We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kendall Castillo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kendall below.

Kendall, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear you experience with and lessons learned from recruiting and team building.

The people you work with make the job good or bad. People leave managers, not companies. It’s all about who you know, the connections you have and the relationship you can build. I always try and hire someone with strengths that are my weaknesses. Did I connect with them in the interview(s) both personally and professionally? If I got stuck in an airport with them with a delayed flight would we like being together? Would I trust them with my credit card? These are all the questions I run through my mind when hiring and building my team. There are so many great candidates out there and I love to see my team reach their full potential.

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 am the Senior Manager of Events for The DEC Network. The DEC Network is a 501c3 non-profit organization that helps entrepreneurs start, build and grow their businesses. I’m motivated by creating events that help entrepreneurs come together and develop new skills to help their businesses grow. As a woman of color, I am passionate about helping women and people of color entrepreneurs. Through my leadership, my team and I have hosted memorable events, including Women X Tech, The State of Entrepreneurship and Dallas Startup Week. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with her fiance and our dog, Bandit.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Most recently, I had a keynote speaker catch COVID two days before the event. Bummer! But, the show must go on. No time to be down, sad, and mope about it. The event will still be great. I have to remember my purpose in my role: to create a space for people to connect and grow. At the end of the day, keynote speaker or not, if I achieved that purpose, I’ve won.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

It’s all about relationships!!! Make touch points, share wins, have fun. Make them your friend. Don’t forget to smile :)

Image Credits
James Wolfe Photography Lexi Chase Media Tres Cox Media