Influential Woman · IT, AI, SMB Strategy

Kimberlea Lehr

Owner / Chief Strategist, The Klehr Company - Creative Solutions | Klehr Solutions

Des Moines, IA

6Years experience

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Master's Degree (2017) Degree Graduate Certificates Cert Master's Degree Cert Graduate Certificates

Her Story

About Kimberlea

I started in marketing about a decade ago, and in 2020, I went out on my own and opened my own agency. What I do has really evolved over time. Now I mostly do AI and software implementation, focusing on Information Technology. I do a lot of AI implementation because AI is changing the software game so much and so rapidly. I work mostly with small businesses and startups, helping them go through what's called a digital transformation. On a day-to-day basis, I'm helping businesses move their data and systems over to become digital, whether that's their records, ordering platforms, invoicing, or whatever business systems they have. A lot of what I'm building now is agentic AI, building agents that help run their business processes. There's a difference between automation and agentic AI, but in a nutshell, it's helping them run their business processes. I've been successfully running my business for almost 6 years now, which I consider my most notable professional achievement.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Kimberlea

01What do you attribute your success to?

I would say probably my faith and my family. Those are the two things that have really been the foundation of my success.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

A good friend of mine who's also a successful entrepreneur has always shared this quote with me: 'An adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.' I can't remember who the original quote is from, but the idea really resonates with me. It's just the idea that when things don't go right, you can make something good out of it. You can turn those inconveniences into adventures if you look at them the right way.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell them to learn as much as they can, to honestly eat up every morsel of information that they can get. The landscape is changing so drastically. Even in the 6 years I've been running my own agency, things have changed so much. So just don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and learn. Don't assign yourself to a specific thing. Be open to growing and trying new things. The field is evolving rapidly, so staying flexible and curious is really important.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenges are probably specifically around human capital. AI is changing very rapidly what people can do, and some people are not wanting to learn how to use it, or they're against it. That's where the challenge lies. Whereas others that are actively trying to learn and trying to use it and implement it within their fields are finding success. So the challenges would be for people who are not interested in implementing it or using it, and the opportunity would be for those who are really getting their hands dirty, learning how it works and making it work for them.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I think honesty and good communication are the most important values to me, both in my work and in my personal life. Those two things really guide everything I do.

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