Meet Kayla Wagner

We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Wagner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kayla 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?

My work ethic stems from my family. As the saying goes, people from the Midwest are known for their strong work ethic and their willingness to put themselves out there and connect with new people. Although I’ve lived in the Southwest for almost my entire life, I feel those values are deeply ingrained in me. Since I was 15 and started my first job as a lifeguard, I’ve balanced work and school, maintaining that discipline until I graduated from college. After graduating, it felt like I traded school for board service, as I’ve been involved with various boards over the last 10 years—ranging from young professional boards to national boards and even a nonprofit board where I raised money in honor of my grandma, who had LLS. Her and my mother’s influence were a major reason behind my move from Albuquerque, NM, to Scottsdale, AZ, eight years ago. These experiences have shaped my dedication and drive in everything I pursue.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

In March, I took a bold step toward building something new, getting back to my roots in printing and photography. Fun fact: my first job after college was sales for New Mexicos largest offset printing company, and following that I spent the first five years of my Arizona life selling copiers and printers. Photography was placed on the back burner for way too long, so diving back into it has been incredibly rewarding. When I picked “Building Dreams” as the headline for my first publication cover, I had no idea just how much it would reflect my own journey. Now, with every edition, I get to connect, create, and celebrate the amazing stories within our community.

I run a monthly private community magazine in the stunning town of Fountain Hills, Arizona, and it’s been a blast! I get to chat with people who have made a serious impact—from raising $400k for local projects to building a national business, or even sharing the life lessons of a retired NFL coach. Each month, I’m honored to photograph and tell their stories, showcasing their achievements to the community. And let me tell you, none of this would be possible without my amazing local business partners who support the publication every single month.

When I’m not busy working on ads, stories, or snapping photos for the magazine, you’ll probably find me crafting jewelry or out country swing dancing. Let’s take a step back to May of 2021, I decided to follow in my mom’s footsteps and started making my own jewelry. At first, I just loved the idea of designing earrings to match every outfit (because, duh, who doesn’t love matching accessories?), but little did I know, life was about to take a major turn. That same month, I was pushed out of a career I had spent five years building from scratch. It was tough, but just two months later, I found my love for country dancing again and started hitting the dance floor multiple times a week!

Now, for a girl who LOVES jewelry, I quickly realized regular earrings and country dancing don’t mix. I felt so incomplete without my accessories! Fast forward to November 2022, and I finally figured out that these unusual earring backs I’d been playing around with were perfect for dancing. After countless hair flips, dips, and spins, I can confirm they are officially dance-proof! I’m so excited to have collaborated with incredible people, creating custom combos for my fellow dancers and anyone else who wants to rock a pair of my Southwest Savvy Earrings!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three things that have really shaped my journey:

We all put our pants on the same way—whether you’re an executive running a national company, a startup founder, a waiter at your favorite diner, or even a celebrity. It doesn’t matter; we’re all human. So, treat everyone with the same respect, because we’re all navigating life one leg at a time!

Start grinding early—Get on those boards, rack up experience, and dive into your career while the going’s good! Life’s short, and you can’t hit rewind. I didn’t go the traditional route of getting a master’s degree, but serving on boards and working hands-on has given me something even better—a masterclass in business, and guess what? You get paid for it, too!

Reinvention knows no age—I’ve learned that you’re never too old to reinvent yourself. If you’re willing to hustle, stay consistent, and put in the effort, opportunities will find you—sometimes right in your LinkedIn messages! Luck is just a four letter word for hard work. My advice to anyone starting their career? Bet on yourself and say yes to the chances that come your way, because you never know which one will be the game-changer. Even if things get tough, just remember—it’s only a moment, and life doesn’t stop there. KEEP GOING!

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

The biggest area of growth for me in the past 12 months? Realizing that you can actually build your own dreams! If you’d told me this time last year—right after I got let go from my final corporate sales gig, with no clue what I’d do next—that I’d be running my own business today, I would’ve said you were out of your mind. But here I am, doing just that!

I’ve been able to pull together everything I’ve learned—corporate sales, board experience, building relationships—and mix it with my true passion: capturing moments, telling stories, and putting my artistic spin on things in ways I never imagined. And to think it all kicked off with a random LinkedIn message that made me say, “Hmmm… let’s see what this is about!”

Another huge lesson I learned? We are so much more than our careers. I had no idea how much of my identity I’d wrapped up in my job until it was gone. It’s been a wild ride, but I’ve realized just how important it is to not let your job define who you are. Turns out, there’s a lot more to me—and it feels pretty amazing to embrace that!

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