Speaking

I have had the opportunity to work with Kris in my role as a Career Coach for graduate students and alums at Washington University’s Olin School of Business. I have invited Kris to present to our MBA students on many occasions, given she is an excellent speaker and credible resource. She effortlessly commands the room and handles the discussion and questions from the students with enthusiasm and empathy.  Kris has spoken on a number of career topics that were well received including interviewing, managing career fairs, understanding the employment market and making the most of their internship. A consummate professional and impactful speaker who is always willing to pass on her extensive knowledge, Kris’ contributions have been highly valued by me and her job seeking audiences.

Kris came to our school and gave a presentation on Networking to our sophomore class for a career awareness day. Her presentation was informative and enlightening for our students. Kris is an engaging and interactive presenter, and the students reacted positively to both her style and her content.

As I listened to Kris’ approach, I was blown away. Kris shines as both a speaker and an industry expert. She was able to present high-level content in a captivating and thought-provoking way. Her methods of candidate preparation were unique yet genuine. The goal of any conference or presentation is to come away with a few actionable items that can be immediately implemented. I was able to quickly put some of Kris’ tips to use in the days that followed her presentation. Candidates immediately complimented the thoroughness of my prep calls. They said that the input I provided to them made the difference in them advancing to the next level of the interview process.

Kris Holmes helped me greatly in two situations. We had an outstanding senior resident that was applying for additional training and would be interviewing multiple times at 10-12 programs. She had previously been limited in opportunities by poor interview skills that did not appropriately demonstrate her talents. Kris coached her over several sessions and the candidate obtained her first-choice position and credited Kris for her success. After that I engaged Kris in interview training for our Washington University 4th year medical students to aid them in obtaining their post graduate training. They all found her tips and tricks extremely valuable in the process which typically entails 5-10 interviews at 15-20 programs. Kris made a significant impact upon their careers.

Each year Kris presents to my AP Economics class during our “Roadmap to the Future” unit and each year my students rate her as their favorite outside speaker. It’s no surprise: She knows her topics inside and out – she’s been a leader in recruiting world for over 20 years. She knows her audience and easily connects – as a mother of three high-achieving kids aged 21 to 30, she is totally at ease connecting with everyone from young adults at the early stages of their careers to veterans. She shares real world examples from her years as both a recruiter and as a marketer – to paraphrase Farmers Insurance: she knows a thing or two because she’s seen a thing or two. You will love having Kris speak to your group!