Her Story
About Jillian
Jillian Phillips is the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of New Business Development at Pro Millennial Wealth Guidance, a financial services firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. At just 22 years old, she has achieved significant professional growth, advancing into executive leadership within months of joining the organization in April 2026. Her career journey reflects determination, adaptability, and an unconventional path into business leadership. She began managing tanning salons while attending Iowa State University and the University of Kansas before transitioning into hospitality, where she gained experience in serving, bartending, and bar management. Her transition into the financial services industry began through a professional connection with a regular customer at the bar, who later became the company's CEO. Initially recruited for a restaurant operations position at a newly opening hotel, Phillips demonstrated strong leadership and operational abilities that eventually led to an opportunity in finance. Today, she oversees organizational operations and business development, contributing to strategic growth, client relationship management, and the firm's mission of providing personalized, goals-based wealth guidance.
In her executive roles, Phillips is committed to maintaining humility while demonstrating exceptional dedication, professionalism, and leadership. As the youngest and only female executive in her positions, she recognizes the importance of bringing a fresh perspective to a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her responsibilities include operations management, business development, strategic planning, and 1031 exchanges. She is passionate about building meaningful client relationships, identifying opportunities for sustainable growth, and connecting individuals with financial resources that address their needs. She believes patience is particularly important when helping clients navigate financial decisions, especially those who may be unfamiliar with financial concepts or require additional guidance. Phillips attributes her success primarily to her faith in God, hard work, self-belief, and the support of her family and mentors. Her advice to young women is to never allow a lack of formal qualifications or conventional career experience to limit their ambitions. She encourages them to trust themselves, work diligently, embrace opportunities, and remain resilient when faced with setbacks. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she is also interested in fashion, branding, and entrepreneurship, and is developing a podcast focused on Kansas City fashion and empowering young women to pursue their ambitions with confidence.
Outside of work, Phillips enjoys an active and social lifestyle. She absolutely loves her King Charles Spaniel and enjoys spending time with her dog, particularly going for walks and swimming. She also has a passion for golfing and is an enthusiastic sports fan who proudly supports the Kansas City Chiefs, regularly following college football and watching the Chiefs play on weekends. She also enjoys keeping up with the Kansas City Royals. In her leisure time, she appreciates attending fashion brunches with friends, shopping, and exploring opportunities to connect with others through shared interests. Family, faith, and meaningful relationships remain central to her life, and she is especially grateful for the patience and encouragement her parents have shown throughout her personal and professional journey. Looking ahead, Phillips aspires to continue growing as a leader, expanding her organization's reach, and building a successful business without losing the humility, work ethic, and authenticity that have shaped her career.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jillian
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first and foremost to God, whose guidance, grace, and unwavering support have carried me throughout my journey. I truly would not be where I am today or the person I have become without Him. I recognize how blessed I am, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and people He has placed in my life. Words cannot fully express what God has done for me or how faithfully He has guided and supported me along the way.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to never limit themselves or believe that there is anything they cannot accomplish. Your educational background, degrees, or qualifications do not have to define your potential. If you have a goal, be willing to work hard, remain determined, and trust in yourself. As a woman of faith, I draw much of my strength and motivation from God, and I encourage others to believe in themselves and remain grounded in whatever faith gives them purpose. Give everything you have to the opportunities in front of you because life is precious and time passes quickly. Most importantly, do not doubt yourself; be willing to take chances, bet on your abilities, and pursue what you want. You will face setbacks and failures along the way, but what matters is having the resilience to get back up, keep moving forward, and never give up on yourself.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in the financial services industry is the ability to create sustainable growth while building meaningful relationships with clients and the broader community. In my dual roles as Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of New Business Development, I see tremendous potential to expand our organization's reach, introduce strategic initiatives, foster innovation, and connect individuals with the financial resources and opportunities they need. As the youngest and only female executive in these positions, I recognize the importance of leading with humility while demonstrating dedication, confidence, and a strong work ethic. I believe the key is to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where people feel valued, teams are encouraged to think creatively, and everyone works toward a shared vision. Ultimately, my goal is not simply to grow the business but to deliver meaningful value, strengthen community relationships, and build long-term success for both the organization and the people we serve.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Patience is one of the most important values I bring to both my professional and personal life. In my industry, particularly when dealing with people's finances, patience is essential because everyone has different levels of knowledge, understanding, and comfort with financial matters. Whether I am speaking with older clients who may need additional time during conversations or helping individuals unfamiliar with finance understand our business, ideas, and processes, I believe taking the time to listen, explain, and provide guidance makes a meaningful difference. I also learned the value of patience from my parents, who supported me through different stages of my journey, including changing direction after spending four years in college and pursuing opportunities in hospitality. They gave me the time and encouragement to grow into the person I am today and continue to become. I deeply value my family, my professional mentors, and the people who have supported me along the way. I consider them, along with my dog, among the greatest blessings in my life, and I approach both my work and personal relationships with gratitude, humility, understanding, and appreciation.
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