Des Moines Moms Blog recognizes that moms wear a lot of hats. You are a mom, wife, friend, diaper changer, nose wiper, meal planner, lost toy finder, the list goes on and on!
This summer we are thrilled to feature some local moms who are thinking outside the box and making a difference in our community through the businesses they own, organizations they are involved with, and work they do. Check out the rest of the series and read profiles from previous years here.
Erin Kuhl has recently been named Chief Financial Officer of Kum & Go L.C. Kum & Go is a convenience retailer with 400 stores across eleven states. For 60 years, Kum & Go has been dedicated to the communities it serves, sharing ten percent of its profits with charitable causes. For four generations, the family-owned convenience retailer has focused on providing exceptional service and delivering more than customers expect.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I am 37 years old and originally from Las Vegas, Nevada. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, I spent the first part of my career in Chicago and moved to Des Moines in 2010. My husband, Christopher, and I have been married for ten years and currently live in Waukee. We have an eight-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.
In addition to the time I devote to my job and my family, I enjoy giving back to the community. I serve as a board member for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, and the MercyOne Foundation. I also recently graduated in the Class of 2019 of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Community Leadership Program. Contributing as a civic steward can have a huge impact on organizations doing phenomenal things in our community.
What do you consider the biggest challenge of motherhood to be? Biggest joy?
Honestly, my biggest challenge is trying to keep healthy food in front of my kids. There are so many forces in our world pulling us away from a healthy diet – a lack of time probably being the biggest one. We struggle with this in our family, and I’m always looking for ways to amp up the nutritional value of what my kids eat. It’s a constant effort to prioritize this.
In terms of biggest joy, it’s witnessing my children continue to grow as independent, self-assured little people. My daughter can now pack her own suitcase for a week-long trip, and my son is making his bed and brushing his teeth without being asked (if you knew him, you’d know what a huge deal this is!). In addition to making my life a bit easier, these things are good reminders that we are doing a good job of teaching them life skills.
Have you always worked in the corporate world?
I have, and every step has been great! I began my career at a Big Four public accounting firm in Chicago. After moving to Des Moines, I got into financial services and spent over eight years at Athene USA (including at its predecessor, Aviva USA). Earlier this year, I made the move to Kum & Go.
What’s the best part about your job?
I love being a part of a team of people working toward a shared objective while figuring out how we can best work together. You can’t just toss a group of people in a room and hope for the best – it takes real work to figure out how to maximize the benefits of a group. I love that process and seeing the great results we can achieve while working together.
What’s the hardest part about your job?
With lots of priorities, it can be challenging to figure out where your time and energy are most needed at any given moment. With time, knowledge and experience, you figure this out and you can be impactful and effective (while also being efficient and not working around the clock).
What advice do you have for women in leadership roles?
Invest in yourself. That investment can take so many forms – professional development, a night out with friends, uninterrupted time to read a book, a late night in the office to get ahead for the week, a massage, or even a vacation. Women have a habit of defaulting to putting others first, and it’s really important to make prioritizing yourself part of your regular routine. These sorts of things should not be something you think of as a special occasion, and they certainly shouldn’t be anything you feel guilty about. Investment in yourself makes you whole. The “oxygen mask” analogy is a real thing.
Along the same lines – strive to surround yourself with a community of people who will support you and cheer you on through whatever ups and downs come your way (because you’ll have plenty of both). Create a tribe of people who you can count on, and then don’t be afraid to lean on them when the time comes.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
Big transitions are hard! Something worth stretching for shouldn’t be a walk in the park, so don’t be surprised when it’s not. Give yourself grace (and wine and sleep).
Why do you call Des Moines home?
In 2010, we knew we wanted to leave Chicago so decided to give Des Moines a try. My husband grew up in Waukee – he graduated from Waukee High School when it was much smaller than it is today! It’s been more than nine years and needless to say, it stuck! His parents also live in Waukee, and there is a lot of extended family in the area. We also love the community of friends we’ve built over the years.
Get to know Erin Kuhl
Favorite spot for a date night Our dining room table! We’re both often out and about for work or community events, so it’s nice when we’re all home together. If we do go out, we enjoy restaurants in Downtown Des Moines.
Best place to take kids A farmers market or festival
Favorite summer activity Hanging out at the pool
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? Somewhere in Europe (obviously a far second to Des Moines!)
What’s the last show you watched, thing you listened to, or book you read? Season 7 of Orange is the New Black
How/where do you relax? I’m a firm believer that an impromptu BBQ with friends is always more relaxing than a months-planned vacation.
If your life had a hashtag, what would it be? #bestplannedcircus
Know a Des Moines mom we should feature? Let us know! Email [email protected] with details and we will be in touch.
