We were lucky to catch up with Kristy Goodwin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kristy, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
The bustling campus hummed with anticipation as I stepped into my new office, the freshly minted nameplate reading “Director of Recruitment & Outreach.” The weight of the challenge ahead settled on my shoulders: transform a longstanding 2-year transfer institution into a thriving 4-year university, starting with recruiting 250 freshmen in just one year. As I surveyed the empty room, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. This was uncharted territory, not just for me, but for the entire university.
Days blurred into nights as I dove headfirst into the monumental task. Hiring staff, mapping recruitment territories, and forging relationships with local school districts became my new reality. The pressure was immense, with millions in potential revenue hanging in the balance. Each meeting with the president and university stakeholders felt like a high-stakes pitch, as I strived to help them understand the intricacies of freshman recruitment – a concept foreign to many in this transfer-focused institution.
The relentless pace took its toll. One particularly grueling evening, I stumbled through my front door at 7 PM, still on the phone with my VP who seemed to have no concept of work-life boundaries. Exhausted, I collapsed onto the couch, still wearing my coat and shoes. As I stared at the ceiling, I suddenly realized hours had passed in what felt like minutes. It was a wake-up call I couldn’t ignore.
The next morning, fueled by a mix of determination and desperation, I marched into my VP’s office. With a deep breath, I laid out my case for establishing clearer boundaries and a more balanced approach to our work. To my surprise and relief, they listened intently and agreed to the changes. This moment of assertiveness became the catalyst for a profound shift in my professional life.
Energized by this breakthrough, I began to reassess every aspect of my life and career. I started implementing intentional changes, focusing on work-life balance and personal growth. This journey of self-discovery and intentional living became the incubus of my book, “Be Intentional: Transforming Personal and Professional Growth.” The experiences and lessons learned during this challenging period provided the foundation for the insights and strategies I would later share with others facing similar struggles.
As the recruitment cycle progressed, the fruits of our labor began to show. Despite the late start and numerous obstacles, we not only met but exceeded our freshman enrollment target. The campus buzzed with new energy as these pioneering students arrived, marking the beginning of a new era for the university.
Looking back, those challenging months were more than just a professional trial by fire. They were the crucible in which I forged a new philosophy of leadership and personal growth. The scars I earned became badges of honor, reminders of the power of perseverance and the importance of setting boundaries.
Today, as I share my story with aspiring leaders and professionals, I’m reminded of that pivotal moment on my couch – the point where exhaustion gave way to enlightenment. It taught me that true success isn’t about pushing through at all costs, but about finding a sustainable path to excellence. My journey from burnout to breakthrough became a testament to the transformative power of intentional living and leadership, a message that now resonates with readers of my book and beyond.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Kristy Goodwin stands at the intersection of institutional transformation and personal empowerment, currently serving as Executive Director of City Impact in Lincoln, NE – a role she’s held since 2022. In this capacity, she leads initiatives empowering vulnerable families while managing a $1.2 million budget and forging partnerships that address systemic community challenges. But her true legacy extends beyond organizational leadership into her work as a sought-after speaker and Lifesmith™ for women executives navigating the tightrope of professional success and personal fulfillment.
Architect of Institutional Change
Goodwin’s 20+ year career in higher education laid the groundwork for her current mission. As Director of Recruitment & Outreach at Governors State University (2012-2017), she:
Engineered the university’s transition to a 4-year institution through campaigns like “You Can’t Afford to Be Undecided”, increasing enrollment by 11%
Designed recruitment strategies that boosted Latino enrollment by 9% while serving on 15+ diversity committees
Created GSU’s first graduate fair and athletic recruitment luncheon, establishing new revenue pipelines
Her earlier role at Rush University Medical Center (2002-2011) saw her process 1,000+ applications annually while developing trauma-informed admission protocols still used today.
