Wise Women Wednesday: Kelli Stennett
Q. Who are you? What is your background?
A. I have so many titles but the one for this feature is Cofounder and CEO of 9th Floor Solutions, LLC. I have worked in the technology field my entire career working for fortune 100 companies, managing teams of 100+ people at a time and managing millions of dollars. I stepped out and started believing I could do it for myself, hence the start of 9th Floor Solutions.
Q. What is your work?
A. I match personnel with companies needing interim Chief Information Officers or Chief Technology Officers, or on demand IT support. Most businesses can’t afford paying a C suite officer and we fulfill that need. I also help companies make large strategic purchase decisions in order to increase the clients revenue.
Q. What is one project you are excited to be working on right now?
A. 9th Floor Solutions is overhauling all of a client’s hardware and software our client has. company uses. We completed an inventory and audit for them late 2018, made recommendations on how to lower their technology costs, increase revenue and they hired us to complete the job!
Q. What is one thing you've done recently that's scared you and took courage, but you're glad you did?
A. I applied for capital to grow my business. Starting third quarter 2018 we usually worked with other vendors to fulfill purchases but now we are working to be a prime supplier and deliver on demand IT support for our clients. Asking for money can be scary but we did it.
Q. What is the work you most want to be doing and are you doing it? If not why not what's stopping you?
A. I want to help more women get the interim or fractional CIO or CTO opportunities. At this time I have not found women interested in fulfilling the opportunities and I think that’s because we are such a new company most people just don’t know we exist.
Q. What would you tell your high school or college self?
A. If it scares you, you are on the right path. Easy is not fulfilling. Keep going, stop self doubting and just keep working on the path.
Q. What's one piece of advice or motto you love and use in your daily life that you would like to share with my sweet readers?
A. Appreciate who you are at every stage. I have to constantly remind myself of this. Take time to be with those that love you the most. Not followers or fans, but loved ones.
Q. What keeps you creating when you don't feel like it?
A. Knowing my children are watching me. I always tell them that can’t is a bad word and once you say it your brain shuts down. This means I can’t say can’t.
Q. Anything else you'd like to share?
A. My career has been one where people think I shouldn’t have been in the room because of what I looked like or/and that I am a women. I couldn’t change those things. But the one thing I have done is not to focus on stereotypes and focus on delivering quality and excellence whether it be as an employee, entrepreneur and even as a volunteer. No one can deny humble intelligence. I encourage others to make people feel important because, I know I couldn’t have accomplished projects in technology and gotten to where I am without great people.
Q. What's your favorite yoga pose?
A. Prayer twist yoga pose. I love praying and my hips and back feel so much better after I hold that position and breathe deeply. It fits me.
Q. How do you live a life of abundance?
A. Thank people often and give more than you receive. Then more will continue to come back to you in the best ways to feed your soul abundantly.
