Kelly Watkins (FCHS ’84)
Kelly Watkins has wanted to travel the world since she took her first (of many) trips to Europe, at age four. That’s when she had her first ideas of becoming a “globalist”. Those dreams coincided with her mother becoming Dean of Girls during the legendary Superhicks year (1970-1971). Carolyn, known for most of her Floyd Central career as Mrs. Hendricks… went on to be part of the FC counseling staff, retiring in 1998. Kelly’s global interest led her to take eight years of foreign language classes in high school: German (all four years), adding Spanish, then one year of French. She went on to earn two IU degrees, her B.S. in Marketing, followed by an MBA in International Business.
Contemplating job choices, she concluded this: finding, or more aptly, creating her ideal career required forming her own company. It would focus squarely on Leadership Development, offering consulting, training and executive coaching. She sought to work with companies who wanted their people to improve leadership and communication, thereby becoming more effective in a global environment.
Kelly has worked on “both sides” in promoting international trade. In the US, she served the National Association of Women Business Owners as a leader in its Global Development initiative. Currently, she is a Board Member for NADEC, the National Association of District Export Councils. Collectively, the District Export Councils, or DECs function as an advisory group that works closely with the US Dept. of Commerce, helping to enhance export awareness and reduce barriers in selling American products around the world.
In developing countries, Kelly is a much sought-after speaker at conferences, seminars and training events… in faraway places like Kenya, Siberia and the Middle East. In particular, Dubai has been a recurring destination. It stands out as a crucible of cultures, commerce and technology. For Kelly, it’s been a case study for the many ways that geography and culture impact the conduct of international business. For three years, Kelly served as full-time faculty in the International Business program of IU’s Kelley School. The lessons she’s learned from numerous experiences in Dubai have frequently been part of the curriculum in the courses she teaches.
With all the professional miles she’s logged, she loves travel for fun just as much. Kelly has been to all 50 states and all 7 continents. In Antarctica, she walked with the penguins. She claims they are adorable… and also smelly. Kelly and her husband Ross Worrall live in Floyds Knobs, where they have raised two children: Ethan Worrall FCHS ‘17 and Autumn Worrall FCHS ‘20. Ethan graduated from IU with an MBA in ’22 and works for Deloitte. Autumn is entering her senior year at IU and studying Speech Pathology.
Read the entire May 2023 Legacy Ledger (Issue 33).