Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite with Jessica Hartley
Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite with Jessica Hartley
Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite: Episode 10 with Kailei Carr
Even as a child, Kailei Carr could never fit into one box or only be focused on just one thing. All of her experiences along her journey have prepared her for many of the biggest roles in her life, including being a champion and coach focused on empowering women of color in leadership. Kailei Carr is CEO of The Asbury Group, host of the Beyond the Business Suit Podcast, and Executive Director of the Information Technology Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) Emerge Women’s Academy. In this episode, we start early on in Kailei’s life as a bit of a nomad as her family followed her mother’s corporate career rise, to her early corporate career journey, to finding her passion and purpose as a champion of women in leadership, and having the opportunity to lean into her creative energy every single day.
In this episode we cover:
- The profound impact that role models can have in empowering and also impacting the direction of your career
- Why career coaching and supporting women in their leadership journeys, especially women of color, is “healing work” and an opportunity to give back
- Tips and advice for budding and even season entrepreneurs in navigating your first few years to gain traction with your small business
Check out Kailei’s website to learn more about her speaking, workshop, and coaching services
About Kailei Carr
A champion for women in leadership, Kailei Carr is the CEO of The Asbury Group, an organization specializing in developing leaders from the inside out. Her signature approach to leadership presence — which is grounded in one's personal power — has helped high potential leaders around the globe thrive and advance to the most senior ranks. When she’s not coaching clients or speaking at conferences and corporations, Kailei can be found hosting her podcast, Beyond the Business Suit, which has over 250+ episodes and has been downloaded in 100 countries.
Kailei’s advice to executive and executive-bound women has been featured in numerous media outlets including Forbes, Fortune and The Oprah Winfrey Network. Kailei holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA from Emory University.
Kailei is on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram
Welcome to the hustle grind shine and reignite podcast. I'm your host Jessica Hartley. Join me on another journey with amazing and talented professionals of color, laugh and cry and take notes. But most of all be inspired. All of this and more on our next episode of hustles grind, shine and reignite blisko. Greetings, and welcome to another episode of hustle, grind, shine and reignite. I'm your host, Jessica Hartley, and it is my pleasure to bring you another episode. My amazing guest today is Kylie Carr. She's the CEO of the Asbury group, hosted via the business suit podcast. And she is first and foremost a champion for women in leadership, especially women of color in leadership. Kylie, welcome to the show.
Kailei Carr:Thank you so much for having me, Jessica.
Jessica Hartley:I'm so excited. I love that you're on the other side of this today. Kylie's podcast is fantastic, such a wide array of guests that are doing amazing things. But now she gets to be in the hot seat. And I want to share your story and your journey with our listeners today, Kylie. So to get started, we go all the way back back into time. And we like to start close to the beginning. So tell us about little Kylie. And growing up. Where did you grow up? What did you do? What did you want to be? And let's start there with your journey.
Kailei Carr:Sure. So going way, way, way, way, way back. Way too far back. Thank you. Thank you appreciate it. So growing up, I grew up in many different places. So I was born in South Jersey. Both of my parents were from Philadelphia. And when I was five months old, we moved to upstate New York, we stayed there until I was about five years old, we moved back to New Jersey to be close to family. And then my mom really cheap started on her own leadership journey. So she started in corporate when we were in upstate New York transition from teaching. And then once she started working for a large, fast food chain, company, she kept rising in leadership. So every two to three years, we would move and we would she would get a promotion and a relocation. So we moved from Jersey to the DMV to Colorado, to the Chicago area, which is where their corporate headquarters was. And we stayed there from when I was in eighth grade until I graduated from high school so and then since I've moved around quite a bit as well just with my own journey and and locations with positions that I've had. So I think up to now I've lived in about nine different states. Oh my goodness. I say that I'm a nomad. Although we've been in Georgia now for six years. And I'm like, you know, we're not looking to leave not especially not anytime soon. So it's neat to be back here and just Yeah, it's nice to be stable at the same time. I enjoy the NASM route. Yeah, I enjoy being in different places. But what I used to want to be when I grew up, so when people would ask me that when I was about five or six years old, I would say I would tell them I wanted to be a doctor, a cosmetologist and an oil painter on the side. So I think that is really revealing thinking about you know by journey since then, Doctor you're at some point in time I realized I did not like blood that much. So I put that to the side pretty quickly. However, I do feel like a lot of the work that I do now is healing work and when I think about cosmetologist, you know when I went out on my own over eight years ago, I started my practice with Image Consulting and personal branding work so there's that creativity with image as well as oil painting. I am a Creative At Heart so as much as I am a business person and you know I have my MBA and all of that. I'm very much right brain left brain so I and I'm a multi passionate so I can't just do one thing, Jessica. I've always been like that. There's no box you could put me in. It makes my husband crazy. He's like, can you pick just one thing to focus on? I was like, I can't this is the ABCs of me.
