Sponsored by Kendra Jeffords Photographer/Owner, Kendra Hays Photography Education: WKCTC Associates of Art Professional, community, and civic organizations: • Embracing the Aged Digital Creator & Board Member Biggest challenge in your professional career: Leap of faith. Quite literally. When I chose to go full time with photography, I was leaving my job at the time for maternity leave, had a baby a month later and then was rocking the full time photography life. I have been in business for around 10 years now, and through those years, I faced challenges within going to college, shooting, figuring out life, and what I wanted. Then I worked full time jobs after college, while shooting part time. Finding a balance there was always a struggle. So honestly, the biggest challenge is finding the balance between being the best mom and wife I can be, while maintaining a professional career. Some say to give this one up, or that one up, but I wholeheartedly believe you can do both. Best piece of business advice: Trust Yourself and Be Yourself. No matter what field you are in, there is always someone who is doing the same thing, either worse or better than you. Don’t compare yourself to them, but only compare yourself to the person that you were yesterday. I have had to learn this quickly in the recent months as the field of photographers is getting deeper and deeper. People are going to come to you for what they want and the style they want, and I won’t always get all the business because I am not the cheapest there is, but trusting in myself and my work, it will all be okay. Kirsti Singer Board Certified Behavior Analyst/ Assistant Clinical Director, Bloom Behavior Therapy, LLC Education: Masters Degree in Psychology, with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis Professional, community, and civic organizations: • Kentucky Applied Behavior Analysis Licensing Board Vice Chair • Kentucky Association for Behavior Analysis Member • Marshall County Special Olympics Volunteer • First Missionary Baptist Church Member Biggest challenge in your professional career: Starting a family and advancing my career. I have two young children, three and one, and I feared that I would fall short in my career or motherhood, or both. However I received some advice that, “You can do everything, just not all at once,” and that has been my mantra since having my first child and still aiming to be an excellent professional and provider to my clients. Best piece of business advice: Since I work in the field of mental health, my employer has always emphasized the importance of self-care and stress management strategies. My typical work day often includes interacting with our clients, who are primarily aged 3-12, and it is absolutely imperative that I be “on” to provide the best services to them. I also assist in managing 22 employees at work in addition to my two young children at home. I try to minimize my stress and take care of myself by doing dance classes at MHT, doing date nights with my husband, weekends at Kentucky Lake, and taking “brain breaks” in the middle of my work days. Kristin Lynch Senior Wealth Advisor, Jennings & Associates Financial Advisors Education: Bachelors Degree in Business Marketing Professional, community, and civic organizations: • Paducah Professional Women Past President, Vice President, Secretary, and current Scholarship Chair • Fitness Instructor with Paducah Athletic Club Biggest challenge in your professional career: Fear of rejection was the hardest lesson and challenge to learn in my career. Whether it was a supervisor, a boss, or a client, I struggled to hear “No”. It took time, study, and a lot of experience to learn that that is part of growing and if you are not trying and failing, you probably aren’t trying enough. Career achievement you are most proud of: I wouldn’t say there is a certain award or achievement of mine that makes me the most proud - it is the achievements of those I coach and teach. The most proud I have ever been is when I see others on my team or in my classes recognizing and growing into their own potential and definition of success. There is no greater success. Best piece of business advice: Set your most important tasks every single day. I set up the day with intention of the six most important items and staying consistent has been the greatest driver in any success I have had. In this day, it is easy to be distracted and thrown off course, so staying intentional and focused on these items has significantly grown my career while also making the days more enjoyable. INTHEVUE.COM | PROMOTING EVENTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE | SEPTEMBER 2022 17
