Versatile, award-winning ABC News and Good Morning America correspondent Adrienne Bankert has to be ready on a moment’s notice to show up at a location and tell the world the story of what is going on. But in spite of all this pressure, what’s her first priority? Kindness! And she says it can be our hidden superpower as well!
Kindness is what I’ve stayed focused on to remind myself of what will never change. It’s unbeatable. The proof is that the world literally stopped, and kindness didn’t. It’s an anchor to the soul when life is crazy.
Stress, competition and focus all come into play for Adrienne, whose range of stories goes from interviewing Academy-Award winners like Brad Pitt to being the first national reporter to cover the shocking killing of 5 Dallas police officers in 2016.
I was intrigued with Adrienne’s unique driving force – kindness – which she writes about in Your Hidden Superpower: The Kindness That Makes You Unbeatable at Work and Connects You With Anyone.
Generously taking time to answer questions, Adrienne fills in the blanks on how kindness is not only a “game changer” in her career but can be that game changer for all of us…
EYE: You are in one of the most competitive professions anyone can have. How has kindness worked for you as you’ve built your career?
ADRIENNE: I got to the ABC network because of a reputation for kindness, not my resume! There are a lot of highly qualified and talented people who are ready for the network. I tried for years to get hired by experience and it didn’t work.
Relationship with someone willing to advocate for me, connection and a kind reputation actually ended up opening the door for me. I’ve quietly consulted, coached and encouraged, and just supported people for many years because kindness comes back to you.
EYE: Did you always dream of becoming a television reporter?
ADRIENNE: Yes, since I was a kid. What intrigues me is that it’s about making people who are in a situation that is larger than life or something that is unimaginable, and making it relatable to people watching at home.
I think my favorite part about this business is being able to help people feel safe in an environment that can be very stressful…so much so that they express their true heart, their true personality, and open up.
EYE: Are you just naturally at ease with storytelling and communicating?
ADRIENNE: I don’t know if it came naturally or that I just decided I wanted it so much, and used my imagination to see it happening. I also had a lot of practice, competing in spelling bees during middle school and doing speech contests in high school.
I also did pageants and hosted talk shows for the college TV station at the University of Southern California. So, I believe I’ve been preparing for this for a long time.
EYE: You’ve recently published your first book, Your Hidden Superpower, where you explore kindness as a superpower. Why did you feel it was so important to write this book?
ADRIENNE: I just know that it was meant to be and that kindness for me has opened so many doors that I would want to share that knowledge with other people. I know what it’s like to not have all the answers.
Also, I know what it’s like to feel like your life is not going in the direction that you wanted it to and what it’s like when disappointments make you want to just quit.
And we’re surrounded with people who think just like that every single day. But if I could help people find their way, that is massive! Kindness has opened doors of opportunity and has helped direct me so that I could find my map and path to success…and I think that’s the most rewarding thing.
EYE: Would you please give your definition of kindness?
ADRIENNE: It’s a lot deeper than what most of us learned as schoolchildren! I call it Kindness 2.0 – it is first more than what you do – it’s who you are. Kindness is our vehicle for identity, authenticity, and connection.
EYE: What does kindness really involve for each one of us and why is it so powerful?
ADRIENNE: The person next to us could be someone we have a one-in-a- million chance of meeting; they could have the answer to our need for a job or a spouse or a friend. The phone call or the email that we send to encourage someone or refer someone for a job could lead to a real life breakthrough.
By being kind to everyone, we actually exercise our muscle memory to be kind in those moments when it really counts – you could be running into someone at the grocery store or introduced to a colleague and that person could be someone who sets you up for a great opportunity.

EYE: How does kindness fit in during this health, economy and race challenged time?
ADRIENNE: It fits in because it’s what everyone is asking for. We all have different opinions and different perspectives. We all have different struggles, and yet kindness is something that everybody wants.
It is a universal language that can help us communicate during times where there’s a lot of translation going on.
Kindness is what I’ve stayed focused on to remind myself of what will never change. It’s unbeatable. The proof is that the world literally stopped, and kindness didn’t. It’s an anchor to the soul when life is crazy.
And kindness is one thing that would get somebody to keep going when you make that phone call at the right time, when you encourage your coworker, when you reach out to somebody who’s lonely – it’s kindness that will keep that person from giving up hope. We need that more than ever during this time.
EYE: How have you been able to communicate kindness in your news pieces?
ADRIENNE: One of the biggest things that news has taught me is that I might be doing a story on XYZ but it’s my delivery, it is my compassion coming through my eyes, that warmth coming through and exuding through the television screen.
