Kalisha Holland, BNSF Railway’s chief diversity and inclusion officer, provided powerful lessons on grit, belonging and purpose during Neeley’s Against All Odds speaker series, leaving students empowered to lead with authenticity.
February 17, 2025
By Alexandria Salinas
Before taking the stage at the Neeley School of Business, Kalisha Holland sat at a table with a group of TCU students for a small-group conversation about her personal experience transcending conventional corporate success and the lessons the students could learn from her stories.
Immediately following the lunch, they gathered with a much larger group in TCU Neeley’s Shaddock Auditorium for the Against All Odds speaker series, powered by Bank of America, where that conversation expanded to reach an audience of business professionals, students, faculty and staff.
Holland, who serves as the chief diversity and inclusion officer and general director of talent acquisition at BNSF Railway, described her professional journey over two decades across roles in accounting, technology, marketing and operations. Her story resonated as a testament to the fortitude required to navigate various professional spaces.
“I always say, live a life of curiosity. Always be willing to ask questions first, rather than giving your opinion. That’s the only way I’ve been able to deepen my level of thinking, understanding and even self-awareness,” Holland shared.
The Against All Odds speaker series was designed to inspire students to interrogate their own narratives of resilience. Tracy Renee Williams’ 04, the event moderator, guided the conversation with incisive questions that unveiled the nuanced intersections of Holland’s personal and professional life. Those questions allowed Holland’s wisdom to shine through, keeping the conversation both engaging and insightful.
For students, connecting with a trailblazer like Holland was transformational.
One TCU student expressed excitement about meeting Holland, having been inspired by her even before the event. She asked Holland about time management and juggling work and her personal life.
Holland responded with heartfelt advice, sharing her three rules for balance – 1) prioritize what's important in the moment, 2) say no unapologetically, and 3) be fully present.
"My family is always my number one priority," Holland said. "If I decide to go to a basketball game, you're not going to see me on my phone. You're going to see me standing out cheering whoever on."
Craig Crossland, the John V. Roach Dean for the Neeley School of Business, emphasized the series’ significance, noting, "Against All Odds really resonates because of its subtitle: stories of grit and determination. What I love is that we get to hear from top-level leaders about the innovative strategies they've personally used to overcome challenges."
During the 90-minute conversation, Holland seamlessly blended her strategic leadership style at BNSF with personal moments that shaped her resilience.
Reflecting on her early days supervising union employees, she shared, “I was the youngest on the team, the only person of color and the only woman. I quickly learned I had to be less of a leader and more of a team member to that group.”
Her approach to leadership, rooted in authenticity and connection, underscored the importance of humanity in professional spaces.
“When you focus on that deeper connection, people want to work for you—they go above and beyond because they feel seen and valued,” she added.
Holland’s words illuminated a pathway where purpose and perseverance converge, inviting attendees to envision their own story of triumph against the odds.
