What Losing Everything Taught Krystle Holguin About Leading With Emotional Intelligence

Krystle Holguin: From HR Clerk at 15 to People Strategy Director at Colonial Country ClubKrystle Holguin, Director of Human Resources at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, shares her journey from a part-time high school clerk job she took for extra spending money to leading the people strategy behind one of America’s most storied private clubs — including a $120 million renovation and the annual Charles Schwab Challenge PGA Tour event.Key Insights You’ll Learn:Starting in HR at 15 with no career vision — and spending nearly a decade thereThree years in teaching, a failed certification, and what rejection taught her about redirectionFollowing a partner across Texas, getting laid off during COVID, and choosing to start overBuilding an HR department solo with no staff and no employees coming to workImplementing a new HRIS system over heavy internal resistance — and winning with dataThe “hire character, train skill” philosophy and how it changed her interview approachLaunching Colonial’s in-house university: skill classes, wellness, and professional developmentManaging HR for a $120M renovation and a PGA Tour event broadcast in 200+ countriesWhy emotional intelligence is the most underrated trait in senior leadershipBuilding an engagement committee that actually executes instead of just meetingKrystle’s Key Mentors:High School Business Teacher: Connected her to the school district clerk role that started it allTeaching Students: Showed her the power of genuine connection that carried into HR leadershipDifficult Bosses: Toughened her emotional intelligence in ways she didn’t appreciate until laterCOVID-Era Staff: Forced her to become the expert by being the only one with answersColonial Leadership Team: Gave her the support and space to build the vision she had been carrying for yearsDon’t miss this conversation about what real HR leadership looks like, why the scenic career route can be the best preparation, and how one leader is turning a century-old club into a place where employees genuinely want to show up.Connect with Krystle Holguin:Website: colonialfw.comTranscript Available: . What Losing Everything Taught Krystle Holguin About Leading With Emotional IntelligenceWatch on YouTube: Inspired Stories PodcastOur Website: The Inspired Stories PodcastSpecial Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency — Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line. Website: addbackbenefits.com