Jessica Hartley:Life's too short. I love it the many layers of Kylie car. Oh, I love I love it. That's so fantastic. So you were in high school? You know, we're all I mean, first of all, let me rewind, what an amazing role model and sort of testament to being able, you know, we talk a lot about, it's hard to be what you can't see. But you saw it. You saw it every day, you had a strong, amazing mom, that was showing you what it meant to be able to take care of your family, but also pursue career and not just pursue career but like career climbing, how transformative to have that almost sort of built into the your DNA as you're getting started?
Kailei Carr:Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, you know, my mom is the reason why I do so much. Why I do this work, honestly, in honor of her legacy. So I started my practice, after my mom passed away, my mom passed away in 2013. And it's a pivotal moment in my career. And even in the trajectory of the work that I do. Because I was working in corporate, I was leading a marketing department for a technology company. At the same time, my mom was battling stage four esophageal cancer. So I was taking care of her I was, you know, working from home, thank goodness, my company allowed me to do that. And I was also planning my wedding and got married, my company asked me to relocate. And they said, you know, we'll wait for your mom to get better. And but if you don't want to take the relocation, well, that's a different conversation. I said, Yeah, let's have, let's have that conversation. So let's have that conversation. So my last day working, there was on a Friday on Monday, my mom passed away. And it was that moment that caused me to reevaluate everything in my career. And I realized that life is too short. And everything inside of me said, this is a season to give back to others, and to leverage my strengths and my skills and my calling really, to do this work that has transitioned. And I honestly believe that my mom is helping me on the other side that we're doing this together.
Jessica Hartley:Yes, yes. Yes. All I love so much of how you've weaved in, you know, both your personal passions and goals. But how can you take in and sort of put out all of that your mom, I'm sure poured into you into others. So we'll come back to the Asbury group in this journey for the last eight years. But let's talk about before that, and your experiences of navigating corporate America very much as a woman of color. You know, you started out your career and like HR and administration now and what did you go to undergrad for? And how did that sort of be the catalyst for where you started? That? I'm very curious about that?
Kailei Carr:Yes. So my, because I'm a multi passionate Jessica, I could not pick one, one major, I was even a double major of voice. So at one point, after I let the doctor thing go, I wanted to be a singer. I was in college, I knew my parents would not pay that big tuition for me to to be to be a complete voice major. So I was a voice and I think the name of the major was interdisciplinary studies and society and culture, and which means pick your own stuff. Pick your own major, and I was like that is made for me. So I focused on the impact of music on culture and culture on music. And I did my senior thesis on the Harlem Renaissance, and to as further reflection and fat in foreshadowing, my my thesis was not only a paper, but it was I created a website I found somebody on campus. Of course I did. And this is your I'm an old
Jessica Hartley:back in the website was like,
Kailei Carr:like, in 9097 98. To have a website was unheard of. So I think my professor was so enamored with the fact that I even created a website that I had to get an A. But anyway, I digress.
