Today we’d like to introduce you to Klyne Smith.
Klyne, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey started in Gulfport MS where I attended primary and secondary school. I was very active in the church and formed the Youth Church Organization to help mentor and bring together students to express their thoughts to the church congregation. After High School, I attended Xavier University of Louisiana to study Math and Computer Science. My volunteering and mentoring really started to expand give the universities passion for service. I became very active in the university and my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, to mentor, coach, and provide supplies to the local schools in New Orleans. During this time, I started my unofficial non-profit organization to help high school students get to college.
Over the next 30 years, I joined many non-profit organizations, held leadership positions, and continued to focus on helping those in need. My primary focus is mentoring and helping high school students get to college. I recently expanded my volunteering to focus on STEAM and mentoring students in college for internships and full-time positions. I am part of Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right, Dallas Forth Worth Xavier University Alumni, Education Unbound, and YMCA of McKinney continuing my work to help the community.
Along this journey, I worked with multiple fortune 500 companies, traveled to over 50 countries, married for 30 years, two kids in college, and 4 college degrees.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been smooth for the most part. I look at a struggle as an opportunity to grow. The hardest struggle was the loss of my mom; that one is still as struggle. I have lost many people, including my dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. I always had my mom to guide, comfort, and keep me grounded.
The other struggles revolved around life and how it brings unknown decisions and the best you can do is consult your head and monitor your heart. I always keep God first as I know he has a plan.
This is not to say that my life was “easy”. It was the mindset that I utilized to keep moving and accept the uneasiness and accept the results. I focus on what I can do, not what I cannot do.
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 am currently a University Professor teaching Freshman thru Graduate students at Southern Methodist University. I specialize in Software Engineering and advance technology strategies. This is the perfect career position for me at this stage of my life.
My career actually started at IBM right after college. My 10 years with IBM were crucial to becoming the person I am today. IBM taught me discipline in project delivery, technology advancements, and teamwork. During my time with IBM, I was assigned to work four different Olympic Games and traveled to several countries. When I left IBM I went into the start-up telecommunication sector, moved to the Casino sector, back to telecommunication, and ultimately retiring from corporate life to pursue full-time teaching.
I am most proud of receiving the IBM Gold Medal award during the 1994 Olympics for outstanding performance on a project. That was a real honor.
What sets me apart is that my true passion is helping people and making the world a better place. I made a choice many years ago to chase that commitment and God’s wish for us to help our neighbor. I decided that I could make a decent living and still personally help as many people as possible.
What do you think about luck?
Luck, as I have read is about preparation and opportunity. I have always tried to be prepared. I think my internal passion to connect to people helps me engage in many areas to enhance being prepared for the opportunities ahead.places that many people cannot engage. My initial thoughts are to give, not receive. I think this allows key opportunities to come my way. I am not sure if this is luck, being prepared, or just Gods plan.
Contact Info:
- Email: klyne@klynesmithpsllc.com
- Website: www.klynesmith.com
