We were lucky to catch up with Kyle Duford recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kyle, appreciate you joining us today. Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?
We have built our team from 5 FTEs and 1 PTE merely three years ago to just over 30 people and winning five Best Places to Work awards in the last two years. We build men and women of character, and we believe the rest will follow. On hiring, we look for the 3Cs: chemistry, character, and competency.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am an executive creative director specializing in crafting outstanding advertising and branding for global brands looking to own winnable market share. I am a former magazine editor, and I spent much of my career focused on e-commerce in the fashion, outdoor, and sports industries. I think that my unique blend of advertising, branding and digital expertise allows me to create and lead some of the foremost brands through my work at The Brand Leader.
I fancy myself a thought leader focusing on business leadership. Case in point: I grew the agency from five people to more than 30 in just three years, winning five Best Places to Work awards in the process. I pride myself on growing people first and building high-performing teams based on trust and vulnerability. Drawing on his personal and professional experience, I try to facilitate meaningful conversations on building teams, brands, personal faith, and men’s mental health — especially at work.
My first book, Twice Found: Getting a Second Chance at Life, Love, and Understanding God, is a memoir of my life-long struggle to find God while simultaneously searching for the love of his life after not seeing her for more than 20 years.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The biggest story is of my fall from grace as a Senior Global Executive for Dr. Martens. I was fired, divorced, and had a suicide attempt all within weeks. But I picked myself up, and with my faith and resilience rebuilt myself.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Kindness. It’s good to be kind. I can elaborate.
Contact Info:
- Website: thebrandleader.com
- Instagram: yeahthatkyle
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleduford/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyleduford
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yeahthatkyle