Jessica Hartley:All the overachievers Dan Oh, and do two assignments when you
Kailei Carr:only have you only me all the things so you can do
Jessica Hartley:and we are doing them all
Kailei Carr:the most all the time all the time. So I ended up going into HR and that was not my intention. My mom, you know, had a career in HR, but I never thought that's where I would I would end up but that's where I did the beginning of my career was really folk This one HR but as a testament to not letting a job description deter you from putting your hat in the ring. There was a position that I applied for that required five to seven years of experience. I got the job. Let me tell you how much HR experience that I had Jessica, I had a summer internship at the 96 Olympics where I worked for McDonald's on the Olympic Village, you know, doing HR, which was really just taking it like it was paperwork like it wasn't real HR. Yeah, I had worked for when I immediately graduated from college, I took a position with an employment staffing agency that I stayed for only four months, because the CEO, she was crazy. Oh, she was crazy. My spidey senses were like Leave, leave, leave, leave, like you do not need to be in this environment. So I had it less than a year of experience. But they gave me the job. Tell me how
Jessica Hartley:you landed that job? Well, Kylie, how do you think you landed?
Kailei Carr:I think God, first and foremost, but even outside of God, I think the fact that I even submitted my resume was one, there was a recruiting firm, who they had hired to try to find somebody. So that recruiting firm was incredible. They really wanted me to do well. So they prepared me for the interview. My father, and mother both prepared me for the interview. And here I was, you know, 2223 years old, like I thought I knew everything. And I didn't know a thing. But I think because I showed up in a way that I was competent, even though I didn't have the experience. And they could see the potential in me. And I was eager, I was eager, I was confident I had good, I was prepared, that they gave me this position. And you know, the person who had previously been in the position, he was in that position for 20 years, the person who was leading the department retired, and he took over that position. So he brought me in as his successor. And from that experience, they put me in a high potential program, they gave me visibility at the senior rank at the chief HR officer level in the organization. And it was a really pivotal experience for me
Jessica Hartley:what a fantastic and just, you know, fortuitous opportunity to have literally at the beginning of your career in so many lessons that you were able to sort of gain so early on, that would obviously drive things in the future in that idea of, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we say that a lot, right, plenty of articles, and podcasts and movies and all the things, especially in the last 10 years with the big movement of more women in leadership, which is around, even if you don't check all the boxes, most people don't check all the boxes, but there's so much that you can bring to the table. Gotta put your hat in the ring, and I am so appreciative to hear that even again, Yong chi li 2223 With that fire, of knowing your worth and value, but also surrounding yourself with a village of people who are supporting you and guiding you along the way. That's just fantastic. So you started in HR. At some point, you said, Cool. Y'all want me to be the successor for this, but this is an IT. And she made a pivot. So let's talk about that pivot.
Kailei Carr:Yeah, the first pivot was going into consulting. So here, I'd stayed in that first position for about two years, I was living in a small town in South Carolina. So even though I had visibility up to the top of the organization, but I mean, being in my early 20s in South Carolina, like it nothing against South Carolina, nothing against South Carolina, but I am not. I am not a rural girl. No. I mean, every weekend, I'd be gone. And it hit me at some point that I really needed a more progressive experience. And I did a lot while I was there, I instilled their first sexual harassment training it who did what did I know? But I was adamant. I mean, the fact that I was a black woman in leadership. Looking back now I realized I changed their policies. By being there. I looked at their policies. There were people who on this manufacturing plant floor, were coming in with Confederate flags. And there were jokes that were racial joke, like racist jokes that were in people's lockers. They never had any policies against that. So I instilled those things and it wasn't that you know, I mean, I know my boss met Well, he did not have that perspective. So it was easy for me to even at that young Ah, to go in and say, This is not right, we need to have a policy in place. So I think, yeah, in my gut, I knew that I had done what I was there to do. And that the trajectory for me within that organization was not where I wanted to go, even the locations that would be available to me, the most cosmopolitan one was like, Grand Prairie, Texas, and it was a small location. And there was that was unlikely. And I didn't want to be in Milwaukee or Pittsburgh. And so I mentioned to a friend who was working at Accenture at the time to say, Hey, I'm thinking about looking at opportunities. And then I started my pivot, or I had a pivot very quickly into consulting, which lasted for about five years. And then I realized that I wasn't bringing enough creativity into my role. And I decided that or into my work, I should say, and I decided to get my MBA and made the transition into marketing, and digital media.
