[1][2] Kratky was born and raised in south St. Louis, where she attended St. Mary Magdalene and Immaculate Heart of Marcy parish schools.
Her mother, Eileen O'Toole, was the committeewoman of the 16th Ward Regular Democratic organization and a confidante of Mayor A.J.
Through her mother, Kratky was exposed at an early age to Democratic politics and public service.
[3] Previously she served as the director of governmental affairs for the St. Louis Association of REALTORS.
Prior to that, she worked for years as a legal secretary, and briefly as a court clerk.