Empowering people to live and work well.

In the winter of 2018, Kenny got the notion to talk Kyle Morris into founding a business with him, and here we all are. Kenny’s background in (and frustrations with) sales operations management was instrumental in spawning Fractional Operations, AKA Kicksaw’s bread and butter. An avid board gamer, Kenny lives in Toronto with his wife and young sons.

‍

So, which of Kicksaw’s four core values is your favorite, Kenny?

“That’d have to be Own It. I think this core value ultimately represents the essence of what allows Kicksaw to be so great. We care about outcomes and delivering value not only for our clients but to our colleagues and ourselves as well. There are many things out of our control, but our attitude and actions are always solely ours, and they ultimately shape our outcomes.”

‍

What is it about the Salesforce ecosystem that makes it so special?

“I really appreciate the diversity within the ecosystem. Between differing sizes of companies using the platform, the broad swath of industries utilizing it, and the scope of the AppExchange offerings, the global nature of Salesforce and the diversity in the community make it a thriving place to work in. There’s so much to learn and explore — it feels like you can never be finished!”

‍

When that dreaded after-lunch slump hits, what is your go-to snack to get the creative juices flowing again? 

“I love a fruit shake. It’s a great pick-me-up that’s healthy and tastes great — plus, it feels like a novel snack.”

‍

Kenny, we know you are teaming with life pro tips. What’s one you can share with us today?

”You know how it feels impossible to walk across the room with a full cup of hot coffee/tea without spilling some? It isn’t — just don’t look at the cup while you are walking, and you won’t spill a drop. It’s terrifying but true. I’ve tested it.”

Kyle co-founded Kicksaw, along with CEO Kenny Goldman, back in 2018. An Army Ranger Veteran with a knack for entrepreneurship, Kyle’s passion for solving problems and his instinct to go against the grain have served him (and Kicksaw) well. Kyle lives in the PNW with his wife, two daughters, and a German Shorthaired Pointer.

‍

Hey Kyle, what’s your favorite Kicksaw core value, and why? ‍

“That’s tough. Picking a favorite core value is like picking a favorite child, but I do have one that I come back to often, and that’s Be You. I really love the unique characteristics that each and every person at Kicksaw brings to work each day — I love that they feel comfortable being exactly who they are and that we, as a company, have the confidence to buck the trends and do what we think is right, rather than what’s popular.“

‍

What do you appreciate the most about the Salesforce ecosystem?

“I love how supportive the ecosystem is, whether that’s business to business or person to person. For as long as Salesforce has been around, SFDC professionals have been the quirky oddballs who often don’t quite fit in. That said, when we find our people, we get along, as my Kiwi friend says, ‘Like a house on fire.’”

‍

So, when your earbuds are in, is it music, podcasts, or both?

“If I’m working, silence is best for me. If I’m out walking my dog, it’s music. Crosby, Stills, and Nash or Rainbow Kitten Surprise are my go-to’s.”

‍

What secret-sauce-level life advice do you have for us?

‍“I had a friend once tell me, ‘Advice is what you ask for when you already know the answer, but wish you didn’t.’ Trust your gut!”

Hailing from the very same neck of the PNW woods as Co-founder Kyle Morris, Tim has an extensive background in systems engineering, software development, and related fields. Never one to turn down an invitation to solve a crossword, Tim’s fearless leadership has been instrumental in developing Kicksaw’s Engineering Operations team.

‍

So, Tim, which core value do you have tattooed on your lower back?

“The Be You core value is definitely my favorite. We hire talented/accredited team members who can complete all the technical requirements, but ‘done’ is not sufficient around here. Our team members’ personalities affect the mood of the project, and this is the secret sauce. Put another way, you can complete a project but still be unsuccessful if the client didn’t enjoy the process.”

‍

What gets you excited about your role here at Kicksaw?

“I enjoy my role because I get to interact with a diverse set of internal team members and external stakeholders. Because we’re cross-functional, the Engineering team gets to meet new stakeholders and internal team members all the time. We’re constantly meeting new company personalities and quirks, and learning to adapt to all this variation is what makes the job fun!”

‍

When you need a quick mental break during a workday, what’s your move? ‍

“I like to sit in the hot tub in the middle of the day while on lunch. My WFHT (work from hot tub) regimen includes a quick dip, a shower, a bite to eat, and back to work. If you catch me mid day with my camera off, maybe I’m at my ‘floating desk.’ Who knows?”

‍

What’s the life hack you want to share with us?

‍“Boil life down to the essentials. You can get more ‘adulting’ accomplished in a shorter period of time simply by saying no to the things that are draining, asking for help from the people around you, and being present while you are doing what you’re doing.”

Sanford is a consulting and sales leader with a demonstrated history of building effective sales teams, improving organizational processes, and increasing revenue. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, coaching his son's 14u baseball team, and jamming to ‘90s music. Sanford lives in Utah with his wife, three children, and extensive collection of Henley shirts.

