Kelly Bachelder MBA

I'm very tenacious, and I stand my ground and go hard for what I want. It can be a challenge, and it can get some pushback, but ultimately, it's been a huge asset to me for getting my customers supported and my peers supported. My mom taught me to be feisty, and that quality has really shaped how I approach my work. When you refuse to be deterred by initial obstacles or resistance, you become a much more effective advocate for the people who are relying on you. That drive and willingness to push through discomfort is what allows me to deliver the level of support my customers truly need.

The best career advice I've ever received is this: if you don't feel like you're contributing and getting contributions back where you are, pivot, because it's not going to last long term. This advice has been invaluable to me because it emphasizes the importance of reciprocity in your professional environment. A lopsided professional relationship, where the value exchange has stalled, is inherently unsustainable and will eventually lead to stagnation or burnout. Recognizing that a situation is no longer viable is not a failure; it's a strategic observation. By refusing to settle for a stagnant role, you preserve your professional momentum and ensure that your career remains a dynamic space of mutual benefit and constant evolution.

Don't try to sell like a man. Research specific tactics for women, and embrace you being a woman and how you want to interact with people in that regard, not just as a salesperson. It's easy to feel pressured to adopt a more aggressive or traditional style to fit in, but I've found that my greatest advantage comes from embracing my perspective as a woman. Instead of following a one-size-fits-all approach, I focus on tactics that leverage how I actually want to interact with people, prioritizing empathy, relationship-building, and active listening. By showing up as my authentic self rather than just following a script, I can build deeper trust and rapport with my clients. This shift allows for a more genuine partnership where people feel heard and understood.

The biggest challenges we face right now are in the tech field, where a lot of the production of the products we sell is being impacted by challenges with the economic situation and inventory constraints. We work strongly in the tech field, and most of our products are affected by these global factors that are severely hindering manufacturing of essential products. Working so deeply in this field means we are on the front lines of supply chain disruptions and resource scarcities that directly impact our ability to deliver. This environment requires a heightened level of strategic planning and adaptability, as we can no longer rely on traditional timelines or predictable manufacturing cycles. My focus is on navigating these external pressures without compromising the quality of our output.

The biggest value for me is transparency. It doesn't mean I have to share every little detail in the work world, but the more honest and open you are, it just gets everybody on an even playing field, and everybody trusts you significantly more. Transparency acts as a powerful equalizer in both professional and personal settings, effectively leveling the playing field for everyone involved. When you choose to be open and clear about your intentions and information, you eliminate the guesswork that often leads to friction and misunderstanding. In a business context, this openness fosters a culture of collective trust. And of course, in your personal life, you always want to be transparent with your loved ones and your friends. By being vulnerable and honest with your loved ones, you build a level of credibility that can't be manufactured through any other means.