Kim Lane

I’m the CEO of the Conductor, a public-private partnership between the University of Central Arkansas and Startup Junkie that provides entrepreneurial support through mentorship, programming, access to capital, maker training and rapid prototyping in a free-of-charge makerspace. I’m the founder of Kim Lane Co., where I serve as a Regional Representative for the Kauffman Foundation, managing 30-plus chapters of an entrepreneurial program in a 5-state region of the U.S., and provide thought leadership as a consultant for Facebook, Inc., supporting a new program designed to connect collegiate talent with high-paid internships.I also serve as a Senior Advisor for the Global Entrepreneurship Network supporting entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world. I’ve served as a U.S. Delegate to the Global Entrepreneurship Congresses in Johannesburg, South Africa (2017); Istanbul, Turkey (2018); and Manama, Bahrain (2019).

PRESSING QUESTIONS

What makes Little Rock feel like home:

I grew up scaling the side of Pinnacle Mountain, exploring the trails of Petit Jean Mountain and kayaking the Buffalo. Central Arkansas is in my blood. My roots are here. My family is here. It is home.

How I knew this was my passion:

I am inspired every day by the entrepreneurs I work with. These are people who will risk anything to make their dreams come true. I love waking up every day to help people improve their lives. I can’t imagine anything better.

The one thing I wish people knew about my field:

Anyone can be an entrepreneur. You don’t need to have a specific degree, be in a specific industry or be a specific age or gender. Anyone who believes in the power of their dreams can turn their passions into realities.

If I could lunch with any woman, it would be:

My mom and I have had lunch almost every Friday of my adult life. And she used to do Friday lunches with her mom. I wouldn’t trade those days for anything in the world. She’s my absolute role model.

A nonprofit I wish more people knew about:

Deliver Hope. This nonprofit has seen a 48% reduction in teens going into the local juvenile detention center since it launched in 2013. Through mentorship and impactful programming, Deliver Hope is significantly changing the lives of underserved and at-risk youth in central Arkansas.

Best career moment so far:

It’s a toss-up between being named a finalist for the world’s best “Startup Champions” by the Global Entrepreneurship Network or winning a federal contract from the Small Business Administration that expanded the Conductor’s reach into 10 rural regions of Arkansas.

Biggest challenges in my career:

Finding time for sleep and self-care in the midst of all of the exciting opportunities. I’m so passionate about this work that sometimes I have to remind myself it’s important to take breaks and recharge.

What keeps me coming back to my job every day:

Any time I get an email from a student asking me to be her mentor or from an entrepreneur saying a meeting with the Conductor changed the trajectory of her life, I’m reminded that this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing.

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

PRESSING QUESTIONS

What makes Little Rock feel like home:

How I knew this was my passion:

The one thing I wish people knew about my field:

If I could lunch with any woman, it would be:

A nonprofit I wish more people knew about:

Best career moment so far:

Biggest challenges in my career:

What keeps me coming back to my job every day:

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Hometown

Little Rock

First thing I do at the office

Check my calendar and plan for the day

Best coffee in town

French press at home

Binge watch

"The Office"

Last good read

"The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann‎

Podcast recommendation

"Freakonomics"

Best recent local discovery

Rabbit Ridge Farms

Latest splurge

A flatbed of roses and ferns from Home Depot

Hobbies

Hosting dinner parties for our friends and family with food from our garden, morning walks with my husband and our Great Pyrenees Oakley

Most-used app

Nike Run Club or Evernote

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