10 | Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks | Blending Heritage and Sustainability

On today's episode of Elevate Your Career, Nicole chats with Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO of ECOS, a company that manufactures eco-conscious cleaning products powered by plants. Kelly has made significant contributions to environmental sustainability through her company's eco-friendly products. During the discussion, she reflects on her journey, her Greek heritage and early life challenges, including her father’s migration to the U.S. and her mother's influence. She discusses her academic path, leading to UCLA, and her initial career choices, which were guided by a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to make a positive impact.Kelly shares insights into her varied professional experiences, including working in public relations and her stint as an executive director at the American Hellenic Council. These roles honed her skills in media, storytelling, and forming impactful connections. Joining the family business, Earth Friendly Products, she faced the challenge of making a mark in an established company led by her visionary father. She emphasizes the importance of earning respect as an employee first, rather than leveraging family connections. Her approach to leadership and growth involved respecting her team, understanding her role, and making calculated changes to scale the company.Nicole and Kelly discuss the significance of communication and diversity in leadership, highlighting Kelly's initiatives in hiring a diverse and skilled team, reflecting the consumer base, and ensuring her company’s internal structure mirrors societal diversity. Discussing the dynamics of working in a family business, she shares personal anecdotes, including the challenges and learning experiences that shaped her leadership style.Join Nicole and Kelly for this fascinating and eye-opening conversation!Enjoy!What You Will Learn In This Show:Kelly's Greek roots, the influence of her father's migration to the U.S. and her mother's impactful role in her life.Her transition from public relations to executive director at the American Hellenic Council, and how these roles cultivated her abilities in media, storytelling, and creating meaningful connections.Joining Earth Friendly Products and the challenge of establishing her identity in a company founded by her father.Strategies for effective leadership, including respecting the team and understanding her role.The importance of building a diverse team that reflects the company's consumer base and mirrors societal diversity.  And so much more...Resources:Nicole's LinkedInECOS by Earth Friendly ProductsKelly's LinkedIn