Name: Denise Beers-Kiepper

Title: Founder & Chief Vision Officer

Organisation: DBK Coaching & Consulting

Reformed HR/HC executive who turned my side gig of coaching for fun into a full time coaching & consulting business. I believe that great people work is industry agnostic and have benefited personally from a career spanning businesses from start up's, family owned/private to Fortune 100/publicity traded organizations in retail, financial services, banking, tech, health care and hospitality. This variety prepared me to support and guide clients from different backgrounds and experiences.

I am highly intuitive which combined with my background, gives me a unique ability to relate and hold space in a meaningful way for my clients.

I am a single mom to two awesome grown-up kids, a trauma thriver, animal loving servant to two pups and a tiny dictator cat, foodie, who absolutely loves helping people align with their best selves. I believe great things are born from chaos! I see chaos as an enormous opportunity.

Whether you are navigating corporate change, career, or personal challenges, life can feel overwhelming and may feel like it lacks a tether. I help people capture the chaos to create an actionable path forward.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Denise's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As an entrepreneur, I now have to take the advice I have given my leaders my whole career. Remembering to make space for renewal and downtime while growing my business. The shift from corporate where I had support and a team to solo-preneur has been a challenging part of this. Remembering that I don't have to do this alone and accepting help when it's offered has been one of my biggest learnings.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I was in a rotational management training program early in my career and was approached to make my next rotation in HR. I actually tried to say no, and ultimately agreed to "try it". I completed the rotation and moved into a leadership role permanently. I count myself so fortunate that I had a mentor who saw something in me that I hadn't connected with myself. Never left HR and was a leader from that point on.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

I am, by nature, differently structured and have learned to accept my difference as part of my super power. I am not the usual "early to rise" founder. That said, I start my day around 6:30. I start with some mindful exercise usually a visualization of what I want the day to include. I jump over to email, checking to see what I missed and then catch up on LinkedIn and Instagram feed. Usually, now it's game time.

Take care of the fur babies, grab some coffee and light breakfast while I reply to messages. From here, it looks different each day. Some days, I have virtual and in person coaching/consulting meetings that span the day. When I am "meeting light", I use this time to work on business development, marketing, social media content creation, reading and networking.

The pups give me a great excuse and an opportunity to take in some fresh air and sunshine during the day - a welcome break. Lunch is either at home in between meetings or with a client. I have clients on both coasts so some days I don't wrap up until 6 or 7 est.

Then dinner for the fur babies and me. Pilates, a walk, time with friends and family, an occasional date night are all options for my downtime. I start to wind down around 11 with my frenchie, carolina dog and kitten all snuggled up with me.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Coming from a mostly male dominated work environment, many women were more competitive than supportive. As a female entrepreneur I have seen a completely different side of working with other female business owners. This has been so refreshing and restored my faith in the way women can and do work together to lift each other up.

I have had women entrepreneurs open doors, gift me needed services, invite me to invaluable networking events, and talk about me and my work in ways that bring others to me as clients. I in turn have made a very conscious commitment to model this for other women who I coach, consult with and know.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton. I had the unique opportunity to meet and spend a day learning from Marcus Buckingham as part of bringing my former organization to the Fortune Top 100 Best Companies to Work for list. That learning and the work associated with Strengthsfinder has been transformational for me as a person and leader.

It has not only given me another language to speak as I lead and coach, but it has also given me the ability to deeply understand individuals and their needs. This ability has helped me develop and design my unique approach to coaching and consulting. One that is tied intimately to values and strengths. An approach where we put these into words to craft a "Personal True North Statement".

This becomes a guiding light for my clients to use as they navigate chaotic situations, and decisions or even to test alignment for what they say "yes" to. It's nothing short of powerful and exciting to see the clients light up when they build such a personal tie to their own values and driving strengths. A big part of my "WHY" (yes, I am also a Simon Sinek follower)

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Choose to be a leader because it truly aligns with your strengths. Not because someone says you need to do it. Not for status. Not because it's the "next step in your career". Not for money. Not for the title. Not because it's what your family or friends expect. Be a leader because you are so passionate about helping people contribute and achieve their own level of success.

Be a leader because you have the patience, ability, and desire to serve those you lead and do so with empathy, vision, purpose, and fun. People are complicated. They take energy and effort as a leader. I've seen too many leaders or high potentials take roles because of the wrong reasons.

These leaders are the ones who would end up in my office or as my clients unhappy, seeking something different and or frustrated. Be a leader because you genuinely like working with people and have the courage to stand up for your team when they need you.