There's always an excuse not to finish, but realizing you're never truly "finished" builds resilience, and the reward is creating a core foundation of thriving.
Kelli Breland · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Kelli
Kelli Breland is a Talent Development Specialist with the University of California, Merced, where she works within Human Resources. With approximately 15 years of experience in higher education, Kelli has built a career centered on developing people, strengthening organizational culture, and helping leaders and teams navigate change. In her current role, she designs and facilitates professional and leadership development programs, delivers training ranging from new employee onboarding to manager development, and consults with leaders on organizational and workforce challenges. Her expertise spans talent development, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, leadership development, and change management. Before moving into talent development, Kelli served as a Learning Services Specialist at the UC Merced Library, supporting instructional services, learning resources, workshops, and digital platforms while contributing to communications and engagement initiatives. Earlier in her UC Merced career, she served as Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships, where she helped raise funds for scholarships and programs supporting foster youth and minoritized students. Kelli has also demonstrated a strong commitment to staff advocacy through her service with the UC Merced Staff Assembly, including as Vice President and currently as President. During her leadership, she helped advocate for more than $500,000 in financial support for staff professional development, reflecting her commitment to creating opportunities for employees to grow and succeed. Kelli is continuing to expand her expertise through doctoral studies in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at National University, building on her master's degree in psychology from Arizona State University and earlier degrees from the University of Phoenix. She is also a certified facilitator with the Compassionate Listening Project and applies principles of empathy, connection, and thoughtful communication to her work with individuals and organizations. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kelli has served as a kickboxing instructor and softball coach and values staying active, spending time outdoors, supporting her children's activities, and giving back to her community. She credits the strong work ethic and selfless values modeled by her father and grandfather as important influences on her career and encourages others to remain authentic, embrace opportunities—including lateral career moves—and use their voices to create positive change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelli
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the example set by my father and grandfather. Their dedication, strong work ethic, and selflessness taught me the value of perseverance and leading by example. My father always emphasized that good leaders should understand and be willing to do every job below them, a principle that continues to guide my leadership style.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from a previous supervisor, who encouraged me to look beyond traditional upward mobility. I learned that lateral moves can sometimes provide valuable opportunities to gain new skills, broaden my experience, and open doors to greater possibilities.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t make yourself small in a male-dominated industry. Be confident, speak up, and don’t be afraid to share your ideas and perspectives. Most importantly, stay genuine and true to who you are.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are continuous learning, meaningful social interaction, responsibility, and integrity. I also believe in staying curious, embracing a sense of wonder, and having fun along the way. My kids remind me of pure joy and awe everyday!
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