Transcript
RJ Caswell: Well, I'm here today. I'm pretty excited about this conversation with my friend, Nick Kalanchinko. Nick, welcome.
Nick Kalenichenko: Thanks, RJ. Excited for this.
RJ Caswell: Hello. Well, I'm not going to do too much of an intro because I think we're going to cover a lot in a short amount of time. In the time span I've known you, which... isn't too long. I already know you've... founded a non -profit in two companies. In like one year.
RJ Caswell: So I do know you move fast. ah But the also thing I know about you really quickly is you love people and you love relationships. Is that is that a fair statement?
Nick Kalenichenko: That's a great introduction. That sums it up perfectly.
RJ Caswell: Yeah. Yes. yeah It's probably not your bio, but um I think it's a pretty pretty good one.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah, I like.
RJ Caswell: So um before we jump into the here and now and all the things you're you're working on, which... I do think you approach from a very relational perspective. which is probably why we connected so well. um I want to go back first.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: Um, And... Back to your first job. Don't know what your first job was.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: But. If you could share, what was your first job? What did you do? um And how old were you?
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. So this was after college. I moved down to Charlotte, North Carolina for a job in data science consulting. at ernst and young
RJ Caswell: That was your first job ever.
Nick Kalenichenko: That was my first job, yeah.
RJ Caswell: was Ernst & Young.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yep.
RJ Caswell: Oh my word. Okay, you got to share a little bit more about that because you jumped right into like a professional, professional setting. for your first work.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. And I had no idea what consulting was at that time. All I knew is that I wanted some data science job. I got my master's in data science from the University of Virginia.
Nick Kalenichenko: So I was applying for jobs. My mom was actually. Crazy story, but my mom actually applied for this job for me. when I was back home. because She did it one.
RJ Caswell: I'm not going to speak too much into like your generation because we're not exactly in the same generation.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: I think, you know, we're. close but we're not the same generation. um That is funny.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. it's It's a funny fact about how I landed in Charlotte, North Carolina. But. in consulting. I had no idea what to expect. To get even more granular, I was in forensics at EY.
Nick Kalenichenko: where we're dealing with like white collar crime. of large Fortune 500 organizations. So my first projects were. decently technical. I was hands on keyboard. But what I learned about consulting is that You have the people aspect and you have the tech aspect.
Nick Kalenichenko: And I didn't expect to love. being between those two groups so much. of communicating what I'm working on to different people. but then also building out the tech myself.
RJ Caswell: So... let's Let's take that a little bit further. So your your first role was after your master's in data science. now It's probably not. fair of me, but when I think of data science, I don't think...
RJ Caswell: high relationship. high interpersonal skills. um But when I think of Nick, I do think of those things.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: So tell me about that path for you. Did you notice any of those inconsistencies or was just you just had a love of people and data?
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. I... have always been Actually in college, I was a huge people person. Loved being social. in. my early days. like middle school elementary school i was very shy and introverted Actually.
Nick Kalenichenko: So that's where... I got into software development. through my dad he was kind of gently nudging me into that direction And I hated it. all knew i didn't want to do coding.
RJ Caswell: oh Oh wow.
Nick Kalenichenko: And then. Slowly over time, I got my undergrad in statistics. And with statistics. eventually they started incorporating some coding classes it was very goal.
Nick Kalenichenko: Because... your coding to make business decisions or to help. understand the data more and i really Loved that piece of it. And then. After. or during the master's program and I was applying for jobs. It was like, okay, it makes sense to.
Nick Kalenichenko: to go into some data science role. And I was expecting more of. hands -on keyboard the entire time. I didn't.
RJ Caswell: yeah
Nick Kalenichenko: I didn't know what to expect in a first job. So I had no idea if I would have liked coding for 40 hours a week. or what that even looked like. So it's hard to have a baseline against that. What I knew is I love technology and building And coding was.