Jessica Hartley:I love that. I love that. So you went into marketing, and digital media, and you really sort of just started to climb very much probably like your mom. And so talk to me about just that experience, you had had some work experience before, which was fantastic. And then went back to school and got your MBA, and then went into the marketing side of things. And so what was it like, you know, you were sort of manager, you know, Senior Manager, executive in terms of levels moving in there, and you're a woman of color navigating these environments. And we know what these environments look like. So how are you in that?
Kailei Carr:It's really interesting, you know, this was a time when digital media was expanding. So here, I came into graduating from business school, going into the marketplace, thinking that I would be working in traditional media. And what I found was that there was this need for more digital focus. So I all of my positions after business school were digital in nature, even when I was working for a traditional media company, for instance, I found, I think, you know, my intuition, it plays so much of a role in my life. And in my career, I think intuitively, I knew that I had an opportunity to have a greater voice if I focused on digital. But this was at a time when there were very few black people, and very few women in digital media. So I would go to conferences, and I would be the only black person and sometimes the only woman. So in a sea of white and Asian men. Yeah, I remember even in New York, so I was in Dallas, I moved to New York, I would go to digital media conferences. And I remember there was one conference that was Tristan Walker and me. And you know, some people may know Tristan Walker from bevel, at the time, he was at Foursquare, which was huge at that point in time. And so it was like Tristan Walker, and I at this conference, but that was typical. I think throughout my career, I always knew the opportunity I had to be a representation of, of what a black woman was. Because in my upbringing, my my example of how I perceived black women was my mom and her friends. They were educated. Yeah, they were powerful. They were spiritual. They were show amazing yet I would look at television. And like, where I would look in the media and say, well, where where are people like, like this is? Yeah, yeah. And given my parents experiences in corporate America, I expected to be seen as inferior. And even on my consulting gigs, I would have in my office, I would have a picture of my friends in me. And I would say, oh, yeah, like my line sisters, I would say, oh, yeah, she's at Harvard, getting her JD MBA. She's at Columbia, getting her JD Oh, she's in medical school at Johns Hopkins. And so that people who I worked with, could see that it's not just me. Here's my circle. So I found that throughout my career, as I continued to claim that I was there as a representation of a black woman, person, yes. And I also was in a field that didn't have a lot of representation. So it was important for me to have that voice at the table and be very vocal. Yeah. And not shy away from not even conversations but to be seen. It was important for me to be seen because I knew the almost The mandate that I had to do so for others Yeah.
Jessica Hartley:But also, the flip side of that is the incredible burden of that right to be able to show up like we show up every day. Because we can't show up like other people show up every day, we have to show up differently. And you're not only advocating and having a voice for others, but you're also doing it because it is in service to what you need. And being a woman of color needing things as well. How did mentors play a role for you on the corporate side of things in terms of navigating those environments, behind the scenes in the rooms where you don't know where you don't have a seat at that table, that door is locked and hidden, you know, behind all kinds of things, how to mentors play a role in that for
Kailei Carr:you sure, I had several mentors, and not necessarily a lot of mentors who were outside of my organization that I would call up and we had a formal relationship. It was more so mentorship through my managers, I had some incredible managers, I can think back to three in particular, actually, honestly, in all of my, I'm realizing in this moment, at each company I worked at, I had mentors, I had mentors, most of them were my managers, they gave me mentorship, they were invested in my career development, and I had very strong relationships with them. There was one company I worked for, in Dallas, my manager wasn't my mentor, but there was a senior black woman, the most senior black person in this organization. She was their CFO. And she I mean to this day, number one to this day, I still consider her a mentor. But I can still remember conversations that we had back in 2007 2008, where she gave me not even business advice and mentorship, it was more so when you decide to have children hear all the supplements you need, or, you know, just sharing how she parents her daughter. I mean, I was dating my husband at the time, I didn't even know we were gonna get met if we were on that route. But seeing her as an example of living a healthy well rounded, well life, being a mother, a wife, and executive, she took two years off to take care of her daughter when she first and when her daughter was zero to two. And just seeing her as an example, this powerful black woman who was incredible, yeah, who had made a name for herself and did not skip a beat. Even with that break. Again, to this day, it had such a profound impact on me.
