Growing up in a family business prepared me for success in a way I couldn’t have imagined at the time. I started working about the time I learned to walk and never looked back. Anyone who grew up in a family business knows that’s not far from the truth. A strong work ethic, accountability, and integrity weren’t things we talked about; they were simply expected. Working in a 27-door department store chain gave me an opportunity to learn every aspect of the business including in accounting, sales, buying, merchandizing, and opening and closing stores. As a family, we learned to be flexible because providing an outstanding customer experience was our top priority. That may have meant staying late help a customer with a last-minute need or eating Thanksgiving dinner early so we could all go to the store to decorate for Christmas.
I fell in love with psychology while getting my business degree and my career path took a sharp turn. I was curious about what made people tick and my psychology classes ignited a passion to understanding people and help them make meaningful changes in their lives. I spent six years studying people as I got my doctoral degree in psychology and then my business roots pulled me back in.
By the time my dad approached me about joining Klassen Performance Group in 1995, he had been helping leaders and companies succeed for five years. I realized that I didn’t need to work clinically with people to have the impact I wanted to have, and I joined the team. My psychology background and experience were invaluable in developing results-focused courses for individuals and teams that enabled them to make meaningful, lasting results.
I became President in 2013 and continue to use my psychology background to help individuals and teams identify how to be more effective in their current roles, prepare them for their next role, or help them get the results they need through their teams. I prepare for every session with the goal of hearing people say that the experience was beyond their expectations and that it will change them forever.
I work with companies all over the country across industries. The variety of people, industries, and regions ensures that I am constantly exposed to new perspectives and learning new things that make me more effective. I work hard to create an environment that challenges people to look at things from a different perspective and engage all participants. The workshops and courses I facilitate are interactive, personalized, and focused on practical application. Participants engage in meaningful discussions, practice new skills, and leave with practical ways to immediately apply what they learned.