Meet Kristy Taylor

 

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

Hi Kristy, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience, for me, stems from both personal and professional experiences. I began my career in higher education, where I had to navigate the challenges of managing student expectations, shifting academic priorities, and a rapidly changing landscape. These experiences not only strengthened my adaptability but also shaped my ability to find solutions under pressure. When I transitioned into my current career, I encountered new obstacles that tested my resilience in different ways. However, the challenges I faced in higher education helped me build a solid foundation to tackle these changes. These challenges also inspired me to leverage my experiences as a Career and Executive Coach to support social impact initiatives through my company. Helping others navigate their own challenges fuels my resilience and reminds me of the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and purpose. My journey has shown me that resilience is not just about overcoming difficulties, but about using those experiences to help others thrive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

This year has been full of meaningful accomplishments, and we’re preparing for even more in 2025. We wrapped up the first season of the WORxK Solutions Podcast, which focused on career development, workplace resilience, and leadership. The feedback has been incredibly positive, and we’re excited to prepare for a second season next year.

One of our major successes has been the DiversityWORxKs Roundtable Series, where we’ve hosted monthly roundtables on DEIA, leadership, and creating inclusive workplace environments. These roundtables have created a platform for professionals to engage in critical conversations, share their experiences, and collaborate on making their workplaces more equitable and inclusive.

In addition to the podcast and roundtables, we’ve hosted multiple summits, bringing together thought leaders and professionals across industries to discuss career development and organizational culture. I’ve also had the pleasure of appearing on several podcasts and events, expanding the reach of these important topics.

We also launched Colorful Careers in Healthcare, a book I co-authored with my sister, Dr. Karen Taylor, which highlights diverse career paths in healthcare. It’s been incredible to see how the book has resonated with individuals looking to navigate the healthcare industry.

Looking forward, I’m excited about launching our signature career branding coaching program for social impact professionals. This program will help individuals refine their personal brands and position themselves for success in careers that make a difference.

Additionally, we’re preparing to launch WORxK Solutions Magazine in January, which will focus on key topics like career development, DEIA, and leadership. Our virtual launch party is just around the corner, and I’m eager to share this resource with a wider audience.

These accomplishments reflect our commitment to empowering individuals and fostering positive change in organizations, and I’m excited about the continued growth and impact we’ll achieve in 2025.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three most important qualities that have been central to my success are adaptability, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. Adaptability has been key throughout my career, allowing me to embrace change and pivot when needed, whether in response to shifting client needs or evolving industry landscapes. This was especially important when I transitioned from higher education to career coaching, where I had to learn new skills and navigate a different professional environment.

Emotional intelligence has also played a significant role. Understanding both my emotions and those of others has helped me build stronger connections with clients, empathize with their challenges, and guide them through difficult decisions. It’s a critical skill, especially in my work with DEIA, where creating inclusive, supportive environments is a priority.

Finally, strategic thinking has been essential in developing long-term plans and achieving impactful results. Whether it’s designing my career branding coaching program or leading initiatives like the DiversityWORxKs Roundtable Series, I’ve relied on this skill to set clear goals and align every step with my larger vision. Together, these qualities—adaptability, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking—have shaped both my leadership approach and how I help others succeed.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I feel overwhelmed, I focus on grounding myself and breaking tasks into manageable steps. The first thing I do is pause and breathe, giving myself a moment to reflect and regain focus before diving into action. This helps me clear my mind and assess the situation with a fresh perspective. From there, I prioritize my tasks, identifying what’s most urgent and what can wait, which gives me a sense of control. Creating a structured plan allows me to tackle things one step at a time, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed.

In my career coaching and work with corporate clients, I emphasize the importance of resiliency because, in today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by constant demands and challenges. Building resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about developing strategies to thrive in the face of adversity. Whether working with individuals or organizations, I stress the importance of cultivating resilience to enhance long-term success and well-being. When I coach clients, I help them develop skills like time management, emotional intelligence, and stress reduction, all of which contribute to a resilient mindset.

One of the strategies I personally use is the “five-minute rule,” where I commit to working on a task for just five minutes. This can break the inertia that comes with feeling overwhelmed and usually leads to more progress. Additionally, I remind myself and my clients that practicing self-compassion is key. It’s important to acknowledge that feeling overwhelmed is a natural part of life, and by giving ourselves grace, we can approach challenges with more clarity and calm.

For anyone feeling overwhelmed, my advice is to take things one step at a time, focus on self-care, and remember that resilience is built through these moments of challenge. Resilience is not just a skill—it’s a mindset that can help you navigate both personal and professional pressures with strength and confidence.

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Dr. Kristy Taylor

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