Kathleen M. McDonald

At 17, the main reason I was in Little Rock was my family; plus a full scholarship, including study abroad, from the Donaghey Scholars Program at UA Little Rock, and an awesome job at Aristotle Inc., where I got any geek cred I have. Twenty years later, I’m still here mainly because of my family, but also because of my awesome job helping businesses and individuals in Arkansas and around the globe navigate the labyrinth that is immigration law, and my involvement in my community through groups like the Little Rock Police Foundation, the Chamber’s Hispanic Business Committee
and Think Big Little Rock.

PRESSING QUESTIONS

How I define success:

Professionally – obtaining the right outcome at the right time for my clients; personally – being able to do that and have some work-life balance!

Most rewarding part of my job:

Helping companies reach new levels of success because they’re able to hire the exact talent they need, and helping families come to, or stay together in, our amazing country.

Advice for my 18-year-old self:

Just breathe and do your best; after that, it’s out of your hands.

Best career moment so far:

Going into private practice. Although I loved many aspects of being a deputy prosecutor here in Pulaski County, it wasn’t until private practice that I realized how much of a broader impact I can have by weaving together many of my passions.

Biggest challenges in my career:

Currently, the huge amount of misinformation and misunderstanding about immigrants and the immigration process.

Favorite part of living in Little Rock:

Being involved in some of the awesome projects going on (or in the works) – there’s a lot of energy behind them and I love having a hand in helping shape our region’s future.

I wish I knew how to:

Speak more foreign languages! It enables communicating and connecting with people in a way that otherwise would not be possible.

My typical workday:

Check email, communicate with clients, see if anything in the immigration world has changed overnight, draft client forms/petitions, set meetings with prospective clients, attend meetings (or conference calls) of any of my 90 million organizations (TBLR, LRPF, AWLF...)

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

PRESSING QUESTIONS

How I define success:

Most rewarding part of my job:

Advice for my 18-year-old self:

Best career moment so far:

Biggest challenges in my career:

Favorite part of living in Little Rock:

I wish I knew how to:

My typical workday:

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Neighborhood you live in

Quapaw Quarter

Hometown

Little Rock

Last good read

“Into the Beautiful North” by Luis Alberto Urrea

Favorite Food

Supreme pizza or Venezuelan empanadas

Favorite Lunch Spot

My desk?

First thing you do at the office each morning

Check email

Last splurge

The Broadmoor

Hobbies

Chill with my peeps, dance salsa, read fiction

Dream Vacation

Around the world, a few countries at a time

Favorite Song

So many! Maybe “Canta Trompeta Querida” by Arturo Sandoval or Stevie Wonder’s “As”

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