Kelly Gust

The phrase “networking event” sounds like a cringey waste of time, doesn’t it? Even as a verified extravert, the thought of talking to strangers and making meaningless conversation gives me a visceral reaction – pounding heart and sweaty palms as I imagine all of the awkward silences. At first, networking can seem intimidating, or at […]

I think a lot about how women make workplaces better, as well as the opportunities and challenges women face. When consulting with individuals and organizations about management challenges, I try to balance organizational, systemic solutions with empowering individuals to take ownership of their situations. Focusing only on organizational solutions robs individuals of their power and […]

When you meet someone new and they ask, “So, what do you do?” how do you typically respond? If you’re like many of us, you share your job title and likely a few details about how you spend 40 or more hours per week at work – that’s over 2,000 hours per year, by the […]

In today’s hot job market, getting great talent in the door can be a challenge. According to a recent article on LinkedIn, 53% of employees are thinking of leaving their current position in 2024, and 77% of employers are worried about attracting and retaining top talent. For some organizations, creating a great culture where employees want to […]

There are few topics that remain as complex as they are sensitive, especially with co-workers. The big three are religion, politics and gender. These subjects hold profound importance in our lives and are at the core of our identities, thus holding the power to stir up deep emotions. Avoiding or hiding these parts of our […]

The start of a new year can be filled with a sense of optimism about what’s to come, but for some entrepreneurs it can also be a time of high anxiety, not knowing what might happen in the months ahead. This year will surely bring a few surprises, but you don’t have to wait and […]

About 13 years ago our family made the decision to move back to the Springfield area, my husband’s hometown. We bought a 1974-fixer-upper on Lake Petersburg. We knew when we bought it that it hadn’t been updated in years, but it had good bones and we could see a vision for its potential – flowing […]

Wouldn’t it be nice if the boss always approved our big projects or customers bought whatever it is we’re selling, whether a product, solution or idea? Of course, a business owner has to get comfortable selling, but many of us just need buy-in or approval from peers, employees, company executives or other stakeholders. Decision-making is […]