GREAT TEAMS START WITH GREAT PEOPLE.

Meet Chris Kalna

Where are you from originally, and how do you contrast it with where you live and work now?

I’m originally from Readington, New Jersey. It’s about an hour west of NYC and an hour north of Philadelphia. Life there was much different than in DC (where I currently reside). It was quiet, with lots of farms and land, and more spread out. My parents have over five acres – complete with trees, hills, and streams. After living in DC for so long, it’s hard to adjust to the quiet when we visit them.

How would you describe your role at MorganFranklin to a third grader?

As a new parent, I’m sure Career Day is in my future, so this is excellent practice! I would say something to the effect of, “Every day I get to help people and companies use computers and apps better than they’ve ever been used before.”

What inspired you to pursue a career at MorganFranklin?

Throughout my career in consulting, I have met many people who currently work at (or have worked at) MorganFranklin. I have never heard people speak so highly of a company before. They particularly mention the great leadership and mentorship opportunities as well as the interesting mix of client work they’ve undertaken.

What characteristics and disciplines do you need to be successful in your role at MorganFranklin?

Time management is critical when juggling multiple client projects at the same time. It’s also important to be organized, disciplined, communicative, and thorough. These traits will get you halfway there; the rest is effort and hard work.

What are some personal challenges you have encountered in your career — as it relates to the fast-paced environment of Private Equity services — and how have you overcome them?

Private Equity is fantastic in terms of how much can get accomplished over the course of an investment, but it’s the work behind the scenes that drives those successes. In my career I have faced tough questions from executives, stakeholder doubts, missed deadlines, and frustrations with vendors – but you cannot let any of these factors disrupt your progress. If you have a well-organized plan, and communicate with all stakeholders, you can get past these frustrations and accomplish your goals.

How have you taken ownership of developing your expertise in Salesforce and NetSuite?

It’s all about practice. I have raised my hand to get involved with these systems as much as possible throughout my career. These opportunities have given me the skills and background to speak at almost any level with clients about the systems and their capabilities.

If you’re looking for a way to start, get involved in the online communities. Read blogs, send messages on LinkedIn, watch Youtube tutorials, sign up for free trial environments, dig that extra layer deeper, and you will see results.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career at MorganFranklin?

I would suggest networking with existing employees, attending events, showing an interest in your field (and our firm), and making us know who you are and why you want to work at MorganFranklin.

What was your favorite subject(s) in school and why?

Anatomy and Physiology (I always wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon or pediatrician), Marketing (I really like the creative side of selling and attracting new business), and Management Information Systems (I love learning about all of the decisions and configurations you can make in applications).

What does an ideal Saturday look like for you?

An ideal Saturday involves time with my wife and one year-old daughter. We’ll have breakfast together, teach our little one to read, go to the parks in DC, then make dinner together back home. It’s incredible how quickly the last year has gone by, so any time together with them is perfect for me.