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

LesliesHopeLLC

Keynote speaker with a strong emphasis on Men’s Mental Health and preventing Military Suicide.

Keynote Speaker

Oaklawn Psychiatric Center

Providing Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Education throughout Elkhart and St. Joseph County.  Public Speaker and Mental Health Youth Advocate.  Partnering with The Oaklawn Foundation to implement The Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program in Public and Private Schools.

Suicide Prevention Specialist

Interra Credit Union

Designs, develops and maintains the recruitment process in the credit union space.  Responsible for actively developing recruitment strategies including talent pools and appropriate networks.  Works with the VP of Human Resources to create new resources to attract top talent for one of the fastest growing credit unions in the nation.  Specializing in upper level financial search.

Talent Acquisition Manager

OSOLO OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE INC

Marketing Manager for the former Osolo Occupational Medical Clinic in Goshen, IN.  Responsible for negotiating all Occupational Health Services for over 700 manufacturing accounts.

Marketing Manager

ThinkingAhead Executive Search

Statistical Recruiter for new drug development in the pharmaceutical industry for 6 years.  The primary focus was on PhD level Biostatisticians and SAS programmers.  Achieved President's Club level status during my first year and went from contingent to retained search assignments within 3 years.

Statistical Recruiter

After losing our only son to suicide at the age of 20 years old, I decided to share our story to prevent any other family from knowing our loss. 

Over the past few years, I've traveled from New York to California to Alaska to share our story along with a strong message of hope.  Four of my five brothers have served in the military and two were stationed in Vietnam which helps my story resonate with the Soldiers and Sailors.  It's my hope to add the Marines and Airmen soon.

I know that our story saves lives and hope to have the opportunity to speak to as many active duty military within the next five years.

I can be reached at Leslie@LesliesHope.org or send a DM through LinkedIn.

taplio

The Battle

Kris Hammons

Leslie Weirich

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