Sanford, can you tell us about your favorite Kicksaw Core Value?

“Without a doubt, my favorite core value is 'Be You.' Getting to know who someone really is outside of just their work responsibilities is what keeps life fun and exciting. We have incredibly interesting people at Kicksaw, and getting to know who they truly are helps make Kicksaw much more than just a place to earn a paycheck.”

‍

What’s the best way to give yourself a mental break during a busy day?

“If I need a little recharge time between calls with my favorite Salesforce AEs or internal team meetings, you can find me catching up on the latest baseball stats, talking to my coworkers about last night's episode of *Below Deck*, or walking my dog, Maggie.”

‍

Tell us a life hack that you swear by.

“Hot and cold therapy may not sound like everyone's cup of tea, but I promise, it will change your life in the best way. It has leveled up my mental and physical health. All it takes is some warm-up time in a sauna followed by a dip in an ice bath. There is this Finnish concept called 'Sisu' that speaks to building grit and resilience. Hot and cold therapy has definitely helped me practice that concept by pushing me out of my comfort zone physically and mentally.”

‍

Brooke brings over 12 years of Accounting & Finance experience to the Kicksaw team, as well as an impressive knack for building Finance teams from the ground up. Along with Co-founder Kyle Morris, Brooke was instrumental in developing Kicksaw’s profit-sharing plan. Based on the east coast, she’s a Broadway lover and voracious reader.

‍

Brooke, tell us about your favorite core value, please.

“My favorite core value is Keep it Simple. Finances can get complicated very quickly, and I try to always come back to this principle. I want everyone in the company to easily understand the financial health of Kicksaw, which is why this core value shapes and guides my work on a daily basis.”

‍

What do you enjoy the most about your role at Kicksaw?

“I love the autonomy and room for growth that I have at Kicksaw. Not only have I been able to help Kicksaw grow, but I have grown right alongside it!”

‍

If you need to get in the zone, do you turn to podcasts or to music?

“I’d say neither…my favorite way to work is in complete silence (though with five kids, this is a rarity in my house). But outside of work, you can find me listening to the latest Bad Bunny or Drake album.”

‍

What’s your life pro tip that you’re dying to share with us?

‍“Always book flights for only one person at a time. Airlines and travel sites will frequently show you higher prices if you are booking for 2+ people, so booking tickets for a ‘solo’ traveler is an easy way to save on family travel!”

A People Ops star who has guided adventure travel and worked with a rock band on the road, Joanne is not your average HR pro. And we love that about her. Signing on every morning from her home base in Colorado, Joanne’s passion for creating initiatives to promote employee success has transformed Kicksaw in all the best ways.

‍

Joanne, tell us what your favorite core value is, and why it’s so special to you.

“My favorite Kicksaw core value is Be You. I think it is so important that people are given the freedom to bring their authentic selves to work — it’s what makes our work environment so successful and supportive.”

‍

What’s your favorite part about your role at Kicksaw?

“I love having the opportunity to connect with everyone and create programs that elevate and support team members personally and professionally.”

‍

What’s your talent show act? ‍

“Becoming invisible and disappearing before the show starts!”

‍

Do you have any top-tier life advice for us, Joanne? ‍

"It’s easy to want to hurry to fill the air when there is an uncomfortable silence in a conversation, but that gap can be very powerful. Give folks a bit longer to respond, you’ll usually find they have something more to say. Start with waiting 10 seconds, and you might be surprised by what comes up.”

One of several US Veterans on the Kicksaw team, Casey served in the Marine Corps for six years. His background includes Salesforce implementation, project management, and process improvement. Casey lives in South Carolina, where his hobbies include surfing, reading, and chasing after his two young children.

‍

What’s your favorite Kicksaw core value, Casey, and what about it do you appreciate?

“My favorite core value is Own It — a shared sense of ownership is what drives great work. When everyone is bought into the purpose and the mission, making decisions around operations and process is much easier.”

‍

What do you enjoy the most about your role at Kicksaw? ‍

“In my role at Kicksaw, I have to be curious about all of our teams and business functions and how they interact with one another. I get to examine how we plan and make decisions and make adjustments to those approaches over time. I find this incredibly rewarding and I hope that it has a material impact on our employees and clients.”

‍

If you need to clear brain fog or jumpstart some creativity, what’s your strategy?‍

“Movement always clears my head — the best is being able to get out for a surf. Short of that, I'll hop on my skateboard or do some mobility work or calisthenics. Walks without any music or electronic distraction are very underrated.”

‍

We know you’re sitting on an amazing life pro tip for us. Spill those beans, please.

‍“I'm far from an expert here, but I've found mindfulness meditation to be an essential practice for me over the past few years. Gaining an appreciation for how your mind works really helps reduce unnecessary suffering.”