People of Durham #44 - Judith Tait

*People of Durham #44 – Judith Tait, Whitby West Town Councillor Candidate* Judith Tait wanted to be a police officer from grade three, after Officer Bill and Elmer the Safety Elephant walked into class. She got hired at 24 as a single mother, stayed 25 years, and made sergeant. When the canine unit did not work out, she built a dog-walking company anyway, took it to six figures, and sold it. She has coached women in business, hosts *At the Heart of Business*, and now runs Tate AI Tech, teaching shops how to use AI without dumping it on a messy process. She is running for town councillor in Whitby West. This conversation covers the badge, the business, the hard exit from policing, and why she is knocking on doors again. --- 00:00 🎙️ Welcome, and five years hosting At the Heart of Business 01:36 👮‍♀️ Hired at 24, 25 years in, 11 as sergeant 03:08 🐾 Grade three dream, then dogs when K9 did not happen 07:17 📈 Google, word of mouth, and what social media was actually for 09:48 🤝 Hiring walkers you would send into someone’s house 13:55 🔑 Systems and people, so the owner can leave 14:31 💰 Selling the company, then finding real estate was not the spark 18:29 🧠 Leaving the service in 2022, and choosing her health 21:59 💡 The dog business as a sandbox, and options when an employer says jump 29:32 🎯 Purpose after the uniform 30:06 👩‍🏫 Coaching women to six figures 33:33 📚 Curiosity as the work habit 36:05 🙏 Service, community, and faith 38:31 🤖 Tate AI Tech: literacy before tools 40:59 🛠️ Do not put AI on a messy process 43:07 🔒 Safe use: paid models, no sensitive data, check the settings 47:01 📞 How to find her 55:27 🗳️ Running for Whitby West town councillor 57:34 🏃‍♀️ Door-knocking is familiar. Asking for the vote is new. 59:55 ⏳ What she would prepare for next time she leaves an identity --- Watch or listen on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.