Intentionality Evangelist
What truly sets Goodwin apart is her fusion of operational expertise with spiritual wellness practices:
As a Certified Trauma Healing Coach, she helps leaders dismantle burnout cycles using neuroscience-backed protocols
Her Gallup Coach certification informs tailored leadership development programs showing 41% reduced team turnover
Urban CPE chaplaincy training enables unique “soul care” strategies for executives, documented in her book Be Intentional
Lifesmith™ to Women Leaders
Through key initiatives, Goodwin has become a beacon for intentional living:
RISE Together Mentorship: Lead Chicago’s chapter of this national network, supporting 140+ women in maintaining spiritual integrity amid corporate pressures
Liberation Leadership Framework: Teaches leaders to align daily decisions with core values through her signature “Protective Time Blocking” system
Keynote Speaking: Merges hard-won corporate lessons with theological insights from her McCormick Seminary training, offering actionable wisdom on sustainable success
Current collaborators describe her approach as “corporate strategy meets chapel wisdom” – a rare blend honed through roles spanning academic committees, nonprofit boards, and chaplaincy internships. Whether steering City Impact’s community programs or coaching Fortune 500 executives, Goodwin’s north star remains constant: True leadership emerges when operational excellence walks hand-in-hand with soul-deep intentionality.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Managing a team effectively requires a deep understanding of each individual’s strengths and a commitment to fostering a positive, productive environment. Here’s an enhanced approach to team management that aligns with your leadership philosophy:
Strengths-Based Leadership
Start by leveraging the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment to uncover each team member’s unique talents. Conduct one-on-one sessions to review results, helping individuals understand how their strengths influence their daily operations and decision-making processes.
Cultivating a Unified Culture
Building a cohesive team culture is crucial for long-term success:
• Establish shared values and goals that resonate with the team’s diverse strengths
• Create rituals that reinforce these values (e.g., weekly wins celebrations, monthly team lunches)
• Encourage open dialogue about workplace challenges and potential solutions
Prioritizing Mental Health
Implement regular check-ins to gauge team well-being:
Transparency and Trust
Foster an environment of open communication:
• Share organizational updates and challenges regularly
• Involve team members in decision-making processes when appropriate
• Acknowledge mistakes and demonstrate how to learn from them
Leadership by Example
As a leader, your actions set the tone for the entire team:
• Model work-life balance by respecting boundaries and taking time for self-care
• Demonstrate continuous learning and growth
• Show vulnerability by sharing your own challenges and growth experiences
Continuous Improvement
Regularly assess and refine your management approach:
• Solicit feedback from team members on leadership effectiveness
• Stay updated on best practices in team management and leadership
• Adapt strategies based on team needs and organizational changes
Remember, great teams are built on a foundation of mutual respect, clear communication, and shared purpose. By focusing on individual strengths, fostering a positive culture, and leading with transparency and empathy, you create an environment where team members can thrive professionally and personally. This approach not only boosts morale but also drives sustainable success for the organization.
Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?
My career path has been less about calculated choices and more about purposeful evolution. While I don’t dwell on hypothetical rewrites of my journey, I recognize that every role – from Rush University admissions counselor to City Impact’s Executive Director – has been a deliberate step in understanding how to merge operational excellence with human flourishing.
The late nights building GSU’s first freshman class, the spiritual care training at Cook County Hospital, and even the exhaustion of collapsing on my couch mid-recruitment cycle all served as forge points. These experiences armed me with the resilience to lead a $1,2 million nonprofit budget, the compassion to mentor 140+ women executives, and the clarity to write Be Intentional – tools I wouldn’t possess without those exact trials.
Would I choose differently? My work today – empowering leaders through trauma-informed coaching and redesigning urban education pipelines – requires the scars earned in enrollment management trenches and chaplaincy training alike. The “if’s” matter less than the “how” – how each challenge honed my ability to help others transform personal and professional growth.
This path taught me that vocation isn’t a single choice, but a mosaic of intentional responses to life’s demands. Where I stand now – guiding teams to align productivity with purpose – feels less like an endpoint than the natural yield of every hard-won lesson. For that convergence of skill and mission, I’d walk this road again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kristygoodwin.me
- Instagram: https://instragam.com/krisisgood
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/kristy.reneegoodwin
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/kristyrgoodwin
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/kristygoodwin7510
Image Credits
Photographer: Angela Pillow