Career Path of a Chief of Staff at Kevin's Natural Foods
Kaylie's career journey began with juggling a full-time job and college, leading to "debt-free college tuition," then transitioned from project management in photography to a paralegal role, ultimately finding their passion in HR. After proactively seeking an opportunity and "selling" their abilities, Kaylie now leads HR as Chief of Staff, demonstrating the power of self-advocacy and seizing chances.
Project Management, HR Management, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kaylie Layman
Chief of Staff
Kevin's Natural Foods
California State University, Stanislaus
Business Management & Admin
Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Human Resources (HR)
Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Kaylie's career path highlights the value of diverse experiences. Starting with project management in a photography company, she transitioned to a legal firm and then into HR, showcasing adaptability and a willingness to learn new skills.
2. Working full-time while studying for her undergraduate degree, Kaylie demonstrates strong work ethic and time management skills, achieving a debt-free education.
3. Kaylie's success story emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and networking. By directly reaching out to a CEO and expressing her confidence, she secured an HR role despite lacking direct experience, highlighting the power of networking and belief in oneself.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I went to college right after high school, without taking any gap years. I finished my undergraduate degree in four years, working full-time while attending classes.
I managed to squeeze in any hour of the day I could to work and help pay for college, and to gain experience while I was in school. So, I didn't really get the typical college experience. What I did get was debt-free college tuition, in addition to a couple of scholarships.
I started in project management for a small photography company in town. There, I handled all of the projects that came through our pipeline, executing them and managing priorities.
From there, I shifted over to a legal firm. Photography just wasn't my cup of tea; I'm not a creative person, but rather a business person. I switched into the legal field, which I very quickly found I had a passion for.
I was actually an accounting major for the first two years of college. Once I switched over to my job in the legal field, I changed my profession and switched to HR halfway through. I was a paralegal for a law firm in town that handles business contracts and all things contract-related.
From there, I transferred into the HR realm. After college, I was looking for an HR job, but I didn't have any HR-specific responsibilities or experience. I found someone in town who gave me a chance after I said, "Hey, look, I just need to prove to somebody that I can do what I say I can do, and I need somebody to believe in me."
It ended up working out. The CEO is a well-known serial entrepreneur here in the Central Valley. He took a shot and gave someone with no HR experience a chance. Now, I am leading HR as Chief of Staff and CHRO for the same company that gave me that opportunity. All it takes is a little selling of yourself.