Jessica Hartley:Wow. I love that and also just continuing to shatter these perceptions in the stigma that women particular women of color, and other black women, for example, can be supportive. And I was sharing with someone else, there's pie at the table for everybody. It's a buffet, you can have what you want. Yeah, and part of, of some of what you said that mandate of having to help and support and give voice to others is saying in recognizing that we don't have a scarcity mindset. There is abundance here and everyone can take part. I appreciate you sharing that story about that mentor and, and how she just shared with you the whole human of who she was. So let's talk about the Asbury group. So your mom passed away, which of course is so traumatic, so young, and just you are newly married, and kids and just all these things on the horizon and your career sort of steadily moving up, probably not as fulfilling as you wanted it to be. But there's sort of forward momentum. And you have this moment, this milestone in time, and you made the decision. I'm going to go and follow my heart and my passions. Talk to me about year one, because we know that most businesses rise and fall within the first they don't make it past their one year anniversary. But you're celebrating over eight. So talk to me about the triumphs and maybe some of the challenges of just getting started in those first couple of years.
Kailei Carr:Yes, so year one oh my goodness. Who and I love talking about this I love talking about these will
Jessica Hartley:need to hear the real thing Kai
Kailei Carr:label need to hear the real deal. And I have learned because now I've seen it in so many other people. Yeah, I'm here. happy to share this because so when I left corporate, even though I had this strong calling toward doing something that was more aligned with passion and purpose, it's a transition. You know, I had been in corporate for over 15 years. So and people knew me, as Kylie, the digital marketer who, you know, I was on the speaker circuit with my company talking about digital media and social media and getting the most out of blah, blah, blah, blah. And so as I was transitioning, and also deciding what I wanted, this entrepreneurial venture to even be, there was a transition. So some pivotal moments were, you know, I was doing consulting first. So I did some consulting with my former boss who had also left, soon after I did, her new organization brought me on to do some work for them that was more aligned with the work that I used to do. My best friend gave me an opportunity, which was a speaking and get a paid speaking engagement, speaking at a conference with and ended up being with Luvvie. Ajayi Jones. And so at that time, I mean, lovey, yes. Look at that, look at God, look at God, that experience showed me what I was capable of. It gave me that feeling of, Oh, this feels like home. This feels like home. So I had those moments of doing things that were close to my other job, and then just exploring. So I was trying to figure it out. It wasn't clear to me what I was supposed to be doing other than doing something that was based on what I was skilled at. God said this next season is about you leveraging your strengths and experiences. So I would ask questions to my husband to my friends, like, what am I good at? In your perspective? You know, where, where have I helped you? I thought about, Okay, what if people thanked me for? What do people come to me for? So all of those things helped to shape where I was going? There was one day I was in Chicago at Saks Fifth Avenue, and I saw this display of this bad suit. No, I think it was a suit jacket and a dress. And it was amazing. And I had this thought, you know, what would it be like? Or I wonder if anybody does image consulting for executive women? So I had that thought, Yeah, a couple of days later, I had a conversation with a partner at at a consulting firm, a black woman. In our conversation, she said, You know, I should put you in contact with my image consultant. And I said, you have an image consultant. She said, Yeah, she's amazing. Come to find out her name was almost like, we have the same letters in our name. She has fewer letters, like, it was like, so God was just like screaming, right? And I'm thinking just two days ago, I said, I wonder if executives have image consultants in here? She does. Yes, that opened up a whole new world. That woman just blew my mind. She wanted me to take at one point in time, we had a conversation about me taking over her company, like it was crazy. Yeah, it was crazy. So opened up opportunities. And then I also started giving stuff away for free, like, I tested stuff out, I would go to friends and say, Hey, can I create a brand plan for you? Can I create your brand profile? So I would do that for free? And then they would give me feedback? And I would say, Okay, would you pay for it though? Right. Why would you pay for it? Like this was free? It was good. It was free? Is it
Jessica Hartley:valuable for you to pay for? Yes, yes.
