Her Story
About Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn Onks is a Senior Manager of Employee Experience & Executive Communication at IPSY, a beauty retail subscription service company, where she leads the organization's executive and employee communications end to end — from the CEO's monthly message to the company's All Hands meetings, Senior Leadership Team sessions, and recognition programs. Her path into this work was anything but conventional: she spent her early career as a seventh-grade English teacher before moving into instructional coaching, where she trained and developed adult learners across multiple campuses, and later transitioned into corporate training. Roughly a year and a half ago, a candid conversation with IPSY's incoming CEO about internal communication gaps opened the door for her to design and grow the role she holds today, one she describes as centered on solving people and communication problems across the company.
Beyond the communications function itself, Kaitlyn is equally invested in employee experience — the behind-the-scenes work of shaping a culture that feels lived-in rather than dictated from above. She sees her career as guided by two driving forces: the community of people who have supported and championed her, and a clear personal vision of the professional she wants to become. That philosophy also shapes the guidance she offers others, particularly young women entering the workforce, whom she encourages to be patient, stay adaptable, and advocate openly for the opportunities they want.
Outside of work, Kaitlyn maintains a disciplined focus on fitness, health, and nutrition, having spent 15 to 20 years in the gym and currently training for an upcoming HYROX competition. She fills her personal time with yoga, book clubs, baking sourdough, and embroidery, and she treats these pursuits as a deliberate boundary between her professional and personal life. Her commitment to community extends beyond her own circle: she is an active participant in a women's network in the Miami area, volunteers monthly at a local food pantry, and remains a member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, reflecting the value she continues to place on lifting others up alongside her own growth.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kaitlyn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to two things: community and personal vision. I'm keenly aware that I've reached where I am because of the people I rely on, the relationships I've cultivated, and the personal brand I've built along the way. At the same time, I believe you have to decide who you want to become and then actively build that life for yourself. No one hands you the career you want — you have to go after it while still leaning on the community around you.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I've learned to protect the boundary between work and personal life by having something that forces me to close the laptop at a reasonable hour. For me, that's fitness, health, and nutrition — I've been active in the gym for 15 to 20 years, and I genuinely believe physical strength builds emotional strength and confidence. I also make space for yoga, book clubs, reading, baking sourdough, embroidery, and training for an upcoming HYROX competition. I encourage my mentees to find that same kind of outlet.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice centers on patience, adaptability, and self-advocacy. Careers take time to build, especially in a world that's constantly changing, so it's important to stay patient and adaptable. Beyond that, you have to speak up for yourself, find people who will champion you, and ask directly for the opportunities and work you know you want and deserve.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community and personal vision are the values that matter most to me. I hold onto the awareness that my position today is the result of the relationships I've built and the people who have supported me, while also believing that I'm responsible for deciding who I want to become and building that life intentionally. It's a balance of leaning on others and taking ownership of my own path.
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