Kristin McClement is the head of brand connections for maurices. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked McClement a series of questions about both her professional and personal lives, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more, so that you can get to know her better.

  1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently? 
    There are two I’ve read recently that I love — “Super Attractor” by Gabrielle Bernstein and “Living Fully” by Mallory Ervin.
  2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
    Keep the communication flowing. I encourage my team to celebrate small wins, share positive customer feedback on social media, and give kudos to one another in the moment.
  3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
    I didn’t fully understand the importance of every relationship I made throughout the early stages of my career. Of course, today, I strongly believe that networking and building relationships are key to career growth.
  4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
    Having patience. Working in retail, especially in PR and social media, it’s often hard to slow down to teach, share the “why,” and remind oneself that everyone is on a different level of learning.
  5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
    Celebrate the little wins. Recognize their hard work in front of others and give them credit on the things they’re doing to help the team and company succeed.
  6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
    I recognize this may sound odd, but Taylor Swift inspires me right now. She encourages people to never give up and do what makes them happy. She’s filled with feminism, and her song lyrics are incredibly thought out, while telling a story of bravery.
  7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
    I’m looking forward to seeing how brand partnerships evolve. I’m also curious about the evolution of the metaverse and creating experiences on platforms such as Roblox to build awareness, engagement and loyalty. I find it interesting.
  8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
    The ambition they have to achieve success — as defined by themselves.
  9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
    I learned to give myself grace. I recognized that feeling burnt out doesn’t mean that I’m not good at what I do.
  10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    I’ve actually been listening to a lot of MasterClass lessons, which has slowed my podcast listening. Some of my favorites on MasterClass include Elaine Welteroth, Robin Arzon, Sara Blakely, and Matthew Walker. I’m constantly looking for ways to learn and grow.
  11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Transparency, trust, empathy, authenticity and appreciation
  12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I’m available to mentor. I gain so much gratitude from mentoring others.
  13. What’s one habit you adopted while working from home that you kept/would like to keep?
    Stepping away from my computer (not in a meeting) to recharge my mind for at least 20 minutes a day.
  14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    There are few debates in my own mind that aren’t settled by assuming the best possible outcome over the worst.
  15. What’s your favorite app?
    Right now, it’s Audible. I’ve been listening to a lot of books while enjoying walks outdoors.
  16. What do you do to recharge?
    I meditate, take walks outside, and listen to audio books.
  17. What’s your biggest accomplishment?
    I’m grateful for all the accomplishments I’ve experienced throughout my career. Early on in my career, I had the pleasure of being part of the team that brought Saks Fifth Avenue’s 10022-SHOE to life on 5th Ave in New York City. Most recently, I’ve experienced great accomplishments by helping unknown brands build their awareness, drive traffic and result in conversion through modern day PR tactics, including social media and influencer marketing efforts.
  18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Find a mentor. Mentors can be a great asset for your personal and professional growth. After they understand your skills and abilities, they will challenge you to test yourself and provide feedback on ways to improve.
  19. What gets you up in the morning?
    My sweet (and crazy) German Shepherd puppy, Luna Reign 😉 And the gratitude to be given another day.
  20. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail Leadership Circle?
    I love the networking possibilities as a member of Women in Retail — the inspiration I gain from others that leads to motivation to continue to grow my career.

Interested in connecting with women like Kristin? Apply today to become a Women in Retail Leadership Circle member!