That is such a vital part of the voice that people hear and I think that people are looking for that warmth more than ever as they are bombarded with a number of different changes and challenges – just someone who brings a sense of calm to a storm.
But also, while I’m on TV, I’m surrounded by people…my crew, my producer. I talk to different people throughout the day and actually hope to provide that same level of calm, patience and peace to a very intense working environment.
Being kind is really being conscious that other people are going through different things. It’s my job first and foremost to provide a sense of relatability, peace, and a warm welcome; and then to get the story right.

EYE: Is there a news story that has had more meaning or impact that you are proud of?
ADRIENNE: I really am grateful that I had the opportunity to interview Kobe Bryant. He said that the biggest lessons he learned from playing 20 years in the NBA were empathy and compassion. And I love that he said that while basketball was his first love his true passion was writing.
I think that stuck with me because it was wonderful to see someone who had found their true calling in the second chapter. We were made to reinvent ourselves.
I also was very touched by the experience of covering the Thai cave rescue of a youth soccer team and their coach. It was a great adventure. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about people during that time.
EYE: How is kindness different from being “nice?”
ADRIENNE: Nice is a hello in the hallway; it’s politeness. Kindness is a warm embrace. It really is much more situationally aware than nice ever could be. Nice people are usually too busy to really pay attention to what someone is really saying that could be a cry for help or could be silent frustration that they need to work out.
EYE: What did you find that personally surprised you as you wrote Your Hidden Superpower?
ADRIENNE: It showed me where I wasn’t as kind as I wanted to be, and when I got to areas of pressure or frustration, reading the book that I wrote actually helped me a lot. That’s how I know it’ll help a lot of other people.
EYE: Can you describe some of the personal struggles you’ve had to overcome?
ADRIENNE: I’ve had to overcome a lot of personal hurdles, and delays and negotiations that fell through. I’ve had to work at restaurants, at minimum wage a couple of times, and I still made it here because to me when something is meant for you, it will come back to you even when it looks like it’s impossible.
Going from local to network television, and to keep going for it even when it initially didn’t work out was a leap. I had to decide I was willing to go for it no matter how hard it was.
EYE: What are your thoughts on the state of broadcast news today?
ADRIENNE: I think it’s an exciting time. This is when we have an opportunity to reach people like we never have before and it’s vitally important to help people feel connected.
And the fact that we can actually do that with something that we all carry in our pocket is so phenomenal. I want to be a part of changing the technology to better adapt to connecting with people & their stories.
EYE: What advice do you have for the future news reporters?
ADRIENNE: Stay teachable. I find that many young people are extremely confident and they aim to please. They are super smart, and they have so much experience with technology and camera work and editing that they are mega impressive.
When you’re that good, it can be easy to overlook the wisdom of someone who seems like they’re too old, out of touch, or don’t get it. I promise you, if you take what you have that is remarkable in terms of staying on the cutting edge technology and couple it with the wisdom of some of the best in the business, you’ll not only be amazing, you’ll be happy.
EYE: What have you learned about people so far as a result of your versatile career and writing Your Hidden Superpower?
ADRIENNE: That the most successful people are usually the kind people, they just do not advertise it! I have learned that some people are kind and it’s misunderstood. But the most confident and secure people in the world stop caring what people think and care more about helping other people and making them happy.
Everyone is asking for something, and if you make it a small part of your day to grant people’s requests and answer those asks, we would see huge change for the better.
EYE: What is one thing absolutely every one of us can start doing right now to be kind?
ADRIENNE: On a very practical level, shoot a short video on your cell phone and tell somebody how much you appreciate them, how much you think they’re a rockstar, and how you can’t wait to see their face. That’s my favorite one because it’s free.
Venmo or Cash App somebody and say, ‘I’m taking you to coffee virtually. I just was thinking about you and I appreciate you.” That alone, is a simple act of kindness that anybody can do.
Every one of us should sit down and ask ourselves who our heart is breaking for right now. Find out who you want to help and be kind enough to yourself and your destiny to dream about that. Plan and brainstorm ideas.
EYE: Thanks so much, Adrienne, for your time and bringing attention to such a positive action we can all take in making to make just about everyone and everything better. Much success to you!
Adrienne Bankert Photos: Jace Angelo
Book Cover: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
For more about Adrienne Bankert check out:
- Website: www.yourhiddensuperpower.com
- Facebook: Adrienne Bankert
- Twitter: @ABonTV
- Instagram: @abontv
For more articles on journalists, check out reporter Lindsey Seavert’s interview on her first documentary.
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