What’s your superpower? The very idea of a superpower is deeply embedded within our culture. We know it as a divine power in theology and extraordinary beings in folktales and mythology. Superhero movies are among the highest-grossing films, with the top three earning more than $6.7 billion worldwide. Even the Library of Congress has a research guide to superpowers! And I have a friend who willingly speaks about her superpower. Kiera DesChamps, CEO of KD Consulting Group, has the superpower of making connections that lead others to success. In other words, she’s a natural problem solver!
Why is a BIG Question
Kiera was that child. You know the one, the kid always raising her hand to ask why. Yeah, the one who persisted, wanting to know more, to know the history of something. She was, according to her mom, (and still is) a very persistent child. She is also the middle child, always looking ahead and behind.
Born into a military family, and with a husband who served 12 years in the Air Force, she developed a wider view of life as a result. More importantly, her life experiences led to a fascination with people, a natural fit with her love of history and discovery. Putting it all together, she chose a path that led to earning an M.A. of Professional Counseling degree.
A People Person and Problem Solver
As an administrator in higher education, she applied her talents to helping students solve problems by pointing them to the resources they didn’t know they needed. She connected people to the right people. And that experience provided a natural segue to working within the senior living sector. For more than a decade, Kiera worked in the professional move management space, providing concierge services to families and individuals who needed help with the logistics of downsizing and moving.
It’s commonly acknowledged that moving is difficult. In fact, a 2024 research study found 27% of survey respondents said moving is more overwhelming than losing a job. Factor in someone’s age, perhaps facing health challenges, an attachment to a home and its memories, and a move may be seen as impossible. But Kiera has the ability to see the big picture instead of memories and emotions. For her, a challenge is like a game of Tetris. She sees the big picture and can visualize the individual steps required and how to execute them in order to succeed. By breaking it down into bite-sized pieces, she helped families bridge the gap from knowing they needed to do something to being able to actually accomplish their goals. Or, as she says, “providing a strategy to meet their success.”
Answers to Aging
Bette Davis said: “Old age is no place for sissies.” She was right. People avoid talking about aging. In our 20s and 30s, it’s too far away. In our 40s and 50s, we think we have time to maybe think about it sooner or later. And then we’re in our 60s and 70s and facing with an endless list of real questions:
- Where should we retire?
- Which grandkids do we want to be near?
- What about our finances?
- Should I think about my funeral plans?
- How will I cope with serious health issues?
- Can I really stay in my home?
Getting answers to these and all the other questions demands real conversations. But real conversations have demands of their own, demands Kiera knows all too well.
Truth Takes Trust
To make a real connection, to have honest and productive conversations, you have to be in a place where you’re vulnerable, transparent, and know it’s safe to speak your truth. But to get there, you first have to be honest with yourself. Kiera says it’s only when we’re honest that we can understand our truth and accept it. We need to be honest in order to know our strengths. And when we’re honest, we know we were and are a different person at the different stages of our life. Then we can be honest with those in our circle. Then we can make real connections.
“Real connections happen when I’m vulnerable, which lets others share their vulnerability with me,” Kiera said. “I’m more authentic when I share my truth, which enables others to be authentic and share their truth. We’re genuine in our emotions and support of one another. We’re not in competition with each other, so we can find solutions that are a win for everyone.”
Authenticity, Honesty, Transparency
When she wields her superpower, a conversation with Kiera is powerful, engaging and diverse, adjectives that also describe this mother of two. As she builds KD Consulting Group, she’s continuing to focus on asking the next question and the next in order to make a difference. When asked what’s next, she has an immediate answer, “ I’m anxiously excited to step into what God has prepared for me.”
At her core, she values being genuine, advocating for others, and transparency in everything. She is fiercely focused on people. And no matter what she does, she must
- Believe in the mission and values of those she works with.
- Be able to trust colleagues and superiors she works with.
- Have fun doing what she needs to do. Life is serious, but it’s not that serious. Have fun. (The dance party starts at 3pm, every Friday.)
Joy and Trust
What I love most is the joy and energy she brings to everything she does. Fun, she says, gives us a chance to breathe, to take a moment. And that moment brings back energy to our life, because it’s a chance to reset. That interruption in our day allows us to take time to laugh, dance, or just drop our shoulders. And when we return to work, to a problem or chore, we’re refreshed. Solutions appear and problems get solved. It’s a place where strategy can meet success and a connection creates a meaningful impact.
Joy and energy are the secret sauce behind Kiera’s superpower. Making connections is as natural to her as breathing. I hope you’ll send her an email or follow her on LinkedIn. Ask her a question. Become part of her circle of connections. Because we all need more joy and trust in our lives.
