Kelly Brentzel

I attribute much of my success to a quiet determination to prove to myself that I could build a life bigger than the one I came from. I grew up in a small town where most women didn’t work outside the home; or if they did, it was part-time. That was my model. My dad went to college. My mom stayed home. There was nothing wrong with that path, but when I left for college and moved to a bigger city, my perspective shifted.

I realized how expansive the world really was - how much there was to see, to build, to experience. At first, my motivation was simple: prove that I could "hang." Prove that I could compete. Prove that I belonged in rooms that felt far from where I started.

Over time, that drive evolved into something deeper; a genuine love for the work, for the challenge, for the responsibility of leading well. Today, I still carry that internal push, not to prove anything to others, but to continue proving to myself that I can grow, juggle big ambitions with real life, and model what’s possible. Not just for my children, but for my team. I want them to see that you can work incredibly hard and still work intelligently. That discipline and humanity can coexist.

Coming from a small-town background into larger, more competitive environments, it would have been easy to minimize myself. Early in my career, someone told me something simple but transformative: You belong here.

Not because of potential. Not because of luck. But because I had earned my seat. That mindset helped me stop overcompensating and start contributing with confidence. I no longer felt the need to prove my worth in every room. I could focus on adding value instead.

When women ask me for advice about entering this industry, I tell them two things: be brave, and be strategic. This field moves fast. It’s competitive. It can feel intimidating, especially when you’re early in your career and trying to prove you belong. But growth rarely comes from staying where you’re comfortable. Stability in the known can feel safe, but it can also quietly cap your potential. If an opportunity scares you a little (a bigger role, a new company, a stretch assignment) that’s usually a sign you’re expanding. The job market can be rocky. Not every move will be perfect. But there will always be opportunities if you’re willing to look for them. And if you step into something and realize it’s not the right fit, that’s not failure, it’s data. Recognize it early, adjust, and make your next move thoughtfully. Careers are fluid. You are not stuck.

I also talk openly about burnout, because our industry rewards urgency. I’ve lived the consequences of carrying too much for too long. I tell my team all the time: pushing back on a deadline by a day is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Sacrificing your health, your relationships, or your clarity is not. Sustainable success requires boundaries. It requires honest conversations. It requires the confidence to say, “I need more time to do this well.”

You can work incredibly hard. But you must work intelligently.

I often tell the women I mentor: if you feel like you can’t do it, that’s usually the moment you should lean in. At this stage of life, it’s rarely external forces holding us back; it’s our own hesitation. And if you don’t at least try to reach for something bigger, you’ll never know what you were capable of. And that, to me, is not a way to live.

The biggest challenge and opportunity in marketing today is navigating an increasingly complex, rapidly evolving landscape while meeting rising expectations for authenticity and personalization. Platforms, data sources, and technologies are fragmenting at a pace we’ve never seen before, creating both sophistication and noise. But the real differentiator isn’t mastering every channel. It’s translating that complexity into clear, human-centered strategies that build trust and relevance.

Audiences expect brands to show up in ways that feel genuine and tailored, not transactional. The brands that will lead are those that can adapt strategically, leverage data intelligently, and still create messaging that feels personal, meaningful, and real. The opportunity lies in balancing performance with humanity, using innovation to deepen connection, not dilute it.

At the core, I value impact without self-erasure. Achievement without sacrificing who you are. And leadership that strengthens both results and relationships. The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are clarity, integrity, growth, and sustainability.

Clarity sits at the center of everything I do. Whether I’m leading a team, guiding a client, or supporting my family, I believe people move forward when expectations are clear, truth is named, and complexity is structured. I’ve learned that confusion creates stress, but clarity creates confidence.

Integrity matters deeply to me. I don’t believe in optics over substance. I value honest conversations, transparent decision-making, and following through on commitments. I want my team and my children to see that how you do something matters just as much as what you accomplish.

Growth has always been a personal driver. Coming from a small-town background, I’ve been motivated by expanding what feels possible — professionally and personally. I value courage, stretching beyond comfort, and choosing evolution over ease.

And finally, sustainability. This one was earned. I used to equate success with endurance - how much I could carry, how much I could absorb. Now I value building systems, boundaries, and expectations that allow people to succeed without burning out. I believe hard work is honorable. I also believe it should be sustainable.