Keith Hernandez: Navigating Career Paths and Impactful Decision-Making
Introduction:
In this episode of “The Credentialed Podcast”, Mack McKelvey engages in an insightful conversation with Keith Hernandez, VP of Tech at Future. A seasoned tech leader, Keith shares his journey from an accidental entry into advertising sales to managing tech sales at a leading digital publication. He emphasizes the importance of purpose and diversity in your career and how he’s evolved professionally by, embracing failure and leaning into the work and hobbies that energize him.
Careers Aren’t Always a Ladder, But a Jungle Gym
Like many leaders in our space, Keith’s career trajectory is a mix of experiences in both large-scale corporations like Microsoft and media giants like BuzzFeed. He started as a creative writing major and stumbled into advertising sales, which eventually led him to embrace leadership roles in tech-focused companies like Microsoft. After consulting for a few years during the pandemic, he started considering his next move and thought deeply about where he felt most energized. For Keith, he realized that he thrived in smaller, collaborative companies where he could have a direct impact on the business. Now, he is successfully leading his team at Future and mentoring the next generation of leaders.
Dig into the Why, Not Just the What:
Reflecting on his time at Slate during the Hillary Clinton election year, Keith shares a valuable lesson learned about understanding a company’s legacy systems y. He candidly recounted how jumping right into solution mode caused tension with his team. This taught him why leaders need to look holistically at a situation and should take the time to understand how certain processes came to fruition and who was involved. From there, leaders can work hand in hand with different stakeholders to build a more impactful solution.
Finding Purpose in His Career & Passions
Keith’s commitment to purpose-driven work extends beyond his professional sphere. He discusses his passion for podcasting and the lessons learned from embracing failure, as evidenced by his experiences as a volunteer firefighter. Engaging in multiple activities has helped Keith not only maintain a healthy work-life balance but excel in his career as a more well-rounded leader. Based on his own experience and upbringing, he is dedicated to empowering the next generation of professionals, especially from diverse backgrounds.
Nurturing Decision-Making in Team Members:
Keith cares deeply about fostering an environment conducive to open and thoughtful decision-making within his team. During his weekly 1-1s, he asks them to send an agenda so they can work together on professional development outside of what tactically needs to get done. As a leader, Keith encourages his team to think critically and constructively and has built a culture that welcomes curiosity and questioning the status quo.
Keith Hernandez’s career trajectory exemplifies the significance of purpose, resilience, and diverse experiences in shaping a successful professional journey. His insightful approach to leadership and decision-making provides valuable lessons for individuals navigating complex career paths in the ever-evolving business landscape. As a champion for diversity and purpose-driven work, Keith sets a compelling example for the next generation of professionals, highlighting the importance of embracing failure and maintaining a healthy work-life balance in pursuit of professional fulfillment.
Listen to Keith’s full episode here.
