Kelli Muschett gracefully climbing the ladder of success
Published:Sunday | January 8, 2023 | 1:01 AM
Not everyone has the mental grit and know-how to work in business management where daily decisions can make or break a company’s success streak. Kelli McDaniel Muschett, deputy managing director and director of purchasing and administration at Stationery and Offices Supplies Limited (SOS), is proving she has what it takes even in the face of unexpected circumstances. While at it, she hopes to empower her daughters and women to pursue their goals with confidence and a commendable work ethic.
Muschett grew up in Kingston, Jamaica, with her parents and siblings, enjoying the usual childhood experiences of going to school and spending time with her family and friends. After graduating high school, she went to Canada to pursue a Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) degree at Ryerson University in Toronto. Though she chose that field, Muschett’s passions were primarily in creative arts. She enjoyed drawing and developing creative content from scratch. When she returned to Jamaica and began working in advertising and marketing, she found that aspects of the job allowed her to practise her creative skills.
She later attended the European University in Madrid, Spain, to secure a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business. Eager to put her business management skills to use, Muschett transitioned into working at SOS – the family business – in 2000. She grew up watching most of her immediate family members being directly involved in the business, established since 1965, and believed that she could be a valuable asset to its legacy.
When she joined the company, the executive team was occupied with core plans to advance the company and this allowed Muschett to focus on the outstanding areas for development and other aspects of the business that could be improved. “I started working on any areas within the company that needed greater attention to bring them on par with the others,” she recounted.
Appointed director of purchasing and administration, she became the go-to person for ensuring the smooth running of the business and the coordinator of the procurement of office furniture, the evaluation of suppliers, reviewing of product quality and more. When the COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly emerged, she strategically coordinated SOS’ inventory and chain management to ensure they were well stocked ahead of major shipping delays. This quick planning significantly boosted the company’s financial performance whereby it was able to support the local demand for its products when other companies experienced setbacks.
CREATIVE AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Over the years, Muschett has brought several of the company’s furniture lines on board including the ‘work-from-home’ line during the pandemic and the recent Evolve line, a modern collection of office furniture that generated over $13.2 million in revenue in its initial three months. Explaining how she merges her creative side with her business management skills, she said, “I work very closely with suppliers to ensure that the lines are reasonably priced but of good quality. I also ensure that each new line complements the other and that they are ultimately what our customers need to bring comfort and style to their office spaces.”
Following her remarkable contributions in 2021, Muschett was also appointed as the company’s deputy managing director, moving up the ranks to take on a larger leadership role. While some may focus on the prestige that comes with such a position, Muschett is focused on the bigger picture. “It’s thrilling and nice to have the title but, for me, it’s not about the title, it’s about the family. I want to do well for the SOS family. There are a lot of staff members here who we consider family and I want to do well because I know when SOS benefits, so do our employees.”
As she continues to do her part, Muschett hopes that SOS will one day become the ‘Home Depot’ of Jamaica and be well respected in the Caribbean for its high quality and wide variety of stationery and office supplies.
Meanwhile, asked what she believes has given her the edge to stand out over the years, Muschett said: “I think a lot of it stems from my family values. My parents raised me and my siblings so that we never felt lesser than anybody else. I was raised to be an independent person, to think for myself and to make sure that I worked hard for what I wanted in life.” For other women who may be hoping to step out of their comfort zones or take their careers to the next level, Muschett encouraged them to develop a positive and determined attitude, learn as much as they can about their field and never give up despite the obstacles.
When all is said and done, she hopes above all to accomplish the goals in her personal life and career; to be remembered as a kind person who worked hard for what she wanted and to have her two daughters know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.