Lyte presents “Womxn at Lyte,” a series of conversations highlighting the voices of our womxn.
Q: As a child, what did you think you wanted to be, and how do you think you came to that decision?
Krystle Jackson: At 5 years old, I told my Mom that I wanted to be a model. She was my inspiration - she was a model in the Philippines up until a few years before I was born. We loved experimenting with fashion, playing dress-up, and taking photos together. My Grandmother and Aunties also had an influence on me, they each exhibited the most inspiring and bold styles. And I was born in the 80s and the supermodel era was in full swing, it was such a fun time! I started modeling locally at age 5 and then I signed contracts with a few San Francisco-based agencies and continued to work until my early 20s. This was all before social media so I was able to be creative and explore the industry under the radar with the support of my parents. I’m so grateful for that time in my life. When I reflect back, those life experiences were instrumental in shaping who I am today. When I want something, I go for it and I give it my all. I learned how to show up, be professional, and balance academics with extracurricular activities. As I transitioned out of that work, it was clear to me I would continue to shape a future for myself that would be true to me and make me happy. I always knew I wanted to work with people in a creative environment.
Q: What would your younger self be most surprised about how you live your life today?
Krystle Jackson: I don’t think my younger self would have had any idea that I would be navigating through a pandemic as a working Mom. I definitely never imagined working from my kids' bedroom. During the early part of the pandemic, while the kids were attending school virtually, my husband had an entire system set up; our son was on zoom at the dining room table, and my daughter was at a school desk set up in our bedroom. I would bounce between the kids' rooms, whichever room had the best lighting. After school, they would reclaim their rooms and I'd move to either the backyard or the garage.
I’m so grateful for my husband and his partnership through this rollercoaster ride. We’ve really established a rhythm at home with the kids. Even though we have our boundaries, and I ask that the kids keep a distance during my meetings, I also love the moments when my two worlds connect. During a company all-hands, while I was presenting, my daughter climbed onto my shoulders and just hung out there for a while. I was distracted for a moment but my gut said to keep going so I did. My daughter thought it was great because everyone smiled back at her, she loved the reactions from the team.
There are a lot of obstacles when it comes to working from home, especially with an active family with two young kids, and there are so many beautiful moments, too. I am able to show up for my kids at school, spend intentional time with them, share meals with them, and be present. I can be successful in my role at Lyte without sacrificing my role as an active and hands-on parent.
Q: What have you accomplished recently that would have shocked you a year ago?
Krystle Jackson: Since the pandemic, I’ve been exploring a lot of things I have always wanted to do. I got my motorcycle license in 2020. But when it came to what I needed, that hobby didn’t stick - it was too difficult to find enough time to get the practice in for me to get comfortable enough to invest in a motorcycle. So, last year I chose 8 wheels instead and started roller skating. Roller skating has become essential for me. It’s my “go-to and makes everything better'' activity. It’s exercise, therapy, and an opportunity for a new experience all wrapped into one. The skate community has been so welcoming and supportive. My sisters and I learned together at the same time. It's been so fun to see our progress over the last year. Every time I put on my skates, lift up and start moving, I feel pure joy roll over my entire body. And I breathe better. It’s magical.
Q: What lesson took you the longest to unlearn?
Krystle Jackson: Perfection is a killer of progress and creativity.
Q: What are you more afraid of, failure or success? And why?
Krystle Jackson: I want to win and I don’t want to lose. I’ve learned that in success you need to have both winning and losing. Either way, I’m learning and growing and that’s what I ultimately crave.
Q: What's non-negotiable in your life?
Krystle Jackson: Honesty. Accountability. Integrity.
Q: What do you think is the hardest part of what you do for a living?
Krystle Jackson: One of the more challenging parts of my role is navigating through change while leading effectively. Within start-ups, there’s constant change, and it’s not easy but it is essential for growth. It's important to be flexible, go with the flow, and be where you’re needed most.
Q: What do you love about working at Lyte?
Krystle Jackson: There are so many things to love about working at Lyte. I love being a part of creating, innovating, and building something from the ground up. I love the community and the culture we are creating together.
Q: What title would you give this chapter in your life?
Krystle Jackson: Nurturing Connection. This chapter is about self-care and self-love. It's based on time, intention, and love. I want to nurture a connection with myself first so I can be better connected to my loved ones and my community. I want to set an example for my kids.
Q: How did the Womxn at Lyte Series come about?
Krystle Jackson: We wanted to hear from the Womxn at Lyte. Koby and I were intentional about creating a comfortable space for a shared experience of conversation and storytelling and we let the rest happen organically. We asked questions and we listened.
Q: What was the experience like for you?
Krystle Jackson: This experience has been extremely special. From the first interview to the last, I found every interaction powerful and inspiring. At the close of every conversation, we would check in with each other and ask how the experience was for everyone. There was a shared sense of gratitude and appreciation for the space created together. Consistently we found ourselves more connected.
Q: What did you learn about womxn at Lyte?
Krystle Jackson: The process of telling our stories as well as reading each other’s interviews affirmed a lot of our own experiences.
P.s. we will continue to hear the voices of the Womxn at Lyte. Stay tuned!
"Sometimes it's best to let a problem breathe to get more clarity and allow for better and smarter resources to show themselves in the future.”
- Karina
"The impact womxn here at Lyte is profound. There's no gatekeeper here. We're all running together.”
- Jeanette
"It's just as important to celebrate the small wins that move us towards the big ones.”
- Meghan
Stay open. And don't think you know everything there is to know, because you probably don't.”
- Alexandra
"You fail when you are defensive. In my experience at Lyte, people are willing to put that to the side to hear and listen, and that is something really special and hard to find.”
- CC
"I don’t ever want to ever feel like I know everything or get stuck in my ways.“
- Analisa
"Progress over perfection.”
- Jennifer
"Sometimes, I have the feeling that the engineering team and myself are like little fixer-uppers that wake up, and like tiny gnomes are fixing things around here and there.”
- Sasha S.
"It’s an exciting improvement to see people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences succeed in leadership positions.”
- Wei
"I think womxn, all have a different story, but we all possess this unlimited strength, grit and hustle. We are a powerhouse of emotional intelligence.”
- Alexa
"A good day is a day when everybody is safe.”
- Natasha
"When you look back on a problem, you see how it can make you a stronger person.”
- Cynthia
"Womxn are too often paid less, promoted less, often because they don’t ask for it.”
- Angeline
"It takes a village to have success and a group is so much stronger than a single person.”
- Tiffanye
"With every new challenge comes an opportunity to push my limits, redefine my capabilities, get rid of the old, and plunge into the new.”
- Stephanie
"Failure is your best teacher."
- Zhenya
"Love in, love out. We can make this world a better place, just by being curious, caring, and doing what we love."
- Lera
"No matter where you were a few years ago, I think we’ve all gotten a little bit closer to understanding who we are, what’s important to us."
- Caroline
"My personal and professional life is my normal day-to-day, I want to be the best version of myself constantly."
- Koby
Womxn at Lyte featuring Krystle Jackson, Chief of Staff at LYTE