Nick Kalenichenko: something that I grew to love. at that time during that master's program. it was very
RJ Caswell: Did your dad ever come back and say, I told you so.
Nick Kalenichenko: And... not Not exactly.
RJ Caswell: In a kind one.
Nick Kalenichenko: But he probably would. It's something you would say. But it's funny how like that. that turned around. and or post. in college.
RJ Caswell: So... Yeah. All right, we're going to go back again because... Typically, when I ask that question, that somebody's first job is usually a little bit earlier than. postmasters So I think you have a unique.
RJ Caswell: unique journey. um
Nick Kalenichenko: Sure.
RJ Caswell: And this... And this question actually might not take us back. It could take us to last week. It might take us to... 15 years ago. Um, But it's another question I ah love asking. um And it's...
RJ Caswell: who was the first person, and it doesn't have to be the first person, but typically, who was the first person that... really believed in Nick and who you were. before you believed in yourself.
Nick Kalenichenko: The first person.
RJ Caswell: or helped you believe in yourself.
Nick Kalenichenko: Hmm. The first person.
RJ Caswell: Or as far back as you can remember.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: It doesn't have to be the first person. It's a loose question. You can you can take it where you want to.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah yeah yeah. It's a great question.
Nick Kalenichenko: I would have to say. i think it's a pretty generic answer but it has to be my parents Where?
RJ Caswell: I don't think that's generic. I think that can be powerful. So to unpack that a little bit.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Yeah. I would. no matter what I did and growing up I was a Perfectionist. and the hygiene.
RJ Caswell: yeah
Nick Kalenichenko: I'm the oldest child. So everything I did, I felt a responsibility to do very well. And. through that. was whatever I chose to do, like tennis or playing the trumpet or piano.
Nick Kalenichenko: my parents were there to support me and help me. Do it to the best of my abilities And then even when I was applying for colleges. I... like studied for the SAT, took all those tests.
Nick Kalenichenko: And then my parents were like, okay, well. You have good grades. You have a good SAT. Just apply for the one school that you want to get into. so I only applied to the University of Virginia.
Nick Kalenichenko: And it was like almost like delusional. Like looking back, it's like only applied.
RJ Caswell: I don't think many college counselors would advocate for that strategy.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: Yeah.
Nick Kalenichenko: and I was really tight with the college counselor from my high school. Also context my dad's from Ukraine So there's also like a big cultural difference between.
RJ Caswell: Bruh.
Nick Kalenichenko: that thinking where it's so logical matter of fact It's like, hey. like you you're doing well i believe in you to write these essays and to get into this school. Let's.
Nick Kalenichenko: I... Let's just apply it at the one school that you want to go to and see what happens. And then I got deferred. from college. from the University of Virginia. And then. After that, it was like, okay.
RJ Caswell: Did you know at that time or did your parents know? that EVAs... Just one of the most... competitive. application admissions processes in the entire world.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah, we... It was like the best school in Virginia.
RJ Caswell: yeah
Nick Kalenichenko: And because I was in Virginia with in -state tuition, there's like a higher... chance of me getting into the school. And. It was. a question of okay it's going to be a stretch but we can do this so they were like supporting me through that application process and through school with grades and extracurriculars and pushing me to challenge myself to apply to UVA.
RJ Caswell: But then you got in obviously at some point.
Nick Kalenichenko: And then I got deferred. I applied to a few more colleges after that. I was like, okay, well I need to get accepted somewhere. So then I applied to Virginia Tech.
Nick Kalenichenko: An ODL. So I played to two more universities after that. And. I got accepted to UVA and then went there. for the undergrad and masters.
RJ Caswell: undergrad masters, and then then on to Charlotte, North Carolina with... Ernestine Young as a as a consultant. um But along the way, you also...
RJ Caswell: believed in the power of community and relationships, and you founded a nonprofit.
