Q&A with Kelsey Creveling
Who is Kelsey Creveling?
She’s the CEO and Founder of her own company, KelsC. Consulting. But how did she get there? What challenges did she face along the way? What were some of her informative experiences in high school like? Keep reading to find out.
What's your story?
Former HS Cheerleader, turned HIT Consultant, turned Entrepreneur
If you were talking to your younger self, what are some things you would share?
● Don't worry about being cool or fitting in, you will lose yourself in the process.
● Be perfectly true to who you are, follow what motivates and excites you, and pursue it
fully. While difficult because it's really hard in the reality of school to feel like you don't
fit, or like you are different. It's not fun being left out of parties or opportunities. But by
trying to conform, you'll lose what makes you unique and special.
● High School is a small pond, even just a few years later it will feel like a world away.
Don't live for HS or make decisions based on that time in your life. You don't want those
to be the best years of your life that you live the rest of your life looking back on.
● Get the most out of your education, remember that being knowledgeable and capable and
able to take care of yourself successfully is actually what's really cool.
● Don't worry. Everything will work out the way that it is meant to, as long as you work
hard and do your best and trust that it will.
● Always be kind. Always, and to everyone. Each and every person has their own
challenges that they are facing and handling, that you know nothing about.
● Approach everyone with compassion and understanding. Wear sunscreen. Drugs, alcohol, TV, dramatic relationships - none of it is actually cool... it's all just meant to take
your attention away / distract you from what you're really supposed to be focusing on.
Substances and addictions make it easier to exist in a reality where you aren't being your
true / best self - so be true to yourself, and you won't need any of it.
What are some memorable moments or things from your past?
● 6th grade, performing on stage at an off-Broadway theatre - got to go to NYC for an
acting workshop.
● Obtaining my Private Pilot's License.
● Running my first marathon, and then running my second one much more successfully!
● College Graduation.
● Getting my first real promotion when I was at a management consulting firm.
● Buying my first home, after working to get out from under a mountain of debt.
What was your family dynamic like?
Traditional - Parent's just celebrated 40 years of marriage. Younger sister (5.5 years) - we weren't friends until I left for College / went on to my first job because of the age discrepancy. I was an only child for a long time, and I resented her for being born, and taking my spotlight - we're friends now, but it took a while.
What kind of neighborhood did you grow up in?
Small town - a safe, but small pond - everyone knew everyone, with lots of 'big fish' who had never experienced anything else.
What are some events that transformed your childhood or adolescence? (Turning points, game changers, etc.)
I think there's a few - not all from adolescence - that have brought me to where I am now.
Getting through adolescence doesn't mean you have everything figured out and that it will all
be easy moving forward. You will continue to face challenges that will test your resolve.
● In 8th grade I had a terrible Choir teacher - who said really horrible things to me. As a
result I gave up singing, and only now I've realized that was when I gave up my literal
and figurative voice - I started working really hard to fit in, to be popular, because clearly
I wasn't good enough as I was, and what I loved doing back then (which was acting,
singing, ballet, I played the flute) wasn't worthwhile. Around the same time some girls
that I was in cheerleading with were really mean - I vividly remember not being invited
to specific events and party's that everyone else was included in - and spending hours
crying - not understanding why I wasn't wanted.
As a result, I started prioritizing popularity over what actually brought me joy. I made
sure I was popular once I got to HS, even though it meant being friends with the mean
girls, and dumbing down my intelligence and capabilities, because tolerating that was
better than feeling like an outsider.
At that age, and at my school it wasn't considered cool to be smart, capable, creative, and
talented - it was 'cool' to be a cheerleader, and party - and I was quite good at both.
● In 9th grade there was a kid in one of my classes who was discussing suicide and his
recent attempts at his life with another classmate. I overheard and interjected - with
something along the lines - What? you want to kill yourself? Stop it, that's not ok. The
prior year two freshmen had taken their lives which really rocked the community, as a
result I felt obligated to talk with my teacher about the incident, and they had me report
it to the school counselor. I didn't disclose the incident to anyone else, but the student I'd
reported felt the need to tell everyone - and I dealt with hell from all his friends telling
me how I knew nothing about what was going on, and how they were his friends and
they were handling it - my response at the time was simple - you're a kid, you have no
idea how to handle this. If you were really his friend, you'd have gotten him actual help. Fortunately, the school did get him the help he needed, and he's now gone on to lead a
successful life. As a kid, you have to know that there are a lot of things out side of your
control that you aren't equipped to deal with, and that it's ok to ask for help, or to get
your friends the help that they may need. It's worth the temporary bullying to save
someone's life. Interestingly enough, I've actually been in similar situations several other
times through the years where I've had to get people mental health support and assistance
due to suicide threats or attempts, and with the right help each of those people has been
able to move forward.
