Growing up as the third generation of Klassen Performance Group, concepts like building strength around influence, leadership, and emotional intelligence were frequent and natural topics in our home. From an early age, I learned the value and importance of empathy, listening, and adapting to different communication styles.
These early and deeply ingrained lessons, along with the entrepreneurial spirit our family encouraged and fostered, became the lens I viewed the world through. It gave me the confidence and skills I needed to begin my entrepreneurial journey at 15 when my younger brother and I created and ran a neighborhood kids’ camp. The experience of building a client base, developing a curriculum that helped kids develop interpersonal skills, and overcoming countless challenges gave me a perfect foundation for what I do today. Volunteering with a therapeutic art group for teenagers and mentoring teenage girls helped me polish those skills.
Attending St. Olaf for a Bachelor’s in psychology gave me a solid understanding of the theory and research underlying the skills I now help others develop. After three years of expanding and building on those skills, I had the opportunity to participate in a psychological internship in Denmark. That internship allowed me to work with a diverse group of people and get exposure to ideas and experiences I wouldn’t have in any other environment. It solidified my belief in the importance of meeting people where they are and listening as the first step to making any change.
While working on my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, I found another opportunity to work clinically and build on the skills I developed in Denmark. I worked with people with challenges like addiction, stress, interpersonal issues, and mental illness. I learned the value of diversity in overcoming challenges. Diverse experiences and backgrounds multiply the resources and ideas available and lead to more creative solutions.
Today, as an active member of Klassen Performance Group, I bring a perspective from the millennial generation to a company that has built an exceptional reputation and enjoyed success for over 30 years. I’m proud to be involved in developing the online expansion of our current courses and spearheading our initiative to provide career-changing content and coaching for emerging leaders.