Episode Details
Kelly Preston is the owner and CEO of Captial Steel and Wire. She has an extremely unique background. She is self-taught, has overcome some of life’s most difficult challenges, and has come out on the other side even stronger. Kelly is also involved in several non-profits. One closer to her heart is Ele’s Place, where she currently serves as a member of its statewide governing board.
Highlights
Looking for specific advice? Below is a list of the questions asked to Kelly Preston as well as the time where you can find them in the video posted above.
- 1:16 | Introduction to Kelly Prestion
- 7:20 | How did you prioritize your work-life balance?
- 9:53 | What does your work life look like?
- 12:07 | How do you put processes and systems in place to keep up with the growth that you're seeing?
- 15:21 | What does an excellent team member look like at your company?
- 17:23 | What setback have your experienced in your career? How did you overcome those?
- 21:23 | What would you say are your most successful habits?
- 24:08 | How important do you think emotional intelligence is as a leader?
- 28:15 | What are some of your top life principles?
- 30:44 | What is your approach to criticism?
- 31:52 | How do you have those challenging and difficult conversations?
Key Takeaways
Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and continuously seek new knowledge and skills. Be open to making mistakes and learning from them, as this is crucial for your personal and professional development. Self-education, resilience, and adaptability are key traits for overcoming obstacles and achieving success in any field.
Building a culture of trust and honesty is essential. Be transparent about challenges, openly communicate with your team members, and foster an environment where people feel safe to express themselves and take risks. By demonstrating vulnerability and humility, you can inspire confidence and loyalty in your team, which is crucial for navigating difficult times and sustaining long-term success.
Be open to people’s stories and feelings, understanding that everyone has personal challenges that affect their professional lives. By being empathetic and actively listening to your team members, you can create a supportive and inclusive work environment. This not only improves individual well-being but also enhances overall team performance and cohesion. Emotional intelligence allows you to connect with your team on a deeper level, making it easier to navigate difficult times and achieve long-term success.
Discussion Questions
Take a few minutes to reflect on what you’ve heard and create some actionable next steps items. Below are a few questions based on the episode to help get you started on your speed mentorship journey.
- In what ways can you integrate vulnerability and honesty into your leadership or personal relationships?
- How can you enhance your emotional intelligence to create a more supportive environment for yourself and those around you?
- Reflect on times you've faced adversity. How did you persevere and maintain focus on your goals?
About the Mentor
Kelly Preston is the owner and president of Capital Steel & Wire, an innovative manufacturer, distributor and supplier of steel bar and wire products. Capital Steel & Wire is celebrating 22 years as a leader in the steel and wire industry. The company currently employees three shifts of manufacturing staff in multiple facilities in Mason, Mich. and is headquartered in DeWitt.
In 2001, Kelly Preston established Capital Steel & Wire with her late husband, serving as chief financial officer for several years before taking the helm as company president in 2015.
Under Kelly’s leadership, Capital Steel & Wire has experienced significant business and financial growth. Capital Steel & Wire has received national certification for the past three years as a Women Owned Business by the WBENC and WOSB and is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries.
A member of several nonprofit organizations and other business groups, Kelly also serves on the Sparrow Health System Board. Ele’s Place, a healing center for grieving children and teens, also holds a place close to Kelly’s heart where she currently serves as a member of its statewide governing board.
Kelly was awarded the Capital Area Manufacturing Council’s top honor as Executive-of-the-Year in 2015, where she served as vice president for several years and is currently CAMC treasurer. Kelly was also recently appointed to the Executive Board for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Kelly is a co-founder of the Lansing W/E group for women entrepreneurs and also a member of the Lansing CEO Network. Kelly serves on LEAP, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership, and is an active member of the Downtown Development Authority of DeWitt.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Kelly resides in DeWitt and is the proud mom of three grown children.
