Owen Kaelble

Indianapolis, IN
Content Management Assistant
Ruth Lilly Medical Library

Briefly describe your daily job duties.
I make sure our content, which includes medical journals, articles, databases, and more, remains accessible to doctors, students, and libraries around the world.

As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job.
The most challenging part of my job is whenever I have to talk with a stranger. Introducing myself always gives me anxiety, but I always get through it.

What are your long-term career aspirations?
My long term career aspirations are focused on working in the wide field of sports. I am currently earning my master’s degree in sports journalism and have covered multiple basketball tournaments, including the most recent Final Four in New Orleans.

Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process?
Nope, I did not self-disclose my stutter during the hiring process. Usually, coworkers simply find out I stutter through conversation with me because I tend to stutter often in regular conversation. Sometimes I subconsciously say, “Sorry, I stutter,” if it takes me especially long to say something in my introduction to someone. However, I try not to do that. I am not ashamed of my stutter.

What is your proudest moment at your current company?
My proudest moment is simply being able to assist all the health care workers around the world. I am honored to be a part of the process.

Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work.
I’m not sure if my stutter itself makes me more of a contributor because it’s only a small part of me and who I am. But I do not try to hide it and I fully embrace it so I hope my acceptance of it encourages fellow stutterers to be who they are as well.

What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success?
Take as much time as you need to say whatever you need to say. It does not matter how long it takes you to say it. What matters is simply saying it.