"Career wellbeing is the very foundation of a thriving life"
Welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview with Kimberly Stark, the visionary and dedicated Founder of Flourish. Today, we have the opportunity to delve into Kimberly’s insights and expertise in bridging the gap between conventional education and the skills needed for successful adulting.
In this interview, Kimberly shares insights on employee engagement, the importance of development education, and the impact of “Quiet quitting” in the workplace. She also discusses influential books, her writing journey, and her vision of success.
Join us as we explore Kimberly’s inspiring work with Flourish, helping individuals thrive in their personal and professional lives.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Kimberly Stark: I started Flourish because I noticed a gap in conventional education between what we are taught in school and what it actually takes to successfully adult. I decided to fill this gap through a professional development program that leads with how to build strategy through adversity and follows with increasing wellness in the key areas of well-being.
f you were in an elevator with Warren Buffett, how would you describe your company, your services, or your products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Kimberly Stark: I would first of all thank him for all the wisdom he has passed along. That I can see his desire is to spread his wisdom so that all may flourish, and I would tell him that we are serving the same mission, just through different channels.
I would also say to Mr. Buffett that I’m sure he’d understand the fiscal logic of our offering. Companies with engaged employees are over 20% more productive and more profitable. They also have employees and customers who are more likely to stay at the company, and their shareholder returns are also roughly 20% higher.
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, is an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Kimberly Stark: The leading driver of engagement? Development education.
From a financial intention, choosing to provide employees with our course is a win for the company since increasing engagement increases profitability.
But from an employee care perspective, it is a win as well! Development education is the most powerful driver of engagement.
Employee engagement is the biggest contributor to career well-being. Career well-being is the very foundation of a thriving life. This is why we start here.
Here is a two-fold question: What is the book that influenced you the most and how? Please share some life lessons you learned. Now, what book have you gifted the most and why?
Kimberly Stark: There are too many to name, and the list is weekly expanding. I’ve gifted Eight Dates to all my friends for Christmas last year.
I was sent Necessary Endings and have since sent it as well. Everything is Figureoutable was earth-shattering and created massive change in my life. I read it right around the time I launched my business in 2020.
Christopher Hitchens, an American journalist, is quoted as saying that “everyone has a book in them.” Have you written a book? If so, please share with us details about it. If you haven’t, what book would you like to write, and how would you like it to benefit the readers?
Kimberly Stark: I am in the book mapping stage of writing a book currently. I love it. Honestly, if I had to pick one thing, it would be to read and study and write. I am an avid journaler and have written almost every day for the last nine years.
I track about one notebook a month, and they are FILLED with life lessons. I have all the content I need; at this point, it is just a matter of cataloging and curating into impact.
The past years threw a lot of curveballs into businesses on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past years, how can businesses thrive in 2024? What lessons have you learned, and what advice would you share?
Kimberly Stark: Businesses would be so much better off if they preemptively provided impactful resilience and successful adulting education.
It seems counter-intuitive to mandate another training, but just like taking the time to work or rest when you feel overwhelmed or stressed, it results in higher productivity, profitability, and wellness in the end.
What does “success” mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level. Please share your vision.
Kimberly Stark: I am unapologetically focused on two things this year – building vast wealth and supporting the flourishing of my children. All decisions I make are guided by these desires.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Kimberly Stark for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Kimberly Stark or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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