Today we’d like to introduce you to Laci Mckinney.
Hi Laci, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Having the skill of resilience got me to where I am today. My undergrad is in health and wellness. All roads pointed to exercise physiology; I’ve had experiences with internships in cardiovascular therapy, corporate wellness, personal trainer, and leadership positions over fitness facilities. Over time I knew I wanted something different, but I didn’t quite know what it was. I’ve always been a creative thinker and needed an outlet; that’s how I got into entrepreneurship. I didn’t quite know what I was doing starting a business. I think it was more about the creative outlet and the challenge. Many don’t know but my first brush with entreprenuership was a fashion stylist. Over time I gained skill in pitching, marketing, social strategy, and networking. I found myself gaining contracts, working with super talented entrepreneurs, and adding money to my bank account.
Fast forward to today, after many hours of balancing my 9 to 5 and a business, I finally found my thing in Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership, and Professional Branding. Over the years, I’ve been able to build the skills that are sought out to span over all parts of the organization, not just one single piece. It’s truly rewarding.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s has not been smooth. One of the biggest challenges for me is balancing a 9 to 5 and entrepreneurship. There were times that I didn’t feel like sitting down in front of a computer after spending hours in an office.
Also, there were times I didn’t feel like I had what it took. Comparison can be the death of you. Hearing more no’s than yes causes you to feel defeated. It’s a mental game at times, and only the strong will survive.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve recently moved into Human Resources, although we label it as Employee Experience as new term to the organization. I’ve served on this team since May of this year. My title is Organizational Effectiveness and Innovation Specialist. I focus on the effectiveness of various components of the employee’s life cycle, whether is analyzing the new position needed on a team to inclusion efforts across the organization. The focus is how effective are the programs for the employees to have the best experience at work. I’m known for being a strategic thinker and a great project manager. I’m most proud of building a skill set that became a career opportunity for me. Again, I go back to being resilient. I’m a hard worker, some of the challenges I’ve faced, others would have folded.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I will give credit to my sons, Edward and Tommy. I worked hard because I knew they needed me. I want to continue to be a role model for them; that’s why I have to keep moving forward to accomplish great things so that they can see it’s possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lacimckinney.com
- Instagram: @Thelacimckinney
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creators-conversations/id1508164481
Image Credits
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