Women in Swim: Authority, Grit, and the Power of Showing Up
Meet Katie Crysdale
By Susan (Dolnik) McPhie
Some careers are carefully planned. Others are built step by step through experience, timing, and the willingness to say yes before everything feels certain.
For Katie Crysdale, her path into the aquatic industry began on the pool deck.
While studying at the University of Toronto, Katie worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. It was hands-on, practical work that grounded her in the fundamentals of safety, water quality, and human behavior. At the time, it was not yet a defined career path. It was simply where she was.
After graduate school, she stepped away from aquatics, like many others navigating the uncertainty of the post-2008 economy. The goal was to find a more traditional role. But by 2011, the industry drew her back in, this time into management of large commercial aquatic facilities across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
That return became the foundation for everything that followed.
Learning the Industry from the Inside Out
Managing large aquatic facilities is not just about operations. It requires constant attention to safety, regulatory compliance, staffing, and public expectations. Every decision matters.
In 2013, Katie relocated to Alberta and continued managing municipal aquatic facilities. These years became a critical training ground. She developed a deep understanding of how facilities operate, where they break down, and how small oversights can lead to larger issues.
Over time, her perspective shifted. She was no longer just managing facilities. She was identifying patterns, gaps, and opportunities to improve how the industry approached compliance and education.
By 2018, Katie made a defining decision. She founded Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd and transitioned into full-time consulting and training.
It was a move that required confidence and clarity. Instead of working within one system, she would now advise many.
Today her work spans hotels, condominiums, day spas, campgrounds, and swim schools, with a focus on strengthening documentation, maintaining compliance, and elevating water safety standards across commercial environments. She teaches the Certified Pool Operator program through the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance and several PHTA Technical Committees and contributes to technical committees with ISO, ASTM International, and NSF International.
She advises aquatic operations of all sizes, taking a practical, no-judgment approach, meeting teams where they are and helping them move forward with clarity.
Unlike architects, engineers, or product driven consultants, her guidance is rooted in real, on-deck experience.
Her experience spans municipal and non-profit facilities, fitness and contrast therapy spaces, hospitality, property management, camps, military sites, water parks, and swim schools, bringing a well-rounded, real-world perspective to every project.
Her work is both practical and influential. It shapes how facilities operate and how the industry evolves.
Facing Reality and Standing Firm
Like many women in technical and operational roles, Katie’s experience has not been without challenge.
She speaks openly about being disregarded and disrespected by men across all levels of the industry, from clients to colleagues.
Her response has evolved over time.
She approaches every situation with professionalism and an open mind, but she no longer gives unlimited chances. She has learned that in some environments, respect is not automatic.
It must be established.
Katie is clear in her approach. She communicates what needs to be said to ensure compliance, safety, and project completion. Even when it is uncomfortable.
She has found that sometimes the turning point comes when people realize they are dealing with someone who is both knowledgeable and unwilling to back down.
This is not about confrontation. It is about accountability.
Reputation Is Built Over Time
The aquatic industry is smaller than many realize. Relationships overlap. People reappear in different roles and contexts.
Katie has experienced moments where individuals who once dismissed her later returned as students in her classes or reached out for help on new projects.
Her philosophy is simple.
Stay professional in every interaction. Do the work well. Remember how people show up.
She approaches situations with kindness while maintaining awareness. It is a long-term strategy that protects both reputation and credibility.
A Shift in Power and Visibility
When Katie began her career, access to influence was limited. You needed seniority, connections, or a traditional platform to be heard.
That has changed.
Today, she uses platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook to share knowledge and educate a broader audience. Her company’s online presence allows her to reach thousands of people each month without relying on traditional industry gatekeepers.
This shift has been significant.
Brands recognize her work. Clients seek her out. Her voice carries beyond the rooms she is physically in.
It reflects a broader transformation in the industry, where expertise and consistency can build authority in new ways.
Boundaries and Choices
One of the most important lessons Katie shares is about boundaries.
It is easy to say yes in the moment, especially when opportunities or revenue are involved. But long-term success requires clarity about what is acceptable and what is not.
If a client is disrespectful, she chooses not to continue working with them. It is not always the easiest decision, but it reinforces expectations and protects the quality of her work.
She emphasizes that asking for what you want is essential. Whether it is a referral, recognition, or compensation, it will not happen unless you ask.
But asking is only part of it.
If expectations are not met, there must be action.
Advice for the Next Generation
For women entering or advancing in the industry, Katie’s advice is grounded in experience.
Stay open to unexpected opportunities. The career you imagine today may look very different in the future.
She points to the rise of social media as an example. The idea that a professional platform could lead to international travel, product testing opportunities, or large-scale educational reach would have been difficult to predict even a decade ago.
Her message is to remain adaptable.
At the same time, she encourages women to step into spaces where they may not immediately feel comfortable.
Confidence does not always come first. Sometimes it follows action.
Looking Ahead
The industry today is more inclusive than it was when Katie first entered it. There is less gatekeeping and more access to information and visibility.
But progress requires participation.
Women need to take up space, ask for opportunities, and hold their ground when necessary.
Looking forward, Katie sees women continuing to shape the future of aquatics through leadership, education, and innovation.
Her own career is a reflection of that shift.
It is built on experience, strengthened by challenges, and defined by a clear commitment to raising standards.
Success in this industry is not just about knowledge. It is about how you show up. It is about consistency, professionalism, and the willingness to stand firm when it matters.
Most of all, it is about recognizing that you belong in the room, even before anyone else says so.
