Fries, Flights, and Wellness Insights with Kristy Morris, Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo

Description:Our guest, Kristy Morris, has had a close relationship with entrepreneurship from a young age and saw first-hand what it was like to be a business owner when her parents ran one of the earliest McDonald’s in Australia after the brand was introduced into the country. Today she is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kailo, Australia’s leading luxury wellness brand. Tuning in you’ll hear about her upbringing in Australia, the influence her entrepreneurial parents had on her, her struggles at school, and how she came to own a coffee shop when she was just 24 years old! We then go on to learn how her eldest son inspired her to start Kailo, the pivots she and her business partner had to make during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with her reflections on how the business has grown and changed in ways she could never have predicted. Tune in to learn the full scope of Kristy’s story and the many lessons she continues to learn as a leader.<br /><br /><br /> Exclusive Deals from Our Sponsors:AWESOME CX by Transcom provides high touch, personalized customer experience services to consumer brands of any size! Email Lee at lee@stairwaytoceo.com to learn more about their award-winning services and Awesome Coffee Chats.  In This Episode You’ll Hear About:• [02:13] Kristy’s upbringing, the influence of her entrepreneurial parents, the early days of McDonald’s in Australia, and how her parents were approved for a franchise.• [04:33] The struggles she experienced in school, her cultural exchange trip to America, the positive impact it had on her, and why she eventually decided to drop out of high school.• [10:48] Her experience working at McDonald’s, how she worked her way up the ranks, and what this taught her about business operations.• [14:34] Why Virgin Airlines was considered such an innovative company at the time and the extraordinary lengths Kristy went to to make an impression on them.• [16:59] Her decision to open up a coffee shop as a 24-year-old and how this led to her joining HR at Virgin Airlines.• [22:48] Kristy’s marriage, starting a family, and her entrepreneurial partnership with her husband before they got divorced.• [25:39] How Kristy’s eldest son inspired her to start Kailo and how she met and teamed up with her wonderful business partner Kath Merlo.• [29:33] The strategic steps they took to survive as a business during the COVID pandemic, how they expanded into nutrition products, and the huge impact it’s had on their company.• [36:01] An overview of their recent business growth, their expansion plans, and how Kristy is developing herself as a leader.• [41:21] Details about what’s next for Kailo and Kristy’s advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.To Find Out More:Kristy Morris on LinkedInKailoKailo on FacebookKailo on InstagramKailo on YouTubeKailo on LinkedInAwesome CXLee Greene on LinkedInStairway to CEOStairway to CEO on Instagram Quotes:“My dad was trying to instill a really strong work ethic that ‘you are no different to anybody else’. I genuinely can say I think that is a gi