● My first job out of college was not what I expected, the role was completely
misrepresented, and I had the very tough decision of electing to leave before I had
anything else lined up - this was '08 when no one was hiring. Here I was, I'd graduated
college in 2 years with a 3.7+ from Texas A&M University's Business School and I
didn't have a job. But, that's when I found yoga, which was the start of a 10+ year trek towards learning to find peace and acceptance amidst all the stress and external
pressures. I soon found what I consider to be my first real job out of college at Epic - the
healthcare software company in Madison, WI and I moved cross country to effectively
start a new life. Working at Epic was the first time I'd found myself surrounded by other
really intelligent, diverse peers - and it was incredibly motivating - to have a job that was
challenging, where I had to work my absolute hardest to be successful - that was new,
and working there launched my career and all the opportunities I've had since.
● About 18 months ago, I went through a life altering personal trauma due to other's
actions that destroyed every part of my life - my marriage, my home, my career, my
finances, my future. While I do not wish such an experience on anyone, it forced me to
face life with a blank slate with the ability to create a future I'm proud of, that is
authentically mine. I had to start over from less than scratch and as a result I've launched
two businesses, landed multiple new clients, purchased my first home, and worked to
create a future I'm proud of.
Did you have mentors or role models? Who were they? What did they mean to you? How did they help you?
I generally find most mortals fall short, and while there are certain traits or accomplishments
I would like to emulate, there's not anyone specifically I have as a mentor. I prefer the
teachings of Epictetus who Marcus Aurelius studied. Following a stoic philosophy provides a
refreshingly clear path forward that is unburdened by the actions of others.
I do however like to follow Tim Ferris & Brene’ Brown – their thought processes are very
insightful, and I like their mindset.
Were there any key points in your life that you gained valuable knowledge from that you would like to share?
● Do your best - but make sure your efforts are focused.
● Recognize everyone will have a different perspective, and everyone's actions are a result
of their circumstances - don't let those other opinions or actions dissuade you from what
you know to be right, good and true for you.
● Trust that what is meant to be will be.
● As long as you are doing your best, and your actions are in alignment with your beliefs
and what you know to be right, you have to have faith. We know when we aren't making
the best decisions for ourselves, when we are doing less than we can or should be.
● The best success is on the other side of fear, and challenge. And often what we are most
afraid of doing because it seems hard, is actually what we need to be pursuing.
Any other things you want to share?
● I'm currently learning to play the piano and speak Spanish - both things that are really
difficult for me (it's hard to make time, and it's hard to learn - and I don't like doing things
that I'm not good at.... so, it's a lot of work to make it a priority and keep my practice
consistent).
● I'm also learning to cook - after a decade of travel for work, it was never a priority as I was
never home. But I travel less now, and am really enjoying being in complete control of the
food I eat - because food brings joy and is literally the best way we can take care of our
health - it's really rewarding to be able to feed yourself, and decide what you'll eat.
● I love fashion, and for a while thought I'd end up in that industry. Instead I found my way to
healthcare IT consulting but have now recently launched a new venture focused on providing
wardrobe guidance and attire inspiration for the professional's lifestyle. So, I'm still able to
combine what I love, with what I've built a career doing, while at the same time using both
skills to help others - which is what I'm most excited about.
● I love to ski and hike, and really enjoy the outdoors- which is what prompted my move to
Park City, UT. Living somewhere where the outdoors are easily accessible helps promote a
positive work life balance which is really important when traveling and working long hours.
● I have a black lab named River - he's my best friend and constant companion.
How do you define success?
To me success is freedom. The freedom to live unbeholden to anyone else's ideals of success,
their judgments, or expectations. Being able to be truly free, where you are creating your
own future and are excited about the path is incredibly exciting. It's a difficult place to get to,
because of how we are socialized as a culture, and because others don't like it when you stop
being impacted by their opinions. But at the end of the day, if you aren't living for yourself,
then why are you here? We were each given unique skills and capabilities - and if we aren't
using them, then we are wasting those gifts. This form of success manifests in a joy of
getting out of bed each morning, excited about what the day is going to bring. It's a new way
of looking at everything - instead of facing your to-do list begrudgingly with all the things
you have to do, it's changing your mindset to how happy you are that you get to do these
things - thankful for a home to clean, or laundry to do because you are grateful for a home to
live in or clothing to wear. Work to do? Ugh so much work vs. wow - look how much l'm
learning and accomplishing, I'm grateful to have knowledge that I get to obtain, and a job to
learn from and contribute to. Life is about a change in mindset - from pessimism to
positivity, from a place of scarcity (Brene’ Brown discusses this a ton - and her words ring
very true) to one of abundance. If you believe you already have everything you need, and
you only need what you already have - then it becomes easy to be grateful for what you have
because it is all that you require to move forward and be successful.
Like what you just read? Click here to listen to Kelsey's podcast.
