Kirsten Hawkins got into equipment finance after spending time in the speech language pathology field. In 2019, ready for a fresh start, Hawkins joined SCJ Commercial Financial Services. After joining SCJ, Hawkins noticed a growing need for the company to have a marketing department, and in 2020, Hawkins launched that division as director of marketing.

In this role, Hawkins is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of marketing for SCJ. Using a combination of articles, podcasts, social media platforms and in-person networking and conference events, Hawkins has grown SCJ’s marketing department by 400%, created a national footprint in the equipment finance industry, launched a digital brand for SCJ and directly contributed to increased portfolio purchases — doing all of this in just three short years.

Hawkins says her keen attention to detail contributes to her fast-moving success. Whether it’s little details in a conversation or the minutia of a marketing campaign, Hawkins believes the littlest things end up having the biggest impact.

Hawkins says that while it’s possible to have a successful work-life balance, she doesn’t think it’s always an actual balance. Some days require more time and strategy and other days may require more attention and energy — and it looks different for everyone.

“My advice is to find what works for you and what works for your job,” Hawkins says. “Gone are the days where working moms couldn’t hold leadership roles. Technology has provided an opportunity for a person to be home with a sick child and still attend those weekly managers meeting. I believe there is a shift in the mindset of company leaders, and I think we will see more empathy, compassion and awareness towards work-life integration for both men and women throughout all company roles.”