Using my story and life experiences to help others grow their grit. Motivational speaking for schools, small businesses, large corporations and corporate events. Founder and writer for a weekly newsletter called "Growing Grit".

Motivational Speaker & Writer

Ramsey Solutions

• Led platform strategy for Ramsey Trusted consumer verticals, optimizing lead scoring for high-performing provider matches.
• Collaborated with senior tech leaders to modernize platform architecture, enhancing efficiency and scalability.
• Spearheaded migration from microservices to a domain-driven architecture, improving overall engineer experience.

Platform Product Manager

• Developed customer journeys connecting Dave Ramsey's content with service providers, scaling Ramsey Trusted to largest business unit.
• Led product discovery and iterative experimentation, achieving first $1M revenue month and 8-figure annual revenue.
• Doubled active business verticals by launching new matchmaking solutions based on high-value consumer needs.

Product Manager

• Shaped UX for core consumer products like Financial Peace University Online and Financial Coach Master Training.
• Transitioned into product leadership, owning cross-functional delivery of online learning and coaching tools.
• Co-led creation of Ramsey’s early design systems, improving developer efficiency by 30% and foundational work towards standardizing UX across flagship experiences.

Frontend Developer

Savi Technology

Brought on in a contract role to assist in releasing an entirely new version of their Savi Tracking web-based application. Collaborated with product owners and the development team in an Agile environment. Converted Flash-based user interface screens to modern front-end technologies, using Java, Spring MVC, JPA, HTML5, CSS and AngularJS.

Web Developer

Tempur Sealy International

Managed day-to-day front-end web development needs for Tempur-Pedic’s online presence, tempurpedic.com. Worked with copywriters and designers to implement online content for interactive product landing pages, ongoing and seasonal promotions, and online web forms. Collaborated with a large and diverse team to  design, develop and release an all new and innovated web presence in November 2013.

Web Development Consultant

Helping dads 10x their grit so they can grow it in their kids | Dad of 4 with dwarfism | Motivational Speaker | Software Engineer Turned Product Manager | Overcoming odds | Inspiring the world.

👋 Hi, my name is Kris. 

I am 4’5’’ tall, and was born with dwarfism.

Doctors told my parents I would never make it.

After I survived, doctors then told my mom to place me into an institution because I’d never walk, talk, or live a “normal” life.

As you are figuring out, it didn’t turn out that way.

“Challenge accepted” has been my mantra.

So has a faith in God and His ability to help me through anything.

That has led me to …

→ Recovering from 20+ surgeries all under the age of 20
→ Graduating high school in 2001
→ Going to college
→ Teaching myself how to design, code and media production
→ Starting multiple small businesses
→ Building a career in tech as a developer and now a product manager
→ Getting married
→ Having 4 kids, 2 with dwarfism

Maybe the doctors were right about one thing, after all.

My life is far from “normal”.

And I am 💯 percent here for it.

You might say I have quite the story.

So do you.

That’s why earlier this year I decided to start sharing my story via #linkedin, one-on-one conversations, and public speaking.

Not for my own gain, but to inspire you to face and share your own stories.

Because that’s the first step to building self-confidence and the life you want.

If you like what you’re reading, be sure to follow and even drop me a DM.

Hope this encourages you to push through whatever you are facing right now.

Kris Hammons

Mckayla Grace

I'm an email strategist and copywriter who helps brands tap into the power of email marketing to connect with their subscribers, build long-term relationships, and make sales.

Email Strategist and Copywriter

Octave Smartcare

1. Strategic recruitment, hiring, and retention
2. Optimize the use of people analytics software to manage talent
3. Conduct executive coaching and leadership training
4. Develop and implement compensation strategy and planning
5. Working with the Senior Management Team to lead the development of the company culture across the organization to ensure the achievement of the Corporate Plan.
6. Develop, implement and continuously improve employee engagement, talent management, and employee relations to maximize individual performance, effectively balancing the needs of the individual and the organization, while managing risk.
7. Strategic and operational use of employee information, and related systems, to maximize resource efficiency, including for talent management and cost control.
8. Implement initiatives to establish, promote and raise the profile of Octave Health Care as an employer of choice
9. Develop People Policy, and related systems and practice, that support the culture, reflect the mission and values and are fully implemented and adhered to at all times.
10. Develop measures across the organization which enable the Senior Management team to monitor the impact of our people strategies and identify where attention may need to be focused at a strategic level in order to best support delivery of our mission and vision.
11. Develop, monitor, and regularly report on key People Performance Indicators, management processes and compliance frameworks within areas of responsibility and take action to achieve improved service delivery and business objectives whilst appropriately controlling and mitigating risk.
12. Ensure that any risks associated with the People function are communicated and managed appropriately and effectively.

