‘Go Outside of Your Comfort Zone’: A Senior Communications Professional on Growing Her Career

“I’m forever grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow in my profession,” said Kristi DesJarlais. The Senior Vice President of Communications & PR at Invitation Homes relishes opportunities to “stretch herself” into areas outside of her comfort zone.

“I believe you can squeeze learning out of every experience,” she explained. “We should all view each opportunity — whether we seek it out or it sneaks up on us — as a chance to broaden our horizons and be a more well-rounded professional.”

Kristi recently spoke with us about the challenges, changes, and opportunities she’s faced throughout her career journey.

Where did you start your career journey? What were your previous roles and experiences like?

I began my corporate communications career right out of college, working for a large global oil and gas company. Over the years, I have had the great fortune to work in every discipline within the corporate communications arena, and those experiences have certainly been meaningful. They have expanded my skills and provided me with opportunities I never could have imagined when I was a young professional at the start of my career. But, my greatest growth came when I was given opportunities to stretch myself into areas that were squarely outside my comfort zone. 

How did you make the switch, and how did your company support you in this process?

Several times during my career, I’ve been approached to take on roles or projects outside the traditional career path for communications professionals.

Specifically, I’ll highlight three different experiences:

Early in my career, I was pulled into project teams, finalizing mergers and acquisitions (M&A). This was rooted in corporate communications because it included preparing messaging for different stakeholders. However, it also had a significant project management component and a strong need to understand financial information. My ability (or lack thereof) to do math or to want to do math were among the reasons I chose writing and communications as a career! This M&A work placed me in an uncomfortable position, trying to understand financial and M&A lingo. So, I listened, watched, and learned during nine M&A deals over 11 years. These experiences have continued to serve me well in my career.

Around the midpoint of my career, I had been the chief spokesperson for a global oil and gas company for about 12 years. I was on call 24/7, and, given the company's scale, my days – and nights – were filled with issues and crises. I was burned out and unhealthy, so I spoke with my supervisor about my need to step into a different role. About a week later, he asked me to take on our corporate philanthropy program. My first reaction was to wrinkle my nose and think more math! But then he pushed a blank sheet of paper across his desk and said, “Here’s exactly where I want you to start.” That got me super excited. So, I spent time internally getting to know the team, processes, and history of our programming. Then, I looked externally to educate myself about corporate philanthropy. From there, I made changes that tightened our processes and focus. I’m very proud of what we accomplished, and I loved the discipline so much that I have held responsibility for philanthropy in my roles ever since.

More recently, I was asked to take on a major office build and relocation at my current company. This was another experience where I did not know what to expect, but I learned so much and truly enjoyed the work. Over 16 months, I was involved in everything from the floor plan to selecting materials and finishes to the significant technology required in a corporate office, new visitor systems,  and much more. I’m proud of the work of our small but mighty project team, and I love showing off our beautiful new corporate headquarters to those who visit. 

Tell us a bit about your current job. What’s your current role, how long have you been in this role, and what is your day-to-day like?

I’ve been in my current role as Senior Vice President of Communications & PR  for the nation’s largest single-family home leasing and management company for six years. I’m responsible for internal and external communications, corporate philanthropy and volunteerism, and major events. One of the things I love most about corporate communications is that my days can look very different, but in the end, I’m usually either writing, engaging with my team or others in the company on projects, or working with outside organizations to tell our company and industry’s story. 

How have you benefited from the skills and experience you’ve gained in your career journey?

I firmly believe that exposure to different people along the way helps us be more empathetic and open to different ways of thinking. I view my unorthodox experiences alongside my more traditional comms experiences as providing opportunities to improve myself personally and professionally.

Looking back on your career, what has been your most valuable career mistake?

People who work in corporate comms often have direct working relationships with executives due to the high-level reputational issues they deal with and the confidential information they’re asked to handle. Early in my career, I worked in lockstep with the CEO of my company. But when he retired, I realized that aligning so closely with him may have jeopardized my relationships with other executives. I now strive to create equal relationships with multiple executives and colleagues to effectively serve my company and career.

What do you find most rewarding and challenging about your current work?

I’ve spent my career working at companies with large-scale reputational issues rooted in a lack of understanding of the company’s purpose and actions. This creates a considerable opportunity for communications to shift that narrative. 

It’s not easy, or someone would have figured out the magic formula by now. A sense of urgency exists around finding ways to break through and create a deeper understanding of the value of companies like mine. I truly love the people I work with — I know these are good people doing the right thing for our customers. So, we keep working together to find ways to tell that story, which I find equally rewarding and challenging.

The people are top-notch at Invitation Homes. They have good hearts and care deeply about doing the right thing for our stakeholders. 

What is your best piece of advice for other women looking to advance in their careers?

Don’t be afraid to take on projects or workstreams outside your comfort zone. You never know what you might learn, who you might meet, or how you might find a new passion or skill.