In support of ELFA’s People Power community ecosystem, Equipment Leasing & Finance Magazine presents leadership spotlights to help members connect, grow and lead across the equipment finance industry. In this issue, Kimberly Kennedy, Legal Counsel at Volvo Financial Services, shares pivotal experiences and insights that have helped drive her success.
What traits have been key to your career success?
Some of the traits that have made me successful in my various professional roles include curiosity, perseverance, and a strong sense of ownership. I consider my willingness to roll up my sleeves and support the team to be one of my strongest professional assets. I try to ask thoughtful questions and take the time to fully investigate issues to find practical solutions to problems so that the best outcome can be achieved. I also seek to understand not just my responsibilities, but the broader company and my role in it. I’m motivated to keep learning which helps me adapt quickly and add value.
What advice has stuck with you in your career?
One piece of advice that has stayed with me throughout my career is to stay open to opportunity and growth. It’s important to be confident in what you know and the value you bring, and it’s ok to ask for help. That balance has allowed me to continue learning, adapt to change, and grow into new opportunities with confidence.
Staying open to opportunity and being willing to take roles where I didn’t have direct experience enabled what I consider to be one of the best career decisions I ever made. I chose a position that felt like a step back on paper, but allowed me to build new skills, gain deeper knowledge, and ultimately move further forward than a lateral move would have provided.
What career advice did you not receive that you wish you had known sooner?
I wish I had known how many different doors a JD can open. When I was younger, I viewed a legal career through a fairly traditional lens and did not know that a law degree can be applied in countless ways, including in business, compliance, governance, and finance. Understanding that flexibility sooner would have encouraged me to explore opportunities with even more confidence and creativity.
What is the biggest challenge professionally you have had to overcome?
One of the biggest professional challenges I’ve faced was transitioning from a paralegal role to that of an attorney. While I had strong institutional knowledge to take on the new role, I had to earn the trust of my internal clients in my new capacity and demonstrate confidence in my judgment and legal advice. Through that experience, I learned that credibility is built through consistency, clear communication, and follow-through, and that trust develops over time.
What’s do you find most rewarding about your work?
One of my most rewarding work experiences has been mentoring law students, particularly first-generation law students. Supporting students as they navigate the legal profession, building confidence, and seeing what’s possible for their careers is incredibly meaningful and has reinforced the importance of giving back to others.
Do you have a motto?
Yes, it’s ‘Nothing beats a failure but a try.’ It reminds me that taking initiative and stepping outside my comfort zone is always better than letting fear or uncertainty hold me back. Even when the outcome isn’t perfect, the effort leads to learning, growth, and new opportunities.
