50 Leading Women: Kristen Lollar

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Kristen Lollar, Chief Marketing Office for Whitley Penn. Kristen has been with the firm since 2012 and has played an integral role in overall growth and success. Kristen serves on the firm’s Innovation Council, which strives to bring new ideas for advancement and efficiency to the firm and has been at the forefront of many firmwide achievements. She is most known for her mentorship inside and out side of Whitley Penn.

She continues to pour into the next generation of leaders by serving as a mentor through the American Marketing Association’s DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) Mentor Program for young professionals.  She is a member of the Association of Accounting Marketing (AAM) and is involved with the organization’s Major Growth Firms Group and the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee. Kristen serves on the Advisory Board for the Boomer Consulting Marketing Circle while simultaneously serving on the North America Marketing and Marketing Committee for HLB International. In the community, Kristen serves on the Board of Directors for the Plano Chamber of Commerce.

1. Do you remember your first time attending one of our Women’s Division events? Tell us about that experience and what made you want to come back.

 I attended my first Plano Chamber Women’s Division event years ago. From the moment I entered through the doors, I knew I was in the right place from immediately feeling welcomed by all and connected to those around me. The diverse community, anywhere from age, level of experience, industry, and more, allowed me to meet influential people while broadening my network in the community by just one encounter. The programming at each event has also been the reason I continue to come back. It has continued to stay relevant, timely, and educational for the Plano community. The opportunities each event provides to network and immediately feel connected is what drives my will to stay involved.

2. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others

I tend to lean more in the direction of being a hands-off leader, allowing my team to take the lead on projects and capitalize on the entrepreneurial spirit we foster at Whitley Penn. Giving them opportunities to own their individual roles allows each team member to grow and develop valuable professional skills. Through these opportunities, their confidence grows, they are exposed to new perspectives, and their communication skills develop further. This style allows for each person’s individual impact on the team to be showcased because they have been given the opportunity to put their vision into action and to build trust within working relationships.

3. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

As a woman who has worked in male dominated industries my entire career, I can confidently say, take every opportunity to raise your hand and volunteer for projects and experiences. There’s no better way to develop your leadership skills in the workplace than to get involved, network with others, take that leap of faith and get outside of your comfort zone. You will meet people along the way who can help guide, teach, and shape impactful leadership skills that you will carry with you in every situation. That experience will empower you to have a voice, speak up, and fight for your desires. Another piece of advice that I would offer is to adapt a lifestyle of learning. The more you can educate yourself and, in turn, educate others through mentorship, the more you as a person will grow while promoting others  along the way.

4. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader?

 Some of the most important decisions I make include  choosing what is in the best interest of my team members, their careers, and the firm at large. While a solution may not be what I would choose personally, I am challenged constantly to see beyond the individual, and to champion and support the decisions that ultimately are for the greater good. This focus ensures that my team members continue to  grow, excel, and spread their wings outside of their comfort zones.

5. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?

 I find great joy in watching the people who I have had the opportunity to help mentor through the years, grow and develop to their full potential. Being a steppingstone in their career path and having the opportunity to play a role in their progress has been and continues to be extremely rewarding. I have learned many applicable lessons along the way and have seen my investment in others come to life.

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?

 Starting out simple with a defined program for each organization to promote inclusion in the workplace that continues to be modified as your company grows and becomes more educated on the topic of inclusion. Individually, each person can expand their thoughts and understanding of inclusion beyond basic diversity characteristics and reach to think in terms of equity, equality and growth for all. Fostering that sense of belonging will be three-fold. People who feel included will invest more of their time, their talent, and their treasures into the organization.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

 Enjoy the moment. When I was around this age, I was too hard on myself and pushed myself beyond what was physically and mentally healthy. I learned that if you don’t keep your tank filled and invest in your health, you can’t properly and effectively invest in others. Instead, take it one day at a time and give each day your all. We all have good days and bad days, so give yourself some grace and surround yourself with people who lift you up and not people who only take from you.

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?

 Find someone to mentor you in every walk of life. In the business profession, partner with someone who can teach and guide you through the nuances of every organization. Find someone through a professional organization who can help you with community involvement and expanding your network. In turn, recognize a need for you to mentor others in those opportunities as well. These relationships will blossom over time and bring enriching experiences to both the mentor and mentee.

9. Who inspired you and why?

 Throughout my life, I have been grateful enough to have had so many inspirational people make an impact on me. However, the one who stands out the most to me was my grandmother. She was the hardest worker I knew, retiring at the age of 91, all while making time for her family, staying involved in her community, and constantly striving for excellence. In her later working years when people would ask her when she would retire, she would respond, “If you lived through the great depression, you would work until the day you die.” That stuck with me. She was a two-time cancer survivor and brought her determination, drive, and positive attitude to each treatment and surgery she had. She touched many lives, and I am so fortunate to have received many great characteristics from her.

10. What do you want to be remembered for?

 People are always remembered by their character, and you decide what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. Life is so much about the relationships you make and the experiences that you have, so I hope the relationships and experiences that people have had with me will be remembered in a positive light; that I was able to guide, support, and help grow each person that came into my life.