war, her parents took three years to reach the…
Kay Fukunaga Director of Financial Analysis Hawaiian Airlines Age 36 Kay Fukunaga isn’t afraid to take it to the mat. Literally. As a teen on Maui, her older brother dared her to go out for the St. Anthony High School…
Can’t work because your colleagues won’t shut up? This meditative mindset is better than murder. Q: I work in an open office with many kinds of personalities. When I need to dive deep into focused work my ideal environment is…
A full count in the 2020 census is key to Hawai‘i getting its rightful share of federal funding, and the state is working to make that happen. Here’s how you and your company can help. The U.S. Census is much…
You’ve been offered a seat on an executive board. Should you take it? Q: I’ve been asked to serve on an executive board for a local charity. I’m flattered but worried I don’t have time. What are some pros and…
Inspired by the “12 Days of Christmas,” we look at common office concerns that arise during the holidays The holiday season is a lot like a string of tangled tree lights. There is the promise of wonder and sparkle, true,…
How to set boundaries with a co-worker who is taking advantage of you. Q: I’m a 56-year-old woman who shares an office with a younger woman with keiki. We get along well, and I have tried to help her by…
Work-related bullying is shockingly common. Those at the top can stop it. Q: I’m COO and take workplace culture at our company seriously. How would I know if workplace bullying is happening? People seem unlikely to share details with me…
With her latest venture, Kathleen Lin-Hurtubise says she aims to combine technology and industry know-how to create a better hospitality staffing service If you’ve ever stressed out while planning that perfect baby lū‘au or wedding, you know how challenging playing…
How to let some air out of that windbag. Q: My co-worker brags nonstop. He boasts about how long he can hold a plank at the gym. Who cares?! He has a new Toyota Corolla – how do I know?…
Q: Can I record my boss without telling him? A: Voice-activated pens, spy-camera sunglasses, hiding behind the ficus … decisions, decisions. Hawai‘i is a one-party consent state, so yes, technically you could secretly record a conversation. Some companies, however, have…
Q: I have this nagging feeling that my boss hates me. Could I be right? A: Hate is a strong emotion, and unless you’ve been slashing tires or sleeping with the boss’s spouse, it’s unlikely that it’s “hate.” But…
The bride-to-be wonders if she should invite her supervisor to the big event. Q: My fiancé and I are getting married this fall. Is it weird to invite my boss to the wedding? A: Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Unlike…
How to make a good impression - and be more effective - once you’ve earned a role on the management committee. Q: I’ve been promoted to manager at work and get to sit on the management committee. I’m hoping to…
How a Hawaii-based private investment firm helps local businesses flourish. Acacia Koa, Hawaii’s koa trees, is endemic to the islands and has been valued for its versatility and strength. A namesake private investment firm, Koa Capital Partners, likewise is focused…
The Careerist explains how to get your resume past the automated systems that screen job candidates. Q: I’m updating my resume for the first time in a decade and feeling intimidated. What are the trends? Robots? Help! A: You’re onto…
Can a state-facilitated retirement savings plan address Hawaii’s retirement security crisis? Like many small-business owners, Larry Stenek, of Art Nelson Sailmaker in Honolulu, needs all hands on deck. “There are six of us here. … My wife is the office…
Pleased to meet your hot hand teeming with staph bacteria! Q: I’ve suffered from three colds in three months. I’m sick of getting sick and want to stop shaking people’s hands entirely. Is that rude? A: You could offer up…
“Off the beaten path” means different things to different people, but overall, visitors to Hawaii are more sophisticated and going farther afield than ever before. That has been good news for many businesses that used to depend exclusively on local…
As more companies assess their employees’ personalities, there are ways to reassure workers and use the test results to help everyone Q: On one of the first days at my new job, I was given a personality test. I thought…
In the restaurant sector, trying to balance the financial interests of employees, customers and owners is difficult. A higher minimum wage will drastically change that equation. A proposal to raise Hawaii’s minimum wage from $10.10 to $15 an hour has…
Q: Every year, everyone seems to want time off for vacation starting around Thanksgiving and going through New Year’s Day. We give off Christmas, New Year’s and half days before both, but I simply can’t shut down my whole business…
Can two chummy co-workers brand their new business without winding up in a duel? Q: My co-worker and I are about to take the leap and launch our own company together. We have a business plan and are super excited.…
Q: I recently made a difficult decision to allow someone to telecommute three days a week. Now I hear all my other employees are gossiping about this and grumbling “it’s not fair.” I’m the owner of this company! Wasn’t this…
Allowing pets in the office can be a perk for some employees, but for companies it’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Q: An employee has asked if he can bring his dog into the office. I’m not against…
Changing laws and attitudes are creating opportunities for Hawaii’s natural sunscreen startups It was the squirt and slather heard ‘round the world. Senate Bill 2571, passed by the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. David Ige, will by Jan.…
Reader wonders whether to quit a hideous job to focus on finding a better one, or to stay put and hunt for something better on the side Q: Is it really easier to get a job offer when you already…
Q: I’m going stir-crazy working out of my bedroom and am considering using a collaborative workspace. Am I too old for this? Is this just for hipsters drinking flat whites? A: Coworking spaces – which have monthly memberships or drop-in…
But you can’t put off forever those minor things on your To Do List that must be done. Set aside regular times for them and then reward yourself. Q: I’m torn. Is it better to bang through my to-do list,…
Move into this 917-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in a lovely, remodeled historical building. Washer/dryer, balcony, air conditioning all included for $875 a month. Just one problem, Island dwellers. It’s in Cleveland. For a similar cozy vibe in Honolulu, you’ll pay at…
Last November, the Hale Mauliola Housing Navigation Service Center opened on Sand Island. It made national news for creating homeless shelters from retrofitted shipping containers. Some people were appalled, others applauded the frugality and portability of the design. In Nevada,…
Q: I was at a lecture in which Walter Dods said that, to succeed in business, you have to follow your passion. I have been thinking about that for weeks and the things I am passionate about are surfing, beer…
It doesn’t look like a homeless shelter – and that’s the point. Cheery paint and graphic shapes tie together the 22 bed areas, creating a hip, treehouse feel. Bathrooms are private and gender neutral, a recognition of the fact that 40…