Kailei Carr:And then finally, I started talking about it. I started talking about it on social media. I started talking about personal branding, I started talking about elevating your image. And the next thing I knew people started coming to me for speaking engagements. A friend from high school who hadn't seen in at least 10 years, we only communicate through Facebook, and she was a partner at a law firm. And she said, Hey, I see you talk about personal branding. Can you come in to talk to our female partners? Yeah, about personal branding. And so all of those things now, but let me be clear that first year, it was a lot of exploration and not a whole lot of income of revenue. You know, it was a lot of figuring things out. It was a lot of testing and getting my sea legs. And to be clear, that mode lasted for at least three to four years.
Jessica Hartley:Wow, happy really kind of first half that first half of the eighth year. So certainly,
Kailei Carr:it was a learning experience. And it took me that period of time to even get back to what I was making incorporate before I left.
Jessica Hartley:Yes, yes. Yes. I think that's so whorton Because there's the obviously the risk, and the foundation that you need to be able to go out on your own. And if you have support and other income and things like that, but there's the process, you're starting a new company, you're offering products and services, it might be completely unique, or there could be five others out there. But there's more than enough for everybody. But you have to figure out what that sort of path for you is going to be. And yes, to your point, there is a lot of upfront investment. And it is not just financial, there is the you know, mental and emotional investment and the time and talent investment in just the investment in yourself to grow and evolve and learn. You leave corporate America, you have a huge infrastructure, somebody's taking care of finance, and HR and legal, those are things we don't have to worry about. But as the top, the SEO, it's all on you. So let's talk then about that evolution. So you had three or four years of growth, and development and pivot and Image Consulting and personal branding. And you can start to see the seeds turn into this beautiful tree plan, you know, of where you are today. So talk about the last four years, and how that felt sure. You know, I've known you for three years now since I was part of the I know since even before that, because I had the opportunity to join the eMERGE sessions before I became part of the ITSMF Leadership Academy. And it's just been amazing watching, watching you and watching all of these things blossom. So let's talk about the last four years and that evolution.
Kailei Carr:Sure. And it's interesting. So you know, I started with the Image Consulting and personal branding. And what I realized was that I could give someone the exterior evolution and the you know, polishing and elevation externally. As that progressed, I got into more executive presence work, and then started working with ITSMF, with leading the eMERGE Academy and developing that program, which was really at this pivot point where, you know, I could help somebody look the part I could give them even the checklist of the leadership capabilities they needed. But if they were not right within themselves, if they didn't have a strong enough Foundation, if they were not centered, if they were still healing, there was only so far I could take them. So people would come to me and say, Oh, well let you know, let me elevate helped me elevate my image. But if you are still in a place of survival or trauma, then I can give you the exterior, But honey, you you got a lot of work to do. And because of my nature, we would start having those conversations. And over time I developed this a very much more of a inside out process. And I realized in order what I really was called to do and be was a resource for the whole person, not just the exterior, not only the interior, but really helping them to align who they are with how they show up in the world. So I started doing more leadership development programs, more workshops, more speaking in that regard. And in the last, gosh, two years alone, actually, just last year alone, I worked with clients on six continents leadership over last year, probably trained or had over 1000 people in leadership programs that I either facilitated or CO facilitated. It's amazing. I'm starting to work with a lot more doing more executive coaching. And I realized that I am being called to do more than just this. And I need to build capacity. So just this year, I've added five new coaches and facilitators to my team. That's Yes, yes. So that as more clients come in, we can share this message in this approach and philosophy of whole person development. Yes to more people in more spaces. So that's where we are now. So you are
Jessica Hartley:literally day in and day out 24/7 pouring into others, especially pouring into other women. How do you refill your cup? What is rejuvenation and you know, how do you take care of self but obviously we use this word self care and it's almost overused and misunderstood. But when Kylie needs to take care of Kylie, what does that look like for you?
