Her Story
About Kelly
My main area of expertise is organizational business structures, really the backbone of day-to-day operations, and marketing. Day-to-day, I handle large business meeting organization, event planning, HR technology, and internal communications for our entire organization. I work on key initiatives like return to office and our enterprise-wide award system. I'm also the co-lead of our women's enterprise-wide women's group from a national corporation, where I support WOW, Women of Worth. It's an actively engaged, like, 300-ish people in our women's organization on campus. I facilitate most of those meetings, book clubs, podcasts, all of the things that associate with that. I'm also an active member of our United Way and Social Committee, and our Young Professionals Organization. My days are different every single day. I usually am tasked with fires that need to be put out, anywhere from a legal step in as a legal help, or working with our technology team to helping our finance team prepare for meetings. I'm kind of like a puppet behind the scenes that makes it white glove when it gets in front of the executives, or it's represented by the executive team. My job is very much a service job, where I get to support others and let them be the best that they can be at their job. I love seeing that come to fruition, that something I've created or I have done has helped someone else around me also elevate themselves and make their lives easier, or better, or more efficient, in whatever way that means. I find that really rewarding, to be able to help and support others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to patience and vulnerability to try new things. I don't think I would be where I am in my current work life if I hadn't taken opportunities that were offered to me, and networked and taken that step to take a risk to try something new. I've had the privilege to learn about Total Money Makeover from Dave Ramsey and put that into both my professional and personal life. I'm constantly educating myself on what's going on around the world, and being privy to working for an executive suite, I'm constantly learning new things that are going on in the world, and how business works, how important business acumen is, and just take the time to learn and grow from your peers. I've also moved around a lot and had a lot of different life experiences in my short 35 years of life, from growing up in the Midwest to moving to LA, and then moving back to Wisconsin. Life is so different everywhere you go, so I've really learned how to adapt and adjust to different people, and I apply that to my everyday life of communicating with others at the workplace.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is that you have to trust your gut and do what's going to make you happy. Your family is first, but your career is something that you spend 60 years of your life doing, so make sure it's something that is worth doing, and that you feel passionate about, that every day you want to get up and go to work, and you're not dragging yourself to work.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Create a balance. Life is too short to not have a balance, and it's okay to say no.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is a huge challenge, especially for executive assistants or anyone that works administratively. Understanding what the future of that looks like and understanding how to leverage it, not be afraid of it, is a huge challenge. So embracing AI and just what technology has to offer can make your life way easier, but not a fear of being replaced. I think that is an opportunity. And then, understanding that sometimes we have to go through the wild ride of the economy and businesses going up and down, but if you show your worth and you continue to try hard, your company will recognize your ethic and where you have the potential to take them. You have to ride the waves and not panic and jump ship.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is most important to me. Do what you say, and say what you mean. I feel like that's so important, and not enough people in corporate life follow through. You're gonna talk the talk, you better walk the walk as well. Being an active listener in the workplace is super important, so listening before you speak, I think is super important for all levels of leaders and employees. Working as a team versus having the I-win mentality is also critical to me.
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