By Kenya Pitts Elder, Vice President of Learning, Lead180 Coaching & Consulting
As a Georgia native, I have dedicated my career to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their full potential through learning and leadership. In my current role, I oversee leadership programs and individual coaching at Lead180 Coaching & Consulting. This journey, however, has been deeply influenced by one assessment—the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB).
In 2018, my husband and I packed up our lives in Frisco, Texas, and returned to Douglas County, Georgia, where I was stepping into an exciting new role as the Director of Professional Learning for the public school system. My first day was a bit chaotic—my office wasn’t even set up. Picture this: a temporary table, a chair, a laptop, and me, ready to conquer the world. Then, I received an email from my director inviting me to take the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB).
My initial thought? “Highlands Ability, what now?” I reluctantly opened the email and followed the instructions, half-expecting it to be another personality test like StrengthsFinder or Myers-Briggs. You know, the kind that tells you whether you’re an “intrepid adventurer” or a “mastermind strategist.” Still, I scheduled the battery and soon received a call from Dr. Dori Stiles, Director of Training for Highlands who assured me, “You can’t fail this. You can’t get it wrong.” Her pep talk was comforting as she emphasized paying attention to my learning style and assured me that I didn’t have to complete the three-hour assessment all in one sitting.
An Eye-Opening Discovery of My Natural Abilities
Of course, being the overachiever I am, I decided to tackle it all in one go. I set up my computer at home, put on my headset, and dove in. Two hours later, I emerged with a splitting headache, convinced I had failed my first “assignment” at my shiny new job. I stared at the 19 work samples, thinking, “Surely, they’ll realize I’m an imposter and send me packing.” But when I got my report —a whopping 30 pages—my perspective shifted. It was all about me—Kenya. I had never seen such a detailed and personalized report. I scheduled my debrief with Dr. Stiles, and that experience was a game-changer. She explained each of the 19 work samples, clarifying the aptitudes they assessed and why they were set up that way. The score results didn’t indicate pass or fail but simply revealed where my strengths and challenges lay.
It was exhilarating to see my natural abilities mapped out so clearly. The HAB helped me understand my daily work and career activities, how I interact with coworkers, subordinates, and those I lead. For example, while I had always recognized my extroverted nature, the HAB not only confirmed it but also revealed how, combined with my Generalist tendency, this trait naturally shapes my style as a Networker in both my daily life and work as a leader. This insight was more than validating—it was transformative.
Transforming Relationships through Understanding
The insights from the HAB not only revitalized my career but also had a transformative impact on my personal life. When my husband took the HAB, it was a revelation—we discovered how his Introvert Specialist preferences and my Extrovert Generalist tendencies influenced our interactions. Recognizing what energized or drained each of us allowed us to approach one another with deeper empathy and patience. After all, clarity fosters kindness.
The Path to Becoming a Highlands Consultant
My fascination with the HAB continued, and soon, I embarked on the journey to become a certified Highlands Consultant. This wasn’t a small commitment; the certification training process is rigorous and comprehensive. But it equipped me with the skills to effectively support leaders from diverse backgrounds in unlocking their potential. Today, with six years of experience as a Highlands Consultant, I’ve had the privilege of helping both adults and students connect with their unique abilities and leverage them for personal and professional growth.
Finding My True Self and Embracing My Patterns
The HAB also offered insights into my family history and how my natural abilities fit within my family of origin. One of the most powerful revelations was realizing that when I don’t have a natural ability in a certain area, it just means it takes more time, effort, and energy to perform tasks related to that ability. It provided talking points in various conversations and allowed me to better explain aspects of my personal and professional style, such as my lower idea productivity. Realizing that low idea productivity wasn’t a lack of creativity but simply a need for more time to generate ideas also revealed my capacity for sustained focus and concentration.
One hilarious realization was understanding why I instinctively tap my pen or chew gum while memorizing content—it turns out I’m a kinesthetic learner, and physical movement is essential to my learning process. Suddenly, these quirky habits made perfect sense! Ignoring my natural tendencies had led to frustration, but now I saw that these patterns weren’t inherently good or bad—they simply were part of who I am.
A Catalyst for Growth and Preventing Burnout
The Highlands Ability Battery pulled me back from the edge of career burnout, revealing personal blind spots and illuminating how my natural talents align across my work, social, and personal life. It inspired meaningful changes that fueled growth and expansion. With its deep research foundation and advanced technology, the HAB has proven to be a reliable guide, helping me understand and fully leverage my abilities as a whole person.
So, if you ever get the chance to take the HAB, don’t hesitate. Dive in with curiosity and an open mind. The insights you gain could be the key to unlocking your full potential, both professionally and personally. Whether you’re an executive coach, a CEO, a high school or college career counselor, a business owner, or an HR professional, the HAB offers a profound and transformative experience. Embrace it. It might just change your life as it did mine.
About the Author
Kenya Pitts Elder is a highly accomplished leader in the field of learning and development, currently serving as the Vice President of Learning at Lead180 Coaching & Consulting. With over 15 years of experience in programmatic leadership, people development, and strategic planning, Kenya has a proven track record of driving organizational success through effective program delivery, data-driven decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.
A native of Georgia, Kenya has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential. In her current role she oversees the development and implementation of comprehensive leadership development programs. These programs include individual coaching, group training, human assessments, and organizational planning. Her strategic leadership ensures that all learning initiatives are impactful, innovative, and aligned with the company’s mission to create undeniable contrast in perspective, performance, and passion.
Before joining Lead180, Kenya held various leadership positions, including Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Executive Director of Communications, and Director of Training Learning and Development. Her experience spans across both corporate and educational sectors, where she has designed and delivered high-quality training programs and facilitated professional development for diverse audiences.
In addition to professional achievements, Kenya is a certified Highlands Ability Battery (HAB) and Personal Vision Coach, a Crucial Conversations Trainer, and holds certifications in instructional design, project management, and instructional technology.
Kenya’s dedication to continuous learning, combined with her strategic vision and ability to foster collaborative environments, has made her a sought-after expert in the field of learning and development. Her commitment to excellence and passion for helping others achieve their goals continues to drive her success and impact.
Education & Certifications
- Ed.L, Administration and Supervision Leadership, Georgia Professional Standards Commission
- Certified Instructional Design & Course Development – Langevin Learning Service
- Effective Project Management Certified, Advanced Learning Partnerships
- Microsoft Office User Specialist and Google for Education Certified
- Certified Human Assessment Consultant, Highlands Company, Highlands Ability Battery
- Certified Crucial Learning Trainer, Crucial Conversations, Crucial Learning
kenya.elder@lead180.org – www.lead180cc.org
