Kimberly Burress

I attribute much of my success to the many years I spent both as a nurse and as a healthcare leader, where I learned early on that every interaction matters. In nursing, you quickly realize that people may not always remember every detail of what you said, but they absolutely remember how you made them feel. Those touchpoints, the moments where people feel seen, heard, supported, and understood, are incredibly important. I carried that same philosophy into every leadership role I held throughout my career.

Whether I was caring for patients, leading teams, implementing complex healthcare technology initiatives, or mentoring emerging leaders, my approach was always grounded in relationships, communication, and trust. I believe people do their best work and make their best decisions when they feel valued, respected, and genuinely heard. That mindset shaped the way I led teams, navigated change, and built strong professional relationships throughout my career.

At the core, I believe most people simply want to live a life that feels meaningful and aligned with who they really are. They want their work, their time, their relationships, and their goals to reflect their values and their moral compass. I think one of the reasons I have been successful across so many different stages of my career is because I genuinely care about understanding people. I listen carefully, pay attention to what matters to them, and try to create environments where people feel comfortable being honest, thoughtful, and engaged.

I have always been someone who is able to listen deeply and reflect back what others may not yet fully see in themselves. That ability has helped me lead through change, build meaningful connections, solve problems collaboratively, and support people through both challenges and growth. It has allowed me to earn trust throughout my career and create lasting impact not only through the work itself, but through the relationships built along the way.

Lean into the uncomfortable places. If there is an opportunity that is being presented to you, say yes. Don't worry about if you've got all the boxes checked. You'll check the boxes after you step across the line. Lean in.

You know more than you think you do. Over the course of our lives and careers, we develop resilience, problem-solving skills, leadership abilities, and emotional intelligence that often translate far beyond the roles we currently hold. Business ownership is not for the faint of heart, but confidence is built through the process of learning, growing, and being willing to explore new possibilities. The journey can be simultaneously challenging and exhilarating. There is something incredibly rewarding about building a life and career that aligns with your values, vision for the future and allows you to show up authentically.

One of the biggest opportunities in the career ownership coaching space right now is the ability to help people rethink what work can look like beyond traditional employment. Many professionals are burned out, downsized, or searching for greater control over their time, income, and future, and many are unaware of the possibilities available to them.

There is a growing openness to conversations around business ownership, consulting, flexible careers, and designing work around life instead of the other way around. I believe the real opportunity is helping people recognize that the experience, leadership, and skills they already possess can open doors to entirely new possibilities they may never have considered for themselves.

Authenticity is incredibly important to me. I believe in showing up as myself in every situation and staying grounded in my values and moral compass, even when things are difficult. I also value being fully present with the people in my life, whether that is my family, friends, colleagues, or clients. I want people to feel heard, supported, and genuinely seen when they are with me. And perhaps most importantly, I truly love what I do and feel grateful to be doing work that feels meaningful and aligned with who I am.