Head of People

Ifitness Centre Ltd

• Prepare and implement learning strategies and programs for staff members in line with organizational focus
• Defined and executed the recruitment process, as well as the strategic workforce planning for the organization
• Build relationships with external parties and identify new channels of recruiting ideal candidates
• Development of Company policies in alignment with legislative trends and developments
• Develop employee engagement initiatives to improve staff productivity and effectiveness
• Handle Disciplinary Committee issues
• Collect feedback from customers and treat accordingly
• Development and implementation of new HR related programs or changes to existing programs and processes
• Creation and management of e-learning courses
• Lead the continuous improvement of Talent Acquisition and Management processes
• Ensure HR policies, procedures, metrics, etc. support the financial metrics critical for the organization’s profitability

Human Resources and Customer Engagement

Skye Bank Plc

•  Manage a portfolio of over N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) which comprises of more than 3,000 Retail and High Net-worth customers.
• Develop new relationships with retail and high net worth customers.
• Provide financial advisory services.

Relationship Manager

• Oversee the recruitment of entry-level staff, bank-wide.
• Manage a recruitment budget of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira only) for the recruitment of entry-level staff, bank-wide.
• Implement the Bank’s strategic workforce planning strategy for two directorates:
     - Victoria Island, Lagos Island and the Ikoyi Regional Directorates.
     - Southwest Regional Directorates including Osun, Oyo, Ilorin, Ogun, and Ondo/Ekiti.
• Oversee recruitment of staff for the two directorates.
• Interview candidates.

Human Resources Business Partner

• Conduct different training programs for staff members in different regions of the bank.
• Manage bank-wide training programs.
• Establish new training programs.
• Organize logistics for training facilitators and participants.
• Generate reports.
• Manage a training budget of over N700,000,000.00 (Seven Hundred Million Naira only) for contract staff and permanent staff.

Skye Business School (out of state)
• Oversee a 3-member team and ensure smooth daily operations of the business school.
• Manage the logistics of training programs.
• Examine and select the facilitators and consultants.
• Direct the residential training programs.
• Implement multiple training programs.
• Design and create the curriculum.
• Manage a training school budget of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira).

Lead Training Coordinator

• Manage a cash level of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira only) for the branch (Naira & Foreign Exchange); 
• Manage cash and ATM GLs.
• Treat customer requests and resolve complaints.

Cash Officer

• Ensure the effective implementation of bank-wide policies.
• Ensure compliance of team members to the bank’s service charter.
• Handle escalated requests, complaints, and customer issues.
• Direct training programs for Operations unit staff members.
• Evaluate and appraise staff performance in customer service and cash and tellering units.

Head Customer Service

• Receive and resolve customer complaints, requests, and inquiries ensuring that issues are resolved within the service level agreement.
• Interact with various departments to resolve/complete customers’ issues or transactions.

Customer Service Officer

• Build and maintain relationships with Nigerian customers living in the diaspora
• Provide financial advisory services to the targeted customers.
• Resolve complaints

Marketing Officer, Global Business Development Group

In the desolate landscape of the business world, your brand battles against the forces that stand against its profitability and prevent it from supporting the mission for which it was created. 

Your business is no ordinary one. It was forged from blood, sweat, and tears to lead with heart and drive social impact. 

But you underestimated the treacherous business terrain, the fierceness of your competitors’ tactics, and the determination of the powers that be to destroy your brand and our world. 

All you wanted to do was provide a service in a unique way to support the mission you’re passionate about, which helps make our world a better place.

If you think I’m laying it on a bit thick with the superhero theme, you’d be right. But it’s not because I’m a huge comic book geek. I have a healthy, adult-appropriate appreciation for comics. 

What I am a fan of, though, is businesses that are mission-driven, heart-led, or dedicated to making a social impact. They are the real superheroes.

You see, our world is in trouble. Now more than ever, we need people to stand in the gap against the forces trying to destroy us. 

But the fight to save our world is impossible for one person alone to win. The odds are simply too high and stacked against us. We need to unite our forces and work together. 

Our shot at victory will only succeed if everyone functions in their zone of genius. Mine is email strategy and copywriting.

But I am not the main character in this epic battle. You and your business are.

Think of me as the Alfred Pennyworth to your Batman. I’m the intelligence specialist who helps you use strategic email marketing to
 
 - Connect with your true fans
 - Build long-term relationships
 - Drive profits

I provide you with the support you need so your business can be profitable and grow. This enables you to focus on your fight to defend Gotham City and accomplish the mission.

In the words of Batman, “I chose McKayla because I wanted to work with someone passionate about purpose-driven businesses who had a positive and creative mindset…With a tight turnaround, McKayla met my needs every step of the way, from getting a thorough understanding of the business needs to delivering on time with copy beyond expectations.”

I’m sorry, Batman didn’t say that. My client, Rananda Rich of the Ink Rat, did. Oops…my mistake.

This is what Bruce Wayne/Batman said, "A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended."

taplio

The Battle

Kris Hammons

Sinmi Mckayla Afolayan

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