We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristi Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristi below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kristi 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 has origins that may not be what you expect. It wasn’t born from growing up without or from having a mentor that inspired me. In fact, my hunger and drive for success came from my struggle with perfectionism and the constant pressure to fulfill societal expectations—to be the perfect daughter, the perfect woman, and an example for others in an era that pushed young girls to dream big, do more, and be more. I internalized that mantra, and while it drove me to achieve, it was often fueled by fear of falling short, insecurity and self doubt.
But as I’ve grown—now a career mom, business owner, and healthcare leader—I’ve learned that perfectionism is flawed, and the societal ideals I once chased are empty. My work ethic didn’t truly align with my values until I discovered my purpose. Now, my drive is authentic, rooted in a deep understanding of who I am, and committed to doing work that resonates with my core beliefs.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Meet Kristi Brown, an award-winning leader with over 10 years of experience in healthcare and hospitality, who has successfully blended her healthcare expertise with leadership strategies to achieve notable career success. Holding an MBA and an MS in Science Management and Clinical Leadership, Kristi has navigated her way from entry level phlebotomist to hospital leadership, earning accolades for her contributions and making strides as a leader in healthcare.
As a Leadership and Career Development Coach, Kristi is deeply passionate about empowering women in various healthcare roles to unlock their full potential. She understands the unique challenges women face in demanding industries and is committed to helping them develop the confidence, leadership skills, and work-life health needed to thrive—both personally and professionally. Kristi’s journey was shaped by overcoming perfectionism, self-doubt, and societal expectations, which now fuels her work to help other women break free from self-limiting beliefs and lead with authenticity and purpose.
Through her 1:1 coaching program, Kristi offers a personalized approach that is grounded in real-world experience and tailored to each woman’s unique aspirations and challenges. In this program, women will discover how to lead confidently, navigate career transitions, break through barriers, and create the work-life health they desire—without sacrificing their well-being so they can advance career without burnout or stress. Kristi provides the tools, strategies, and unwavering support to help women not just succeed, but to thrive, empowering them to align their career with their core values and create lasting impact.
At Kristi Brown Coaching, & Consulting, we are on a mission to make the healthcare industry more impactful by empowering the women who lead it. We believe that every woman has the potential to be a transformative leader, and we are here to help them unlock that potential with clarity, confidence, and resilience. This not only drives progress for women, but for the patient experience, the core of healthcare.
If you’re ready to step into your full leadership potential, break free from self limiting thoughts and behaviors like perfectionism, and thrive in both your career and personal life, connect with Kristi today!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my journey, the three qualities that had the most profound impact on my growth were resilience, mentorship, and curiosity. Each of these shaped my path in different ways, and I believe they’re crucial for anyone navigating a career in leadership, especially women in fields like healthcare.
Resilience was the cornerstone of my success. It’s not about avoiding failure or setbacks, but about building the confidence to bounce back from them. Early in my career, I struggled with perfectionism and self-doubt, but resilience allowed me to embrace those challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
For those early in their journey, my advice is to focus on developing a positive mindset, practice self-compassion, and learn from every setback. Resilience is cultivated when you understand that setbacks don’t define you—they teach you how to adapt and keep moving forward.
Mentorship played an equally important role. I fortunately found to mentors (late in my career, get them early!) who guided me, challenged me, and helped me see potential in myself that I didn’t always recognize. Mentorship has been instrumental in providing perspective, navigating career challenges, and offering advice in pivotal moments. For those starting out, I encourage seeking mentorship or coaching as early as possible. It doesn’t need to be a formal relationship—find someone whose experience you respect and whose feedback you trust. A mentor can provide invaluable insights and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Lastly, curiosity has been essential in keeping me engaged and open to new possibilities. In a fast-paced industry like healthcare, things are constantly changing, and curiosity allows you to see those changes not as challenges, but as opportunities to grow and innovate. It requires an open mind and a willingness to ask questions, learn, and evolve. My advice here is to remain curious in everything you do. Seek out new learning opportunities, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. A curious mindset helps you discover opportunities and solutions that others may overlook.
For anyone early in their journey, developing these qualities—resilience, mentorship, and curiosity—will serve as the foundation for a fulfilling career. Whether you’re a leader in healthcare or another industry, these three elements will help you build confidence, adapt to challenges, and continue evolving as a leader.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
I believe it’s important to be well-rounded. While it’s essential to leverage your strengths, I’ve found that investing effort in areas where you’re less skilled is what truly accelerates growth, especially as a leader. Have you ever heard of the Johari Window and blind spots? It’s a concept that encourages self-awareness by helping us identify areas where we may not be as strong or even aware of our weaknesses. Understanding these areas is crucial—it allows you to seek feedback intentionally and be open to growth, which is essential for building lasting confidence as a woman in leadership.
Confidence isn’t just about knowing what you’re good at. It’s about the courage to ask for feedback, listen to it, and act on it. I’ve learned this the hard way early in my career. When I was a young leader, I was confident in my ability to manage tasks, but I struggled with delegating and trusting others in areas where I wasn’t as strong. I didn’t yet understand that I could hire people with complementary strengths, nor did I appreciate the power of collaborating with others who had strengths where I had blind spots.
One pivotal moment came when I was managing a team project early on. I realized that, while I was skilled at organizing and directing the work, I was missing key elements in creative strategy and communication. I started leaning on team members who were stronger in these areas, and the results were transformative. Not only did the project succeed, but I also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of being well-rounded—not just in my own skills but also in how I built and collaborated with my team.
Focusing on building a well-rounded skillset allows you to understand the dynamics of your strengths and weaknesses. It makes you a better leader because you can empower others, create stronger teams, and be more adaptable. This is why it’s so important to develop both your strengths and areas for improvement. Leadership is about the whole picture, not just what you excel at on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theleap.co/@LeadershipWithKristi
- Instagram: @leadershipwithkristib
- Other: Apply for Coaching
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