Nick Kalenichenko: mm -hmm
RJ Caswell: So how... What had happened up until that point for you to go? I'm gonna start this thing, or I'm gonna be a part of a group of people that start this thing. And I'll let you share what Kingdom Kickbacks, which is the name of the nonprofit.
Nick Kalenichenko: mm -hmm
RJ Caswell: is the genesis of it. ah But there's got to be something from your story that led led you to that.
Nick Kalenichenko: I totally fell into it Like I accidentally became. ah There was no intention in the beginning of this becoming a nonprofit. And it stems from...
Nick Kalenichenko: My... hard -for young adult Christian community. a large part of my testimony is finding that community in college. And then fighting Jesus through that. And that experience changed my life. like having people to do life with you, Bible studies, encourage you.
Nick Kalenichenko: was so countercultural to my first two years in college. So that was... a huge blessing for me and that's where i met Christ. So then post -grad.
Nick Kalenichenko: you don't have 20 something year olds around you at all times to do life with. So then... You have to be more intentional about finding those circles yourself.
Nick Kalenichenko: And of course, the first place that you look is church to find that.
RJ Caswell: ah
Nick Kalenichenko: The church that I was going to didn't have that. didn't have a built out young adult. Christian community. So it was very much so. You go to the church service.
Nick Kalenichenko: then afterwards because of parking constraints. everyone's out the door at the end. And. It was frustrating, especially because I was traveling. a bunch of my first two months here.
Nick Kalenichenko: like gone for different trainings or for work. as EY Job started. And. Because of that, it took me like two months before I popped to a different church that had Bible study that I got invited to.
Nick Kalenichenko: and they had more events going on and that's where I met friends. and that same kind of community to do life with Bye. It took two months, which felt like a long time.
RJ Caswell: her
Nick Kalenichenko: And then. because I was church hopping a bit in my early days of Charlotte. I... like I met some people at these different churches and then We hung out.
Nick Kalenichenko: all together like with people who've never met each other before because they were used to hanging out in their own individual church circles And then. We met up at. It was some... I think it was like High Wire Brewery.
Nick Kalenichenko: where it was just like hey let's play some board games there and hang out And it was a blast. And then we hung out a second time. And then even more people came. And then... um My friend Kelsey said, hey.
Nick Kalenichenko: We should really start a group meet for this, making a more normal thing. I was like, alright, let's do it. So then her and I... started this group meeting. And then her roommate.
Nick Kalenichenko: like we're thinking of names to name the group chat And then her roommate came up with the name Kingdom kick kingdom Kickbacks. And that's... Where it started.
RJ Caswell: It stuck. It's stock.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Stuck around, catchy name. you know People think that it means financial kickback sometimes.
RJ Caswell: Well, we are, in Charlotte is a banking city, so there's probably maybe more of that here, but even across the country, yeah, kickback is not.
Nick Kalenichenko: For sure.
RJ Caswell: typically looked on in a in a favorable light. So how did y 'all, what's behind the name for y 'all?
Nick Kalenichenko: For young adults, Kickback has a very informal... name of Just like hanging out, kicking back. with friends, like relaxed environment. So that's where we're. playing on words with Kingdom Kickbacks 4.
RJ Caswell: Love it. And so... So really this informal founder of a that ended up becoming a true nonprofit, a 501c3 nonprofit. and um really was built out of a need for community.
Nick Kalenichenko: Mm hmm. Yeah. And we started incorporating more. We got into a structure where we're doing a social event. And then we're doing a worship night and then a community service event every month.
Nick Kalenichenko: And those three events became our staples of. consistency of people can expect us to do one of those three events a month. And then. Out of. are.
Nick Kalenichenko: Well, to protect, we had a pickleball tournament and to like protect us from. any kind of people suing us if they get injured or something like that coming out.
RJ Caswell: That liability thing, yeah.
Nick Kalenichenko: ah liability That's where... ah Yeah, we've actually. We were at LLC. At that point.
