Curating Career Life Stories: How Did I Get Here? Ep. 138 with Kristy Yoder

Join me for the career reflections of Kristy Yoder, founder/CEO of SMART VAs LLC. Born and raised in the Philippines, her entrepreneurial DNA kicks in at a young age helping in her mom’s business doing whatever’s needed to earn a living. She describes living her teen years as young, wild and free! So much so, she drops out of high school at 14. Through her mom’s urging she passes a high school equivalency exam -- with little or no studying -- then goes on to earn a college degree. Still, she’s more interested in her social life than her career, living paycheck to paycheck, and looking for that right person to complete her. After a six-year relationship leaves her heartbroken, devastated and feeling like she’s not enough, she’s finally willing to go to church with her aunt. This is when her life turns around -- she finds God! And discovers that she’s perfect and complete just the way she is. God has been protecting her and has a plan for her. She meets her husband, moves to the United States and decides to start her own virtual assistant business -- which now has over 70 employees including her husband! What’s served Kristy best is also a primary characteristic of the Filipino culture – Resilience! Words of wisdom that have impacted Kristy: “God will always come through. God comes through regardless. Even when I didn’t know him or have a relationship with him, God comes through!”