Mehgan Kaminski

I attribute my success to a combination of discipline, client-focused leadership, and a commitment to continuous growth. I began my career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where I developed accountability, process management, and customer service skills under pressure, which I carried into subsequent roles at Robert Half International and Frontline Performance Group. At FPG, I trained and led hotel front-desk teams, leveraging formalized systems alongside the practices I had naturally adopted, which helped me grow quickly and earn the Newcomer of the Year award while mentoring colleagues. Even during a transition to being a stay-at-home parent during the pandemic, I applied the leadership lessons, operational rigor, and humility I had cultivated. Today, as Client Director, I oversee a $12 million portfolio across multiple verticals, managing new, developing, and legacy accounts with an approach centered on listening, thoughtful guidance, and turning client challenges into lasting opportunities. Much of my leadership style is also rooted in my business education and experience as a two-sport collegiate athlete, where discipline and collaboration were daily expectations.

I’ll never forget the first thing Randy, a manager at Alamo, said to me: “Kid, I’ve got shoes older than you.” It was meant as a joke, but it taught me something important: experience deserves respect, but so does a fresh perspective. From that day on, I learned to hold my ground, stay curious, and prove that capability isn’t defined by age.

I believe that true leadership is rooted in clarity, consistency, and a willingness to invest in your team. I encourage others to step into opportunities before they feel fully ready, reminding them that most breakthroughs happen outside of comfort zones. Having navigated male-dominated environments, I advise women not to shrink themselves for the sake of others’ comfort, but instead to be direct, prepared, and confident in their competence. I view career transitions not as setbacks but as recalibrations that clarify priorities, especially when balancing ambition with family life. I emphasize the power of proactive service, anticipating needs before they become problems, and I urge professionals to treat every client interaction as an investment in long-term trust. Above all, I believe confidence grows in moments when you choose not to back down, and that protecting your time is essential to protecting your purpose.

I’ve learned to be direct, and yet that directness as a woman in a male-dominated landscape has not always been taken at face value. A recent study from Harvard highlighted how often women are heard differently than men and showed that women listen to 60 percent of what an individual is saying, compared to male counterparts who listen at six percent. Direct communication from women can be mislabeled as emotional or over-discerning rather than recognized as experienced competence. My time working across the Midwest, Florida, and Texas made those contrasts clear. As the only Midwest representative on my team, I often carried the weight of being “the outlier,” but it strengthened my confidence in my voice. Women shouldn’t have to soften their voices to be heard. Directness is a strength, not a stereotype. I’ve learned to stand firm in my competence even when others interpret it through their own biases.

Honesty, integrity, and accountability are values I hold at the core of my work and life. Consistency is the truest measure of character, and I strive to show up the same way on both the good days and the hard ones. Every transition in my life, including career shifts, motherhood, and unexpected closures, has taught me to rebuild stronger. I believe resilience is not simply bouncing back; it is moving forward with new wisdom. Accountability is a value, not a punishment, and it serves as the foundation of trust. Beyond the office, I am happiest in my garden, crafting with my kids, cheering on sports teams, or retreating to our cabin, where quiet restores creativity. These moments keep me grounded and remind me why visibility matters, because leadership is not just a job title; it is the example we set for those watching us, including our children.