RJ Caswell: Yeah.
Nick Kalenichenko: It's like, how can we quickly spin something up? to legally protect us for this pickleball tournament. And I was their legal guy. and still somewhat am. Bye. Amen. Turning the LLC into a non -profit was crazy with IRS and all those tax filings.
Nick Kalenichenko: but then we realized, hey. We're actually. much more aligned with a nonprofit than an LLC. So then we switch it to that. And then. since there's just been getting more structure around it and thinking through how we could like sustain it. sustainably. sustainably Keep. kingdom kickbacks around.
Nick Kalenichenko: Even if. Us who are. who founded it. or ran it in the early days. move cities or life events happen? Like, how can we make sure that people who are moving to Charlotte.
Nick Kalenichenko: still are able to find that community.
RJ Caswell: and First of all, yeah, obviously I love... that y 'all are already thinking that way, way past yourselves. But for you personally, Being on the ground floor of an informal gathering of friends that you you met. but trying to give that to others. What's that tension been like from building a framework and systems and processes?
RJ Caswell: organizationally. versus maintaining the roots of... making sure people are connected. and have community, have Christian community in the city if they move here. How was that?
RJ Caswell: How has that been for you personally trying to navigate those tensions?
Nick Kalenichenko: It's a hard question. Something that. We have. one of our members who's on the board now, but she was helping us in the early days run it. Her name is Juliana.
Nick Kalenichenko: And... She helps remind us all the time of. remembering the one. person. who's showing up, doesn't have friends.
RJ Caswell: yeah
Nick Kalenichenko: who doesn't know anyone in Charlotte. who's coming to kingdom kickbacks event for meeting someone new. And. It is tricky for me to think through. because as we naturally grow. and have more people coming to our event.
Nick Kalenichenko: How can we still bring that intentionality to the one person who's in that situation? and make sure that they are feeling welcomed. at our events and that they're meeting new people. because people have social anxiety.
Nick Kalenichenko: so it's like how can we break down all those barriers or clicks that form within groups So that those people feel welcomed And. I guess a solution. I'm also a pretty logical thinker. So some of my solutions. Could be a little more logical.
Nick Kalenichenko: But we have some volunteers. like We have a fantastic volunteer team. who are helping us run these events. And. One of our volunteer roles is minglers.
Nick Kalenichenko: So their role is if they see someone coming alone. or they see someone kind of standing by themself. Like that person will get walked up too. and then brought into some other conversation or introduced to someone else.
Nick Kalenichenko: so that there's never that awkward Period where you're standing and like, okay, what do I do now? Everyone's talking to other people around me
RJ Caswell: which we've all experienced at one time or the other. And I would say, It probably happens at church, maybe more than it happens other places. So maybe there's a way to start training some. some church leaders in...
RJ Caswell: greeters in that as well. um But I love that. You're trying to create that system so somebody feels connected. How is that? So know knowing you founded this nonprofit, you moved to Charlotte, you're with a consulting.
RJ Caswell: organization. And then you started your own company with. with with a friend, a colleague. as well, which is a technology company called Alira Technologies. well We'll drop both Kingdom Kickbacks and Alira down in the in the show notes for folks to to find you. But what was the difference there to the leaving consulting?
RJ Caswell: you've already started and founding. one organization. It's a nonprofit. But now you're founding another company. Um, Has there been similarities, differences from posture to thinking to outlook? How has that been?
Nick Kalenichenko: That's another great question, RJ. I learned a lot about myself. through these two endeavors. And. It's pushed me. both personally and in development as a person and making me critically think through like, what do I value?
Nick Kalenichenko: And where should my time be best spent? when My business partner, Will, approached me about Alira technology. I actually said no in the beginning. because I thought I was at capacity. of time.
Nick Kalenichenko: with a full -time job. and with Kingdom Kickbacks, which is growing. which i wanted to Pour more of my time into. And then... Will, he's one of my best friends.
