Kelly Kauffman, SVP for the Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Native, and HR Enthusiast  

How about this: a job where you go in every day  knowing that you work for a company that is potentially creating great, indelible memories for the entire population where you live?  Kelly Kauffman, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks team, does just that.  She knows that her daily work overseeing the staff of this huge basketball organization goes toward helping those workers create great evenings for the public — where the thrilled roar of the crowd, guilt-free snacking with stadium food (come one, it’s a night out!), and leaping to one’s feet is all part of the memory-making scenario.

Kauffman is an example of someone who felt that unmistakable “this is me” feeling when choosing her career: she has been working in HR since she was eighteen at firms such as Badger Meter, Racine Federated, and BRP.  Now at the Milwaukee Bucks, she has found the best of fits: she lists the people with whom she works as the favorite part of her job, and says that they all “have each other’s backs.”  She also notes the following: that if you love the company for which you work, that is all the motivation you need to get up in the morning; that she is naturally competitive (which seems appropriate for someone who works for a sports team); and that she gets great satisfaction from the tried-and-true (it works!) satisfaction of crossing things off  a to-do list.

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
I’m a Wisconsin native who is currently working my dream job!  I’m the head of Human Resources for the Milwaukee Bucks – my hometown team of which I’ve always been a fan.  On top of that, we are in the midst of building a new arena and entertainment district which will change the landscape of downtown Milwaukee.  To be part of a project of this scope is a dream come true. I’m also a mom of two amazing children – Lyle is 10 and Audrey is 7. Being able to have them share the experience of the excitement of my job takes everything to the next level.

What does a day in your shoes typically look like?
I don’t think that there is a typical day in HR or in professional sports!  One of the things that I love the most about my profession is the variety of work that I get to perform on a daily basis.  I can be part of a strategic planning session one minute, and assisting an employee with a problem the next.  The constant change keeps my skills sharp and keeps me very heavily involved in the business.

What 2-3 things do you do to prepare yourself before work, and is there anything you try to accomplish every day?
Every morning when I come into work, I sit down and write a list of my to-do items for the day.  I’m the kind of person who gets great satisfaction from crossing things off of a list.  I also like to check in with my team every morning. I think communication is so important, and if we know what each other is working on for the day, we can start off focused and move forward.

What is your breakfast of choice?
An English muffin with peanut butter and a cup of coffee.  I eat that every morning on my drive into Milwaukee.

What are your rituals or tips for staying energized and motivated?
The most important thing that I’ve found is to do something that you absolutely love. I’ve been extremely fortunate to work for some amazing corporations that are successful because they invest in their people.  If you are good at what you do and you love it, you will be energized naturally.

What is your favorite part about your job?
The people with whom I work.  I’m very fortunate to be part of an unbelievably supportive, collaborative and progressive company that is always looking to improve and be the best.  It is so motivating to be part of a team that always has one another’s backs, and who are truly the cream of the crop in their respective fields.

What and who inspires you at work?
I have the amazing opportunity to be able to work for an organization that sells experiences and memories to people; I remember going to Bucks games as a child with my family and now I get to see that experience through the eyes of my children. During school assignments this past year, both of my kids were asked to write what their favorite experience was with their mom.  Both said it was spending time with her at a Bucks game.  I know how powerful what we sell is for my family, and I enjoy seeing that in other families while I’m at work.

What is your favorite leisure activity after a stressful work week?
After a long week I definitely look forward to curling up on the couch and watching cooking shows with Lyle and Audrey.  We get into Chopped, Cupcake Wars, and any food competition show!

How does your culture/background influence your work?
I’ve been very fortunate throughout my career to be able to work for many different size companies in different industries.  That has served me well in my current job by providing the ability to see things from many different perspectives.  I think that sports, by nature, leads to attracting competitive personalities – a category into which I definitely fall!  I want to win – on and off the court – and I have the ability to drive HR in our organization to be successful.

What was your very first job?
My first job was a cashier at a KFC in my hometown. I absolutely loved that job – it taught me about the importance of customer service, training and working together as a team.

How many times have you changed your career direction?
Only once; I enrolled at Marquette University as a Biology major with the intent of moving on to dental school.  But at age 18 I started my first job in Human Resources for a metal fabrication shop in Oak Creek, WI.  I have loved and happily stayed in HR ever since.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I wouldn’t call it an obstacle, but a challenge.  When my son was born, I decided that I wanted to work a part-time schedule so that I could spend some time at home with him while he was young.  I had proven myself in my field and took it upon myself to work with my supervisor to put a mutually beneficial schedule in place that afforded me the opportunity to both spend time with my family and continue to grow in my career.

I worked part time for five years while my children were small.  It’s something that I appreciate and value having the opportunity to do every day, and I’m forever grateful to the companies that I worked for to provide me with that opportunity.  In the end, I worked very hard, proved that I could do both things and I put myself out there and asked for it.  It had never been done, but I showed them how it could be – very successfully. 

What are your most steadfast ‘don’ts’ rules regarding work and the workplace, and what are your most cherished ‘do’s’? 

Don’ts:
Don’t be inflexible.  In business we have such a great opportunity to try new things every day.  “That’s the way we’ve always done it” is my pet peeve.  There is always a chance to try new things and be open-minded.  You never know when the most off the wall idea turns into something amazing.

Do’s:
Do – ask!  Ask to participate in a project that interests you.  Ask to join an organization/charity/networking group that is important to you.  If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.

What are the most important qualities of a good leader?
For me, the most important qualities that a good leader possesses are the ability to listen, coach and lead by example.  I work for an unbelievable leader in Peter Feigin at the Milwaukee Bucks.  His enthusiasm and passion for his job is contagious.  It’s something that you want to be around, foster and have for yourself.  A passionate leader can take a company to unbelievable heights.

What are the unforgettable traits of role models who have inspired you most?
Drive, energy and enthusiasm.  

How have mentors impacted your personal and professional development?
I’ve had some great people from whom I have learned both personally and professionally. I think it’s always very important to listen.  Even if there may not seem like a correlation between an issue that you are having and what someone else may have gone through, it can be invaluable to hear how someone else handled a problem.  It’s great to have people who you connect with and whom you can bounce ideas off of.  I have my “go-to’s” whom I call for different issues – from my family to prior colleagues. 

What are three questions you like to ask during an interview to know if the candidate (or job) is the right fit?

• • • “Why are you the right person for this job?”
    • “What interests you about our organization?”
    • “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

I want to see drive, enthusiasm and interest.  One of the most challenging aspects of recruiting for a professional sports team is that you have to separate the fans from the people who value the job itself.  While the industry is so exciting and coveted, at the end of the day, my job is HR, Finance is still Finance, Legal is Legal, etc.  You have to love what you do, and look past the perceived glamor of the industry. 

Do you have a ‘Power Outfit’ that you wear for a big meeting or important work event?
 I don’t!  But if I do have an important event, I will typically splurge and buy something new.  A new outfit can give me a huge confidence boost. 

What advice would you give to women starting their careers?
The advice that I’d give to anyone starting their career is to try to find doing something that you love.  If you do try something and find out that it isn’t for you, it isn’t a failure, but a great opportunity to bring you closer to what you do really love.  Also, don’t be afraid to take a risk and make a mistake.  We all make mistakes on a daily basis, and it’s how we learn!  Without shooting for something – even something that you think is above your reach – you will never know if you would have been successful.  Take the risk, and give it a try.

What is your favorite quote you try and live by?
“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” by Maya Angelou.  As an HR professional – especially one who works in an industry that is driven by experiences and making memories – making my team, coworkers, family and friends feel good, important and loved is something that I strive for every day.