We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kellie Stein a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kellie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
One of the kindest things that anyone has ever done for me was a gesture that in and of itself was not intended to be out of kindness, but had a life-changing impact that allowed me to believe in myself and see my value in the corporate world. After working for ten years at a company to help build and grow it from a $1M to $13M powerhouse and to eventually an industry-changing acquisition, I found myself in the environment of a very IT start-up, tech centric company where I faced numerous challenges trying to find my way in the new environment. After two years, I decided to leave this company and return to a smaller, privately held company. During my two years at the acquiring company, my confidence had been shaken and I was struggling to see my worth and value add in the corporate world. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to work for two co-owners who changed my outlook with their kindness and amazing ability to see the value I brought to their company and their consistent outreach to ask me for my guidance and opinion on operational matters for their organization. They saw me, recognized my value, and most importantly, they did not let their egos get in the way of leaning in and asking me for my opinion and guidance. Neither of them had any idea how much this meant to me and how much their simple gesture of placing their trust in me changed my life.
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?
I have over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, and human resources. My career began in the intricacies of financial management and business management, where I honed my analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning skills. During my time in roles varying from Controller, to Director of Finance to VP of Finance, I always had played a pivotal role in the management of the HR function.
Over the past five years, I have seamlessly transitioned into HR, leveraging my deep financial acumen to drive data-informed decision-making and enhance organizational effectiveness. I bring a wealth of expertise and a unique perspective to my role in Human Resources and most importantly, I bring a love for people and an ability to connect with the team.
My extensive background in finance has equipped me with strong analytical capabilities and a keen understanding of operational data. This transition to HR has allowed me to integrate financial insights with human resources strategies, fostering a data-driven approach to talent management and organizational development.
Over this past year, I have transitioned from working as a full-time employee to a consulting model where I can offer my skillset to a variety of industries and partner with professional leaders to support them and provide guidance for operational efficiency and financial business management. During this transition, I have taken on clients in the IT sector, the nonprofit sector, Interior design, and even a social media influencer.
I love building relationships with my clients, gaining an understanding of their needs, and assisting them in keeping the operational side of the house in order. Knowing that the services I provide allow them to focus on the needs of their business and the creative elements makes me feel proud to be doing what I do!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has been word of mouth and leaning on my expansive network that I have built over my career. It is so important to recognize that every situation is an opportunity to make an impression on someone. Just last week, I had a call with a gentleman who I connected with when the company we both worked for terminated his employment. Although we had worked together at this company our paths did not require much interaction until I had to assist with his offboarding and employment termination. Well, fast forward to this past week and he and his new business partner reached out to see if I would be able to assist in providing consulting services to the client of their new business venture. When we kicked off the call this week, the gentleman introduced me by explaining the impact I had on his life and the compassionate manner in which I handled his offboarding. He explained that this was the reason he had felt so strongly about pulling me into their new venture. I did not know that my actions then would lead me to a new client, but here we are and the understanding that my reputation is what will drive my success has paid off in spades.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What has helped me build my reputation within my market is my ability to connect with people and to make the intimidating business/accounting concepts seem not so intimidating to my clients. By taking the time to earn their trust and help them understand their business needs, I am relatable and real and they feel comfortable asking me questions and learning as they go.
Image Credits
Dana Rubin Photography