Kate White

Moms to Know: Kate White, Glazer Children’s Museum

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Parenting Through Play: Kate White, Glazer Children’s Museum chief marketing officer, has built a career and family life around the transformative power of play. From leading creative campaigns to kayaking with her daughters, she shares how play fuels connection, growth and joy at work and at home.

Tell us about your journey into the world of play at Glazer Children’s Museum.

Kate White: Before joining Glazer Children’s Museum eight years ago, I worked at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, where I first realized just how powerful play-based learning really is. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to convince the world that play is essential. At GCM, I’ve led bold campaigns, grown our audience and built a brand rooted in imagination and play.

I’m not subtle about the fact that I think play changes lives. It’s how kids learn, how families connect, and honestly, how adults can reconnect with our own authentic selves.

How has motherhood changed your perspective on the power of play?

Kate White: Motherhood radicalized me in the best way. I knew the research, but parenting made it personal. I’ve seen how play helps my kids regulate emotions, build confidence and stay wildly themselves. But let me be clear, I’m not constantly playing with them. I’ve learned how to use play as a powerful parenting tool that doesn’t require me to be involved every minute.

Sometimes it’s about setting up the space and stepping back. Other times, I join in just enough to keep the magic alive. I’ve discovered that play isn’t just another item on the to-do list; it’s a mindset that reshapes how we move through life.

You get to work alongside some other amazing female leaders, including the museum’s CEO Sarah Cole. How do these personal and professional relationships with other women help make a difference in your life as a mother and professional?

Kate White: Our entire leadership team is made up of powerhouse women, and it shows. There’s so much trust, creativity and consideration in how we work together. We all have different strengths, and we’ve learned to play to them. We collaborate as professionals while also giving each other space to be human. That culture of support is why our people stick around. We’re building something special, and we’re doing it without losing ourselves in the process.

Kate White Glazer Children's Museum

What are some of your most memorable moments at Glazer Children’s Museum?

Kate White: Summer camp is my absolute favorite time at the museum. The energy is off the charts. My two daughters have grown up going to camp here, and now it’s like their second home. I love when they sneak away from camp to have lunch with me in my office. I’ve watched so many kids return year after year, growing a little taller and a lot more themselves. It’s the best reminder of why this work matters.

Can you share some of your life hacks?

Kate White: Here’s the real hack that took me way too long to learn: Slowing down actually makes me better at everything. When I stopped trying to do it all quickly and perfectly, I became a more creative leader and a more present mom. At home, my favorite hack is imaginative play. We turn our mundane daily routines into games. When my girls are dreading a task, I encourage them to incorporate it into the game. Because after all, even mermaids have to brush their teeth.

What are your favorite ways to play as a family in Tampa Bay?

Kate White: I’m a museum nerd through and through, and Tampa Bay has no shortage of amazing cultural spots for us to explore. But I also feel most at peace in nature, so we spend a lot of time outside. You’ll find us kayaking at Lettuce Lake Park, climbing trees at Rivercrest or strolling down the Riverwalk.

I’ve heard millennials are trading the classic midlife crisis for retirement hobbies, and there may be something to that theory. My current hyperfixations are birdwatching and tending to my garden.

You knew Julie Tingley, who helped establish this page. What impact did she have on your life?

Kate White: Julie had a special way of lifting up and connecting women. I can trace at least 10 of my friendships back to her, and dozens more professional connections. She reminded me how much women need each other.

When you're busy taking care of everyone else, it’s easy to let friendships slide; but Julie never did. She made space for connection, collaboration and joy. At her memorial, we wore bright dresses to honor her, and I’ve never seen so many radiant women in one place. That’s her legacy. She brought us together, and we’re better for it.

Anything else you want to add?

Kate White: Just this: Play more. Rest more. Be a little weirder if that’s what your soul needs. Kids don’t need perfect parents; they need present ones. And you don’t have to do it all to be doing it right. Sometimes, you just need to get out of their way and let them play.

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Originally published in the July 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.