Lindsey Kilbride - Chief Growth Officer at 11 Honoré

@kilbridelindsey @11honore

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am a mom, wife, saleswoman and startup leader. My husband and I live in Michigan with our three little girls -- 4 year old twins and a 2 year old who rules the roost. I began my career with practical degrees in Engineering & Math :) then two years later fell into selling Mary Kay on the side and found my adventurechasing, entrepreneurial spirit. I left my consulting job to drive a Pink Cadillac full time in my early 20's, developed a passion for building and leading sales teams, and never looked back. The last 10+ years I've been fortunate to work on the front lines with several fashion startups, joining as one of the first few employees at Trunk Club, a personal styling service acquired by Nordstrom in 2014. I now lead the Client Services team for 11 Honoré, a size-inclusive designer site with a mission to break barriers in our industry and bring beautiful clothing to all women. We carry brands from DVF to Carolina Herrera in sizes 12-24, and are about to launch our own private label collection in June!

What makes you smile?

The greatest joy I am afforded these days is watching the women in my life find joy themselves. Whether that's my three daughters wandering our old farmhouse playing, learning new things and enjoying all of this family time (75 days and counting!) ... or the 10 women on our 11 Honoré styling team connecting with their clients, sharing beautiful clothing to build not only closets but also confidence ... the growth and resilience I've witnessed keeps me smiling even on the toughest days. 

What can we do to support others during this time?

I'm continually reminded of the importance of community during this time. Leaning on those who care about you, asking for help and offering it in return. Just yesterday I made a list of 177 women in my network to reach out to, share what is happening in my life and ask how we can better support one another through these uncertain times. Maybe we share a book or recipe recommendation, maybe we reminisce about an easier time, maybe (hopefully!) we find a way to connect our professional ambitions and help one another navigate these uncertain waters. One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- and now more than ever my mission is to ensure those in my life supported and encouraged by every interaction we have. 

What have you been doing? (Any tips/ advice for isolation)

I've gotten much better at determining what really matters, to prioritize the big stuff and let go of the little. A mentor of mine once told me to properly fill a jar (i.e. your day) put your rocks in first, then your pebbles, then your sand. My "rocks" these days? Professionally that's being present for my sales team, keeping them informed and inspired as best I can and pressing myself to constantly add new names to my list of prospects in order to set the example I need others to follow. Personally that's giving up on being perfect. We have a list up in our house of the most important things to do each day: play outside, exercise, cook food, read books, do crafts, relax. As long as all of those things happen in a day, I don't worry about the pebbles and sand right now.