Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendri Burkett.
Hi Kendri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was studying to become a registered dietitian when I got on a plane to San Diego to throw a surprise bridal shower for my sister and I pulled the Southwest Airlines magazine out of the seat pocket. An article about personal chefs caught my eye, and suddenly a question popped into my head: Would I rather cook for people than just develop meal plans for them?
I had no formal culinary training, but I figured if I couldn’t cook, people would know pretty quickly! This was the era of dial-up internet, so research options were limited, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. So in April 2001, I took the leap and launched Savor the Moment Personal Chef Service (later renamed Just in Thyme).
My second business adventure began in May 2003 when I surprised everyone I knew, including myself, and joined Mary Kay as an Independent Beauty Consultant. At the time, I barely wore makeup (mostly eyeliner and chapstick) and I definitely wasn’t the most outgoing person, so there was a steep learning curve ahead.
But I quickly fell in love with the culture, the people, and the opportunity to help women feel more confident in themselves. For three years I ran both businesses side-by-side before transitioning to Mary Kay full time in 2006.
As my business grew, I knew leadership was where I wanted to be. I built a team and began moving up the career path, mentoring and coaching other women while leading trainings and workshops. That role awakened something in me: I loved helping people grow.
At the same time, raising my kids while working from home was one of the greatest gifts of my career. The flexibility allowed me to build a business while still being present for the moments that mattered most.
Now that my kids are launching into their own lives, I’ve felt a strong pull to expand again. I wasn’t immediately sure what direction that would take, but one thing was clear: I’m deeply passionate about helping people understand themselves and others.
As I discerned what that next chapter could look like, I began exploring how to take my coaching and mentoring beyond my Mary Kay team and serve women leaders in a broader space. I have a deep desire to help women discover who they truly are, clarify what they want, and learn how to live in alignment with their core values so they can experience greater peace and sustainability in their lives.
That desire led to the creation of Y Co Coaching in September 2025.
The “Y” stands for why—as in discovering your deeper purpose. It also resembles the shape of a slingshot, symbolizing the stretching and launching that often happens during seasons of growth.
Today I provide one-on-one life coaching, workshops, and group coaching. I’m currently pursuing certification as an Enneagram Coach and also work with several other personal development frameworks including CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder), Working Genius, The Four Tendencies, and DISC. Through these tools, I help people gain insight into how they’re wired so they can lead, live, and relate to others with greater clarity and confidence.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been plenty of challenges along the way. In the beginning, simply learning how to be an entrepreneur felt overwhelming. I was in my mid-20s and, although I had a college degree, I had never taken a single business class. Personal chef services were also a completely unfamiliar concept in Kansas City at the time, so I regularly found myself answering the question, “What exactly is a personal chef?”
Financial resources were limited, which meant I wore a lot of hats. My husband and I taught ourselves how to build my website, design my business cards, and we figured out much of the business side through trial, error, and persistence.
Like every business owner, I also faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because about 90% of my work happened in person, I had to quickly pivot to virtual appointments, porch drop-offs, mailing samples, and finding new ways to stay connected with customers. Ironically, 2020 and 2021 ended up being some of my best years in Mary Kay, but they required learning an entirely new way of doing business.
The biggest challenges, however, have been internal.
Fear of rejection. Fear of failure. Comparison. The voice in my head that asks if I’m really capable of what I’m trying to build.
Learning to be willing to be bad at something before I’m good at it requires courage and vulnerability. And as someone who naturally wants to appear confident and competent, putting myself out there while I’m still learning can feel uncomfortable.
Life and business skills rarely come easily. Many of the most meaningful lessons in my journey have come from stepping forward before I felt fully ready.
As you know, we’re big fans of Y Co Coaching. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Y Co is all about alignment and identity. Too often, we end up on autopilot in our careers and personal lives instead of intentionally living from our core values. Without realizing it, we can drift into someone else’s version of success or follow a path that doesn’t truly reflect who we are.
My work helps people pause and reconnect with how they are uniquely designed and wired so they can live with greater purpose and meaning. Instead of feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or unsure about what’s next, they gain clarity about who they are and how they want to show up in their work, relationships, and personal goals.
I specialize in Enneagram coaching, identity work, and helping clients uncover their core values.
What sets me apart is my ability to see beneath the surface and ask thoughtful questions that help people discover insights for themselves. Whether I’m working with someone one-on-one or leading a group workshop, my goal is to create a space where people gain both clarity and practical next steps for the season they’re in.
I offer a free 15-minute clarity call to help potential clients talk through where they are right now and explore whether coaching or a workshop might be the next right step.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
As a perfectionist, I used to avoid risk and shy away from situations where I might make mistakes. Much of my sense of value was tied to my accomplishments, and I didn’t want to jeopardize that by failing or looking unprepared.
Over time, though, I’ve grown to see that something a mentor once told me is absolutely true: sometimes the riskiest thing you can do is play it too safe. I’ve also learned that when I’m trying to control every outcome, I’m usually leaving very little room for God to work.
Starting a business is a risk in itself. So is trying new things or stepping into an entirely different industry, as I did when I moved from the culinary world into the beauty industry with Mary Kay. More recently, it has felt risky to start something new again at nearly 50 years old, especially when the familiar path is something I’ve been doing for more than two decades.
At the same time, there’s another side of me that actually enjoys the stretch. I’m naturally adventurous and open to change. It’s rarely comfortable, but I love to stretch myself.
And if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that people themselves are inherently risky. Relationships, leadership, and investing in others always require vulnerability. But they’re also where some of the most meaningful work happens.
I’d describe my approach to risk as intentional rather than impulsive. I’m not someone who jumps without thinking, but with prayer, discernment, and wise counsel from people I trust, I’m willing to step into situations where the outcome isn’t guaranteed and trust God with the results.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ycocoaching.com
- Instagram: @yco.coaching
- Facebook: @kendri.burkett
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendri-burkett-yco/
- Youtube: @ycocoaching
- Other: [email protected]
