MoneyTalk With Kristine, Founder of Rankfull

Hello Kristine!

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m the founder of Rankfull, the ultimate employment platform that provides the human resources industry with a trusted platform that helps employers manage their online reputations, and verifies employees, so they can rank employers anonymously, free of comments. Rankfull also offers universal employer reputation management, professional services and corporate connections for verified job seekers. I’ve worked in technology, finance, law, healthcare, retail and consulting. I’m a graduate of the University of Washington, have three older kids, a dog, many friends and several business ideas always percolating.

What inspired you to launch Rankfull?

I am building and running a business in the most unsexy, but most needed sector possible: human resources. After spending several years raising three kids as a single mum and working for someone else, I needed a change. The more accomplished I was at work, the less satisfied I was. Over the past year, I made a major life change to align to my purpose: to empower humanity and to have useful, fulfilling and productive work. So, one day I really did wake up and think, “If employers could background check us, why can't we background check them?” So, I decided to create it!

What’s your relationship like with money and personal finance?

I consider myself fiscally conservative. I am not extravagant. My car is 13-years-old and fully paid off. I always pay off my debts. For me, money is a symbolic representation of the flow of energy. I recognize that the harder I work, the more money I have the opportunity to bring in. My goal is for that money to go toward the business, my family and empowering women around the world (more on that in a minute).

How has it changed since you started building your own business?

It’s always been the same.

What does financial independence mean to you?

Financial independence means all my debts are paid and I am earning passive income. I don’t ever want to worry about not being able to pay a bill, and instead, focus on donating large sums of money to charities I care about (Doctors without Borders; Boys and Girls Clubs of America; and causes that help alleviate poverty and educate girls around the world).

What’s the one thing you indulge in?

I would say facials and good food. And it doesn’t even have to be at a “fancy restaurant.” I enjoy traditional recipes that your mum would make. You know the type: homegrown “mom and pop”  restaurants, like those where I live in Portland, Oregon, that pour their hearts into their food.

What is the best financial decision you have ever made?

Funding my college education. I believe education is the best financial equalizer. I am a single mum, but because I have my degree, it has given my kids and me a huge leg up in this world. And my student loans are all paid off!

Have you ever experienced a financial epiphany? A sort of wake-up call, where you suddenly think - “I must start doing things differently”?

“Financial independence means all my debts are paid and I am earning passive income.”

When I started my own business, I had to realize that making money for myself would give me financial independence and freedom. Making profit for others is not the key to financial freedom. Money makes me happier when I have a greater purpose for it. I want to distribute money to others who need it more than I do. I want to contribute to the advancement of women in the U.S. and other countries. I am deeply passionate about making sure women have access to education. That’s why I will put 10% of Rankfull’s profits toward worker retraining, education of women and girls worldwide, and training under-represented minorities to go into tech careers. When you fund women and girls with education, you can triple the world’s GDP. Knowing this, why wouldn’t you put funds toward women so they can better themselves?

What is Vestpod for you?

It’s our power as women to collaborate and form circles: support each other. It’s what we do best.

Own up. Have you made any major financial faux-pas?

I didn’t negotiate the terms of some of my first jobs. I just thought I was so gosh darn lucky to get that job. I was going to take whatever they were going to give me. I also didn’t know that I could negotiate on more than just salary. I could have had greater career growth faster if I’d been smart enough to negotiate. Things like additional vacation time, reimbursement for my cell phone, being able to work a day or more at home, greater mentorship opportunities, being put into a leadership program or bench program.

Favourite book & podcast?

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn

Startup Radio Network (I was recently featured on the startup-a-thon)

Your story:

I started Rankfull in November 2017 after I decided to leave my director job in the Core Services Engineering group at Microsoft. I had spent over eight years in various capacities at Microsoft and was ready for the freedom that comes from charting my own path. Before that, I was a director in technology operations at Nike and a director of business intelligence at Avalara. I’ve worked in technology, HR, finance, law, healthcare, retail and consulting.

I live in Portland, Oregon and absolutely love it here! I previously lived in the Seattle, Washington area and finally moved to Portland two years ago. I LOVE living in a forest and seeing the light coming through the trees. If you need to reach me, I can usually be found at The Custom House, where our office is, or on LinkedIn.

Where can we find you?

Online you can find me here on Twitter | LinkedIn: Rankfull and Kristine | Facebook

Thanks a lot!

-- Emilie