We recently connected with Kristen Lee and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kristen with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
When I reflect on where my work ethic came from, I realize it’s a combination of influences—family values, mentorship, and my own personal experiences. It’s not a trait I was born with, but rather something that has been cultivated over time. My work ethic is a product of the people and experiences that have shaped me, and it’s a quality I continue to refine as I progress in my career.
When I got out into the professional world, I immediately started working at an advertising agency. I had never been surrounded by a group of people who worked longer, crazier hours and were more committed to client service, but at the same time had more fun doing what they did best! I recognized that same work ethic that I had grown up and also got to see a different kind of creativity and fun, and I was hooked! It’s the same for me today with my own group. We go to any length to make our clients happy and it all comes from that commitment to hard work.
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?
What’s unique about our group is that instead of hiring a single marketing director, we provide our clients a broader range of expertise, flexibility, and scalability than a single person who may be limited by time, and experience. BD Creative brings together a diverse team of specialists on a national basis from across various disciplines, such as digital marketing, branding, content creation, SEO, social media, and data analytics to best meet our clients’ needs.
Often, our clients may need to adjust their marketing efforts up or down as needed, and we’re able to provide that flexibility without the need for additional hires or restructuring. We’re able to offer a more cost-effective and efficient solution to our clients without paying into benefits and other overhead costs for on-site personnel – it’s just-in-time marketing.
Since BD works with a variety of clients across industries such as private clubs, hotels, and realtors, we bring fresh ideas, innovative approaches and cross-industry insights. Plus, our core team of four, becomes an extension of every business we work with and take pride in who we work with and what we do.
Finally, we are very proud of the work we do with charities that the team and I are very passionate about including We Are Sharing Hope (organ donation), Camp Rise Above, Vantage Point and others.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities that have been and continue to be most impactful in my journey are:
Maintaining relationships – I continue to work with my first boss, colleagues of more than two decades, and clients of more than a decade, 12 years to be exact.
Agility – I’ve always worked on a principle of trying to stay open to change, whether that’s on a daily basis in working with my clients and even my team, or on a year-to-year basis as the industry evolves. These factors can change on a dime in this industry as well as in life. Our team can pivot as needed to handle just about anything!
Collaboration – I’ve learned the power of collaboration over the years and am a big believer that partnerships can benefit you in so many ways. We are a full service agency but we also thrive when working with other creative agencies and love to partner up; more often than not, that turns into ongoing conversations at the very least, and even ongoing work. Don’t worry about whether you have the lead or a supporting role – the important thing is having a seat at table!
As far as advice, I would say to consider adopting the above principles, never be afraid to strike up a conversation in an airport or eating dinner alone at a hotel while traveling because you never know what amazing project it might lead to, and rid yourself of “not invented here syndrome:” Don’t be afraid to champion a great idea even if you didn’t come up with it yourself.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
We are privileged to have some terrific clients in the Western North Carolina area. Obviously, they were hit very hard by Hurricane Helene. While we had to rejigger our financial forecast due to the fact that they had to make adjustments because of the scope of the destruction to their properties, this ended up being a tremendous growth opportunity for us.
First and foremost, this represented a growth opportunity for us to see how quickly and fully we could pull together to support our clients and their community in the way they needed the most: with real resources like water, clothing, and other donations. This effort really solidified the things that matter in this life and while we all have to make a living, it’s more important for us to support each other in ways that are not material.
Once those needs were taken care of however, this situation represented a valuable opportunity for our group to reevaluate our growth strategies internally and we have actually been on a new business tear for the past several months, without neglecting any of our existing clients. I am so proud of our team for pulling together to work every opportunity and to ensure that no client’s needs have gone unmet. We always have room for more terrific properties and brands in our family here at BD Creative Group and now we know that our team is more resilient than ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bdcreativegroup.com/
- Instagram: bdcreativegroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bdcreativeconsulting
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenrlee/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bdcreativegroup
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