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Kelly Vaughn

@kvlly.com
47K followers 567 following 2K posts

Engineering leader. modernleader.is

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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 24/08/2026
Life lately. Go Dawgs.
Studying with a book and a laptop at a tableIn class with an open laptopSelfie wearing a hat that says "University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus"
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 31/07/2026
Had my 4th and final lipedema surgery yesterday. The road ahead is now just recovery. 4 surgeries in 7 months was a lot, but I’m a pro now.
Photo of Kelly lying on an air mattress making a peace sign
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 08/05/2026
I could send newsletters at a normal time, but sometimes I write something at 9pm on a Thursday and just decide to send it out. New on After Burnout: afterburnout.co/p/your-smart...
Your smartwatch is gaslighting you
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 25/04/2026
After somewhere around 6 years, @emmabostian.bsky.social and I are finally back together and vacationing in Italy! 🇮🇹
Emma and Kelly outside in Italy
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 24/04/2026
Let the friend honeymoon commence
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 24/04/2026
Life update: I made it back to Pilates after 4 months off for 3 surgeries 🥹
Mirror selfie of Kelly on a Pilates reformer in a blue tinged room
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 11/04/2026
Please enjoy this relic of Past Kelly I forgot I was using as my bookmark
Photo of Kelly’s old student ID in front of an open book
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 26/03/2026
In other important news, my Neopets account turned 25 today
Screenshot of 25-year-old Neopets account
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 26/03/2026
Update: 30ish hours post op and made it to a coffee shop. Grateful for an easier recovery this time 💙
Kelly with a coffee
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 26/03/2026
24 hrs before and after surgery 😂😭
Hand before surgerySwollen hand after surgery
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 25/03/2026
Proof of life - lipedema surgery number 3 done. Another 3.8 liters of diseased tissue removed from my arms. That brings my total to a little over 17L, or ~35lb of tissue I couldn’t burn through diet and exercise. Now we begin the healing phase of this journey.
Photo of Kelly at home recovering Photo of Kelly in a hospital gown with her arm marked up
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 28/02/2026
3 days post op today. Moving around a little better and didn’t need to take a painkiller in the middle of the night so that’s a win! The weather’s been great so I’ve been taking advantage of short outdoor walks. I’m off work for another week which I’m grateful for because sitting is a pain.
Mirror selfie of Kelly with bandages up to her knees
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 26/02/2026
Hello from the other side of surgery. 8.7L of diseased tissue removed from my upper legs. Pain is present but I’m dealing with it. Mostly just living on this air mattress until I feel comfortable enough getting in and out of bed.
Photo of post-surgery legs in compression and wraps
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 15/02/2026
10 days until lipedema surgery #2 of 3. Back at it again. Not excited for the recovery process, but I am excited to feel less top-heavy. Now that the swelling has gone down more in my lower legs and knees, my thighs feel out of alignment. Photo from last week really shows (to me) the unevenness.
Mirror selfie of Kelly wearing compression garments, a white knit top, and a denim jacket with rolled up sleeves
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 11/02/2026
Understood. Looks like you use the same gate I do!
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 28/01/2026
3 weeks post-op tomorrow 4 weeks until the next surgery 10 weeks until I can stop washing my compression leggings every single day
Photo of elevated bandaged legs on a couch
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 27/01/2026
Tomorrow's newsletter is a good one 👀 Sign up to receive it tomorrow morning: modernleader.is
What happens when AI replaces the parts of work people love?