Kailei Carr:Well, I have a daily practice. And then there's daily practice in ongoing practice. And then there's the Okay, we need to course correct, right. So, Daily Practice for the past four years, I have a morning routine that I do before I get out of bed. It's called claim I am turning it into a book because I've shared it with so many people. Yes, they have claimed it,
Jessica Hartley:we I'm here, I'm here for it. I'm ready to click orders.
Kailei Carr:And it really helps to set the foundation for my day is in the right frame of mind and includes centering and includes elevating my energy, and setting the intentions for the day. So that is my daily practice. I also ongoingly just tap into my spirit, and do my best to understand what do I need at any given moment. So do I need more rest? Do I need more margin like right now I'm feeling like, Ooh, I am over extended. So in March and April, I'm adding in more more margin more space in my days. And then there's the course correcting. So of course, correcting for me is like, okay, doing regular exercise, going to the beach, going to the beach, doing things
Jessica Hartley:in my life guy like, I've been craving the beach for two years now.
Kailei Carr:Yes, so to this year, my goal is to go to the beach four times, which is when I'm at my best. I know what that looks like quarterly beach time. Yes, I love so I don't know if I can make it work. But that is the goal. Yes, yes. Yes. So those are the some of the things that I do. This is fun, such
Jessica Hartley:a delightful conversation, Kylie, it has been so wonderful to hear about your journey, the star also just to hear about your mom and how, you know, our moms and aunties and godmothers, and T Ts, and all of these amazing women that we have in our lives, whether they are fully educated, you know, formally and all these things and work, there's ways in the corporate career, where they really were bootstrapped. And just making sure they took care of their family. Just so wonderful to hear how you've taken all of that goodness, and I'm sure a lot of goodness from our ancestors and elders as well. And you are channeling that into women every day. If you could leave us with a piece of advice. There probably hopefully many folks listening to this episode and listening to your journey and career. And what advice would you give to those that are, you know, in the midst of a pivot, whether it's a personal pivot, or a career pivot, what's your advice on how they approach that it can be very overwhelming, almost, you know, analysis paralysis of I don't know what to do. So I'm not going to do anything. What's your advice to break through that?
Kailei Carr:My advice would be do not over think it. As high achievers as smart people, you know, driven individuals. It's so easy to over, analyze over strategize to your point, you know, analysis, paralysis, and also lean into the shoulds that, oh, I should be doing this. Take that out of it. You know, the answers, go into a still place, center yourself, connect with whatever higher being you call to, and receive the answers. When you receive that nudge that Inkling inside of you that calling. You will have everything you need to make that work. When you say yes to that doors will open serendipity takes place. You have all the resources that you need, that will surround you when you say yes, but when we overthink it over analyze it. We have incremental advancement. We can you know, I know this is we have hustle and grind the name of the podcast. We can hustle and grind into it. Yes. But if we only do the hustle if we only do the hustle and grind it will get us incremental advancement. Yes. And we may have to do a lot of detours. But when we tap into ourselves, and our inner knowing and the Divinity inside of us then we can have transformational trance formational cattle, those pivotal moments, those trying to find the right words, but that exponential growth, exponential growth can take place when we listen to ourselves and lean into our heart and soul and not just our heads and minds.
Jessica Hartley:I love that we're going to end on that. I mean, you took us to in variational revival. I'm over here, Amen and hallelujah, highly calm co the Asbury group and just so many more slash slash slash, so honored that you joined me for this conversation. Can't wait for the book, I am sending you all the writer vibes and all the things thank you can't wait. And we look forward to having you back to talk more about the evolution of your organization and all the things that you're doing with beyond the business and excited to talk about the book when it's ready. So thank you, Kylie.
Kailei Carr:Thank you so much for having me, Jessica.
Jessica Hartley:Thank you for listening to another episode of hustle, grind, shine and reignite. If you liked this episode, like, subscribe and share on all your favorite podcasts. I hope you'll tune in to the next episode featuring another amazing and talented professional. In the meantime, Chiang Rai
