Kaira Rouda

Kaira Sturdivant was born on May 17, 1963 in Evanston, Illinois, US, to Patricia Ann Robinson Sturdivant, a community volunteer from Santa Cruz, California, and Frederick David Sturdivant, PhD, a retired professor and management consultant from San Jose, California. Her siblings include sister Lisha Sturdivant Wise of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and Brian Sturdivant of Piedmont, California.

Rouda earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN in 1985.

In the early 1990s, Rouda began her career as a reporter for Business First newspaper, a member of the ACBJ chain. She switched to a marketing career beginning as an account executive for Fahlgren & Swink, a regional advertising agency, before assuming the role of Vice President of Marketing at Stanley Steemer International in 1995.

In 2002, she created the Columbus, Ohio-based franchise company, Real Living Real Estate[4]. Built as the first female-focused[5] residential real estate brand,[6] Rouda grew the brand to more than 22 states before its sale to Brookfield Residential Property Services, a Toronto based firm. The Real Living real estate franchise was eventually sold to Berkshire Hathaway, and continues to receive accolades for its brand.[7]  

As a freelance writer, Rouda served as contributing editor for Columbus Monthly magazine, and as a contributing writer for Midwest Living. For 10 years, she was the “Connections” columnist for THIS WEEK newspapers, a publication of The Columbus Dispatch.

Her first book, Real You Incorporated: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs[8], provides insights into leveraging one's personal brand and bringing it to market as a business. 

In 2011, Rouda turned her focus to writing fiction[9] writing full-time, with an emphasis on women's fiction and domestic suspense. A USA Today bestselling author, her novel Best Day Ever (2017) earned acclaim from such outlets as Kirkus Reviews[10], Book Reporter,[11] The Huffington Post[12] and The Charlotte News-Observer[13] as well as internationally[14]

Her other novels include: The Favorite Daughter[15]; In the Mirror; All the Difference; The Goodbye Year[16]; and Here. Home. Hope.

Rouda's philanthropic efforts have focused on homelessness, food security, arts and education,[17] and the empowerment of women and girls. She was the founder of Make Room Columbus, Central Ohio's first shelter for homeless families. She also founded the Columbus Ohio Cattlebaron's Ball for the American Cancer Society; served on the board[18] of Central Ohio's YWCA and its capital campaign committee; served on the first board for The Wexner Center for the Arts.[19] She additionally served two terms on the board of directors for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

Rouda relocated to Southern California in 2009. There, she became an active volunteer for her children's schools. Currently, she is a volunteer for the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, while serving on committees for the Tahirih Justice Center and Working Wardrobes/VetNet. She is a member of Human Rights Watch, Southern California board.

Rouda was listed on Entrepreneur Magazine's Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Led Businesses.[20] Her work on Real Living additionally earned Rouda a Stevie Award for Women in Business.[21] She has received multiple ADDY, Webby, Telly, Communicator, Prism, and WebAwards for her marketing work.

For her civic service, Rouda has been honored with the Ohio Sertoma Service to Mankind Award, Kiwanis Humanitarian Award and Northwest Rotary Woman of the Year award. In 1991, she was named Citizen of the Year, Columbus Board of Realtors[22]. The following year, she earned a national Kiwanis Service to Humanity Award.

Rouda now resides[23] in Laguna Beach[24] in Orange County[25], California, with her husband[26], US Representative Harley Rouda.[27].  Rouda has four adult children, including Harley Edwin Rouda III (Trace), born July 15, 1991; Avery Robinson Rouda, born May 24, 1993; Shea Phillips Rouda, born August 30, 1994; and Dylan Buchanan Rouda, born June 12, 1996.