How Ryan Festerling, CEO of QPS Employment Group, learned to embrace the unexpected.
As a kid growing up in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Ryan Festerling used to ride his bike through an empty field, unaware that years later, this same plot of land would become the corporate headquarters of Kohl's – the company where he'd spend 21 transformative years of his career.
"It was the last place in the world I wanted to work," Ryan chuckles, remembering how it was just where his mom took him shopping.
Today, as President and CEO of QPS Employment Group, Ryan’s journey from that bicycle-riding kid and would-be plumber to corporate leader is a story of adaptability and personal growth.
It’s not just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about understanding that sometimes the most significant opportunities come disguised as uncertainties.
Ryan’s career trajectory took its first unexpected turn when, fresh out of college with a finance degree, he received an unconventional offer to run college recruiting at age 23.
"When someone says, 'hey, you want to try this' at that age, I think the answer is yes," he reflects, a philosophy that would shape his entire professional journey.
Perhaps the most pivotal conversation of his career came from his mentor, Telvin Jeffries, who posed a simple yet profound question: "Do you want to be the director of compensation or do you want to sit in this chair someday?"
After 21 years at Kohl's, Ryan faced what initially seemed like a career crisis but transformed into an opportunity.
"You find yourself going, 'Well, what do you mean? I thought I had a really good career,'" he shares, his voice carrying the weight of that moment.
Yet six years later, he views that transition as "probably the most fortunate thing that happened," though he admits it didn't feel that way at the time.
Today, Ryan’s perspective on success has evolved dramatically.
The man who once focused primarily on rapid personal growth now finds fulfillment in helping others succeed.
"It's not about me anymore," he reflects, describing the powerful "boomerang effect" of servant leadership. "If I can help them, the boomerang effect is stronger than I ever thought."
His parting wisdom resonates with both seasoned executives and emerging leaders: embrace the balance of "ands" versus "ors."
You can have a thriving career and a rich personal life.
You can grow rapidly and take time to appreciate the journey.
For Ryan, success isn't about choosing between options – it's about finding the harmony that allows both to flourish.