Remarkable Women @ KT | Lauren Tibbs
What does it take to transition an entire global workforce from working in-person in an office to being fully remote — almost overnight? Our Global IT Director found out last year when she (along with her team) quickly pivoted to keep our employees safe during Covid. They were responsible for making sure that our employees had everything they needed to support the people who matter most — our customers. Read on to learn more about Lauren’s career dreams, her female heroes, and more.
Hey Lauren! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! My name is Lauren Tibbs and I am the Global IT Director at KeepTruckin. I manage several teams that make up the IT Org; Helpdesk, IT Infrastructure, Internal Security (Partnered with Engineering), and IT Project Management. We are a busy team and in addition to the daily operations, we can have more than a dozen major projects running at any given time across my Org. I am also focused on partnering with the rest of the business to constantly improve our policies, processes, and services to the KeepTruckin Staff.
What does it mean to be a woman in the world today? How do you define your role?
I would say constant adaptation and the ability to stay focused on your goals whatever they are regardless of your perceived limitations. The world moves fast, things change and you need to adjust or pivot all the time to keep up. People have preconceived ideas about who you are or should be without knowing you. It can be exhausting but I love the challenge of succeeding based on my definition of what success means for me, not anyone else. I love having to constantly learn new things and the challenge it presents. I see my role as many different things all at once, I am a daughter, a wife, a friend, a professional, and a lot more.
What was your career dream as a young girl?
I wanted to be a Paleontologist or an Archaeologist when I was younger. I was (and still am!) fascinated by ancient history; outer space, dinosaurs & megafauna, ancient civilizations, etc. I could not get enough books, museums, and documentaries growing up.
Who are your female heroes?
My mom! She is the most amazing and supportive woman in the world to me. She had an incredible executive career starting in payroll & banking in a time when she was often the only woman in leadership. It was watching her and my father leave their safe stable jobs in the 90s to go to a start-up together that really impacted me. I watched them work long hours, help build something from nothing and eventually have a successful IPO. I saw her work ethic, constant energy, and excitement and wanted that. I wanted to love my work that much too. She has always had my back — it never occurred to me as a little girl that I could not achieve something I really dedicated myself to, and I have her to thank for that mindset.
What does it mean to be a woman working at KT? How is it different from your past experiences?
I honestly do not think about my gender very often at all at KT. That is not to say that it does not matter, it does. At KeepTruckin, I can just be the friendly IT Director with the focus on my skills and abilities alone. This is different from past roles I have had, where I was sometimes the only minority in my Org or even on the floor I was on. When that happens, you miss out on so much — different ideas, perspectives, and much more. I attribute this to KeepTruckin’s constant effort to diversify and to ensure that everyone feels like they can bring their full selves to work.
If you were an owner/operator of a transportation company, what would you want to transport?
Books! I love reading and friends often joke I will one day be crushed by the pile of books I am trying to get through. (if that happens, bury them with me — I will have all the time in the world to get to them then!) That said, I feel strongly that education is the greatest gift we can provide. I love the idea of transporting books to folks who are eagerly waiting for them.
Want to work with the remarkable women at KT? We are hiring! Check out our careers page