We're using AI to move faster. I'm not yet convinced we're using it to work better.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 20/01/2026
I think I’ll be a mummy for Halloween this year. By the time I’m done with all 3 surgeries, I’ll certainly have enough ACE wraps to cover my whole body
Mirror selfie of Kelly with ACE wraps on her lower legs
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 18/01/2026
If you’re wondering what I’ve been doing while on medical leave…
16 books read of 100 goal
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 15/01/2026
I’ve talked a bit about having lipedema on here (a connective tissue disorder that causes a buildup of fat that can’t be burned by diet and exercise and has to be surgically removed). I’m 7 days post-op #1 of 3 surgeries - nearly 5L removed. I’m still very swollen but I have actual calf definition!
Before/after lipedema liposuction
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 11/01/2026
Post op day 3: swollen legs make for a great table
iPad resting on wrapped legs
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 09/01/2026
48 hours post op. Swelling is really starting to kick in and it doesn’t feel super great but I knew it was coming. Still walking around every 2-3 hours and drinking a ton of water.
Photo of Kelly in a mirror with her legs bandaged
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 03/01/2026
First and final race before surgery next week!
Selfie of Kelly with a medal
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 31/12/2025
It may technically be a holiday tomorrow, but Modern Leader All Access members will still get their January leadership playbook! Get yours (and past playbooks) by signing up for All Access: modernleader.is/upgrade
Signal over noise playbook to be sent on January 1
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 30/12/2025
Final status:
No new invitations62 unread messages
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 30/12/2025
There is a 100% chance someone thinks I’m an asshole for not accepting their LinkedIn invitation. I’m honestly just too tired to go through them. This is why I end up bulk accepting and then feeling a different kind of regret.
1,269 LinkedIn invitations
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 29/12/2025
Can't wait to talk to my therapist about this tomorrow
News article title: How a bigger-looking butt could be a sneaky sign of autism and ADHD
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 28/12/2025
Like... I'm so thankful for technology
Screenshot of event generation
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 23/12/2025
I feel like I need to make a donation to an environmental impact fund 😬
Top 1% of messages sent, first 0.1% of users, 923 total chats, 15.65k messages sent, 47 images generated, 16.46k em-dashes exchanged, oct 7 chattiest day in 2025
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 22/12/2025
this is my 2026 vision board
charcuterie
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 21/12/2025
Starting my new career as a photographer. Thank you for your support
Very blurry photo of a cat
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 16/12/2025
Sometimes nothing is “wrong” at work. The company changed. You changed. The fit didn’t get renegotiated. Wrote about this today, especially relevant as review season approaches. www.modernleader.is/p/why-cultur...
Pausing to ask whether this is still a place where you can do your best work isn't disloyalty. It's self-awareness.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 14/12/2025
New post for After Burnout: On unlearning the myth of total control afterburnout.co/p/on-unlearn...
Burnout forced me to give up the fantasy that I could control everything if I just tried hard enough. What I gained instead was a healthier sense of agency. I can prepare, choose, and follow through, while accepting that not every outcome is mine to own.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 12/12/2025
Also proud EV owner!
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 07/12/2025
Tuesday's newsletter is going to be a good one 👀 Get it: www.modernleader.is
Should engineering managers be writing code at work? The debate is exhausting for a reason.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 02/12/2025
Managers: the best move when someone brings you a problem isn’t to jump in and fix it. Ask this instead: “What would you like to do about it, and how can I best support you?” It builds ownership, cuts dependency, and keeps you out of the weeds. Read more: www.modernleader.is/p/the-questi...
Your team doesn't need a hero. They need a guide.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 30/11/2025
Super excited to be releasing the first monthly digital download to Modern Leader All Access subscribers! This is a perk that’s delivered on the first day of each month. Get access 👉 modernleader.is/upgrade
The Reset Ritual digital download preview
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 27/11/2025
I'm enjoying leaning more into my therapy training when writing newsletters. You're all getting a Social Work 101 lesson. Just scheduled this one to go out on Tuesday morning! modernleader.is (I also can't wait for someone to read this and be like, your conversations with your husband are boring)
The question great managers ask instead of giving answers
A simple shift that turns you from problem-solver to leader
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 15/11/2025
1:1 with my nephew today at the zoo
Kelly with her nephew
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 08/11/2025
Let's gooooooo
Women for Ruining the Workplace
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 08/11/2025
Ever heard of the concept of the invisible gun? It's easy to forget the power your words have as a leader. Article + newsletter drop Tuesday, Nov 11 on The Modern Leader. Sign up ➡️ modernleader.is
That’s the invisible gun of leadership — the unspoken power that comes with seniority. You don’t mean harm, but your words land heavier now.
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 05/11/2025
3 vein procedures down, 3 to go this year. Then 3 surgeries next year. I have to keep telling myself this will all be worth it in the end.
Kelly wearing surgery slippers making a thumbs up with text reading “vein procedure # 3 of 6”
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 03/11/2025
Made it! 🥹 Thank you to all who supported this fundraiser either by sharing or financially contributing!
$1,145.27 of $1,000 raised for Atlanta Community Food Bank
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 03/11/2025
I’m so close to my $1,000 birthday fundraiser goal for Atlanta Community Food Bank! Help me get over the finish line by donating directly on Instagram or venmoing me (kellyvaughn) if you don’t have an Instagram account. ig.me/25DBucOEUs3K...
$941 raised of $1,000 goal
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 02/11/2025
TIL (thanks to my husband) that there’s a second Slack app you can download. Now I have my work Slack separated from my community Slack workspaces and can use Slack without stressing about unread work notifications during off-hours
Slack and Slack EMM apps
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 02/11/2025
If 10 more people donate $35 (for the 35 years I’ve been on this planet) I’ll hit my goal 🥹 Either donate directly on Instagram or you can Venmo me at kellyvaughn and I’ll donate on your behalf! ig.me/20ZfXzDCnHH4...
$689/1000 raised for Atlanta community food bank
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 01/11/2025
Halfway to my birthday fundraiser goal for Atlanta Community Food Bank! You can donate here or Venmo kellyvaughn if you don’t have Instagram and I’ll add it to the fundraiser: ig.me/321f3OIxmyVI...
$506 raised of $1,000 for Atlanta Community Food Bank
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 31/10/2025
For Halloween this year I’m dressing up as someone who officially has all required paperwork to file for Spanish citizenship 🎃🇪🇸
Photo of Kelly Jolson tip a probate document from Georgia
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 20/10/2025
I’ve been teaching leaders how to handle tough conversations for years. Now it’s all in one place — a self-paced course built from what I’ve learned as a leader and a therapist. It's short, practical, and built for real people. modernleader.is/tc
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Kelly Vaughn @kvlly.com · 13/09/2025
You’ll also use an AI-powered chatbot (like in the screenshot) to actually practice your responses before you’re in the real thing. It’s tactical. It’s interactive. And it launches October 1. Preorders are open now.
Screenshot of chatbot to practice tough conversations
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