We were lucky to catch up with Kelsey Waters recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kelsey, appreciate you joining us today. We believe kindness is contagious and so we’d love for you to share with us and our audience about the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in public relations, I moved to the North Shore of Oʻahu with my sister, Adrienne. When she eventually moved to California, I stayed. I put out a message looking for a new roommate, and Gwyneth responded. We were acquaintances before she moved in, but we quickly became close. She wasn’t afraid to ask the deep questions, and looking back, that season marked the beginning of my self-discovery journey.

Gwyneth and I lived together for just three months, but we stayed connected and even went on a trip to Costa Rica with our moms. A year later, her mother, Angela, visited Hawaiʻi with my mom. One day, we were lying on the beach when she shared what she did—she taught etiquette. Then she looked at me and said, “I think this is something you’d be good at.”

That is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. Angela saw something in me, something I hadn’t yet seen in myself.

Etiquette, at its core, is about kindness, respect, and consideration—three of my deepest values. It’s also about communication, which I quietly struggled with growing up shy. I’m not exactly sure what Angela saw in me that day on the beach, but her words gave me direction and a sense of purpose. They opened a door to something I now feel deeply passionate about, and I’m forever grateful.

I eventually moved from the North Shore to North County San Diego to mentor with Angela and immerse myself in everything etiquette. Today, I’m proud to call myself an Etiquette Coach and the owner of California Manners. I teach with the same kindness, insight, and encouragement that was once extended to me.

Kelsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m originally from South Carolina, and one of my earliest experiences with formal etiquette was being presented as a debutante during my junior year of college. My great-grandmother was a founding member of the Tarantella Club—the organization that has hosted the debutante ball in my hometown for generations—and my grandmother, who sponsored me, is one of my biggest inspirations. She embodied grace, humor, hospitality, and the true art of bringing people together. While I may not have realized it at the time, this experience helped shape my understanding of poise, tradition, and how etiquette can be a way to empower.

At the same time that I found my way to etiquette, I was also deepening my practice as a yoga teacher. These two very different practices both support the same foundation: presence, awareness, and connection. From posture and breath to mindfulness and emotional regulation, etiquette and yoga taught me how to carry myself with intention and respond to the world with grace. These tools were especially meaningful to me as someone who grew up shy and often unsure of how to take up space. Yoga helped me feel grounded in my body, and etiquette helped me feel confident in my communication.

Today, through California Manners, I teach etiquette with a modern, heart-centered approach that weaves together traditional social skills with wellness, mindfulness, and personal empowerment. I offer children’s manners classes, teen communication workshops, and private family sessions, along with professional business etiquette and dining workshops for companies and organizations. I also host specialty events such as etiquette tea parties, birthday experiences, and school programs, and love collaborating with community groups, moms’ collectives, and local businesses to make social skills fun and accessible.

What sets my work apart is that I teach etiquette not as a set of rigid rules, but as a mindful, kind-hearted way of moving through the world. Whether it’s helping a shy child find their voice at the dinner table, or guiding a young professional to make a strong first impression in a business setting, I meet people where they are and help them grow from there. I see etiquette as a form of wellness, and I’m passionate about providing tools and frameworks that help people feel grounded, connected, and truly themselves.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was that being quiet meant that I didn’t have anything valuable to say. I was always the shy one in class who never raised her hand. I thought being “good” meant being agreeable, and confidence looked like being loud or extroverted.

As I grew older and began teaching yoga and learning etiquette, I started to question that belief. I realized that quiet confidence is powerful, and communication goes deeper than the words that are said. It’s also about how you carry yourself, how you make others feel, and how aligned you are with your values. This process gave me the courage to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

As a business owner, especially in a field like etiquette that comes with its misconceptions, you have to advocate for your message. You have to speak up about what you do, why it matters, and what you stand for. I was definitely not used to speaking up like that before. But I’ve learned that I can lead in my own way: calmly, clearly, and rooted in kindness. Through California Manners, I teach that etiquette is not about perfection, it’s about presence and shining your light. Unlearning that old belief helped me step into who I am today.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think what helped build my reputation within my market was simply getting out into the community and practicing what I teach. Whether it was at networking events, farmer’s markets, or casual conversations with parents and professionals, I took every opportunity to share what I do and why it matters. Because etiquette coaching isn’t something people hear about every day, there was often a spark of curiosity, and that opened the door to meaningful conversations.

While it’s true that etiquette is a niche offering, I like to say that etiquette is for everyone, and there’s etiquette for everything. From how we greet someone to how we email a colleague, etiquette touches every part of daily life. So to me, the market isn’t small, it’s actually very broad.

I think what really helped me stand out was how I present etiquette in a modern, accessible way. It can be misunderstood or dismissed as outdated, but when people hear me talk about etiquette as a form of kindness, mindfulness, and empowerment, it tends to resonate. I love connecting with people who also value respect and presence, and who are excited to pass those values on to their kids, their team, or even just to themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.californiamanners.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/californiamanners
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088200645929
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseywaters?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app