Kipsu recently welcomed Meghan Harmening to our Accounting team. Prior to joining us, Meghan worked at KPMG as an auditor. In her free time, Meghan enjoys playing sand volleyball and trying new recipes with friends! We're so excited to have her as a part of the Kipsu team and asked her to chat about her experience at Kipsu so far, this is what she had to say.
What drew you to Kipsu in contrast to other companies?
I've always had a bend toward the entrepreneurial mindset since my dad owns his own small business. As a result, a majority of our conversations revolve around his business, ways to develop it, improve it, etc. So when the opportunity came about to be part of a start-up right here in Minneapolis, I knew I wanted to learn more. Not every start-up is created equal, but Kipsu is different. Kipsu has a very clear mission and vision, which are both imperative to the success of a start-up. Kipsu values relationships with people and that is the very core of my personal purpose.
What were some things you noticed about the Kipsu team during your first week?
It was evident from my first day that making the jump to a start-up would be totally worth it. It's a small office, so attitudes permeate throughout, good or bad. But my sense of others' attitudes during the first week was one of complete ownership. We are small, but mighty. Each person takes the mission here very seriously, and knows what it takes to get the job done. Even at the lunch table others will talk about what projects they are working on, what they hope to accomplish, and how they expect to do so. It's refreshing to be part of a team like that!
What challenges are you looking forward to tackling in your work at Kipsu?
I'm most looking forward to using what I've learned in the public accounting sector and applying it to a start-up. I really hope to have some lasting change on how we operate as a business. But the main challenge, I think, won't even be on the technical side of my job. Start-ups, by nature, are slightly chaotic (in a good way, of course), so adjusting to the change in work culture is really what I'm looking forward to. I like to be challenged to think outside the box, and we have to do that here in order to succeed, both personally and professionally.
What is your favorite Kipsu core value?
Oh this is an easy one - serve others! One of the main reasons I wanted to join Kipsu was because I identified so strongly with this core value. My life's mission is to build relationships with others and serve them in a way they don't expect. I think our culture has sort of migrated to this "I can do everything myself" attitude, so to find a company where the focus is on selflessly serving others, I was all in!
If you could meet any person for a chat over a shared dinner, who would you pick and why?
If I can, I'm going to add a time-travel aspect to this question, and request dinner with someone who's no longer alive. Can I go back to the year 1920? Lately I've been reading books/memoirs by Amy Carmichael, a Christian missionary who spent most of her time in India. From her writings, I can gather that she was a God-fearing woman who knew the importance of reliance on prayer. I hope to go abroad someday, and will take as much of her wisdom with me as possible. An evening spent with Amy would not have been wasted time!
