Caliber President Grace Keith Rodriguez sat down with Kristie Galvani, one of Caliber’s Managing Directors, to talk about who she is and why she joined Caliber in 2021.

Grace: Since we’re currently a work-from-home workplace, tell us about “home” for you!

Kristie: I grew up on Long Island, NY and that’s where I live with my family today. I love Long Island for the suburban feel and the close access to the city, beaches and mountains. I have lived in several different towns within Long Island but have been here my entire life.

Grace: What’s your favorite part of your job as Caliber’s Managing Director?

Kristie: I love that everyday I get to continue building relationships. Whether that is with fellow co-workers, clients, potential Caliber hires or prospective new clients. I thrive on socialization and I love that Caliber creates an environment where I can do that, even in a virtual setting. One of my favorite ways to socialize is our bi-weekly virtual Caliber happy hours. We play trivia, get-to-know-you games, name that song competitions and so much more. It’s a really fun, relaxed environment to get to know your co-workers on a more personal level.

Grace: What’s your favorite activity outside work?

Kristie: I love spending time with my family. In the winter we go skiing whenever we get a chance. My husband and my 12-year-old son snowboard while my 9-year-old son and I ski. It’s great to get away, get some exercise in and enjoy the fresh air together. The rest of the year I spend a lot of time on the lacrosse field cheering on my two boys.

Grace: What’s one thing that amazes you about fintech or innovation in financial services?

Kristie: It’s been thrilling to see how the fintech and finserv spaces continue to evolve to keep up with new consumer demands and expectations. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a level of digital acceleration that not all companies were prepared for. However, fintechs were ready and able to deliver the products and services that were needed, securing their value in today’s financial ecosystem.

Grace: What’s one accomplishment from your childhood that you still brag about?

Kristie: Winning the talent show in 5th grade singing Radio Romance by Tiffany.

Grace: Tell us your most significant accomplishment since joining the Caliber team.

Kristie: Helping to successfully kick-off a few new clients while being a key member of the team on existing clients. I love becoming immersed in a client’s business and helping them to create messaging, content and media opportunities that will make an impact. At Caliber I get to work on a diverse range of clients and exciting projects including an innovative fintech company that is helping individuals diversify their retirement and investments, an insurtech that is making road safety better by using data and technology and a non-profit foundation whose mission is to accelerate collaboration and innovation in financial services through the adoption of open source software.

Want to learn more about the Caliber team? Click here to read all about us.

Grace: What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Kristie: I was in a Google Glass reality series on YouTube. The CEO from one of my previous agencies was a social media pioneer and she got to be a Google Glass explorer. We decided to film the world’s first reality show filmed through Google Glass, called Glasslandia. It was a really fun experience and the first episode had nearly 40,000 views on YouTube.

Grace: If you had to include one ingredient in every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Kristie: That’s not an easy question, as there are many things I could pick here, but I am going to go with butter. It’s a simple ingredient that adds so much flavor and complexity to both sweet and savory dishes.