Nick Kalenichenko: So at the time he was like, okay, well, what about like two hours a week? That's all you have to give.
RJ Caswell: ah
Nick Kalenichenko: like
RJ Caswell: He was working on you already.
Nick Kalenichenko: yeah For sure.
RJ Caswell: Yeah.
Nick Kalenichenko: He was like, well, what about two hours a week? And then we like start growing this on the side. And then... I was like, okay, sure. Like, let's do two hours per week. and then It started with us like watching videos about how other people build companies.
Nick Kalenichenko: and And I was learning all this stuff for. the first time. Um. And it was. it was a blast. Like I loved it. similar to kingdom kickbacks where it's like thinking through how to structure ourselves and How'd you?
Nick Kalenichenko: be intentional with like our leadership team. and our volunteers. It was similar, but extremely different. I would say that. the Nonprofit is harder than the for -profit.
Nick Kalenichenko: for sure. And.
RJ Caswell: I'm going to actually tag that somewhere. if I'm holding on to that. But tell, share more.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Yeah. I think that with nonprofits when... you It's harder to... make revenue or have money especially when you're relying on people donating their hard -earned money to you.
RJ Caswell: Sure.
Nick Kalenichenko: it's just like
RJ Caswell: Sure.
Nick Kalenichenko: And everything comes down to relationships, even with. business for AI. or you have to earn someone's trust before they could contract you out or hire you. to build some solution that's going to help them.
Nick Kalenichenko: It's like case studies help. like with AI and with this business to help. gain that trust quicker. And then. introductions help a lot there But the same thing. is for the nonprofit where it's like your relationships with different local churches or with different companies. leaders.
Nick Kalenichenko: because we're stewarding the money that they're giving us to spend well. and to make sure that it is having an impact. aligned with our mission and vision. But then. when you have And i'm I'm still learning all this stuff, so I don't have the answers for this.
Nick Kalenichenko: But it's like a board of directors. It's all volunteer -based. So then how do you... Get them. involved in what's going on. versus a for -profit has like employees who are getting paid to do specific job function.
Nick Kalenichenko: just like a little bit easier when you're in control there But. They both have their challenges. End. just learning all the time.
RJ Caswell: So quick follow -up on the business side with you and Will. founding and and running Lyra, because obviously you went from two hours to 40, 50, 60 hours over that.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yep.
RJ Caswell: over that span of time. before jumping in. How have you maintained a focus on relationships on the business side? um for for you and Will, what you're trying to build.
Nick Kalenichenko: Mm hmm.
Nick Kalenichenko: Relationships. are everything for that business as well. I'd say like the first third of my day. is spent with either coffees like back -to -back coffees or meetings of getting introduced to new people.
Nick Kalenichenko: Referrals. is our primary channel of new clients right now. since if you do good work. and you'll get referred to more work. Or if someone sees what you're doing from an outside perspective, then they might introduce you to someone who...
Nick Kalenichenko: could be useful. or could benefit from the services that you provide. So. Having relationships is still key for the business. End. i think that i've had to get more intentional.
Nick Kalenichenko: about like time blocking for that. but then you still have to do work at some point in the day So it's like you can't just have these coffee chats.
RJ Caswell: Right.
Nick Kalenichenko: the entire day. So that's something that I have been thinking through. and trying to figure out what that best balance is there. Um.
Nick Kalenichenko: And yeah, I think. And your original question was? How do relationships play into a Lyra?
RJ Caswell: yeah
Nick Kalenichenko: right
RJ Caswell: Yeah.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Yeah.
RJ Caswell: So... so then Let's fast forward five, I don't know, five years, seven years for Kingdom Kickbacks, for Alira, for this. I know you started another company of as well.
RJ Caswell: Um, What does that look like for for you personally in five years and for those organizations?
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Another great question. I think with God, you never know what the next one year is going to look like. So I might have an idea of what five years looks like, but.
Nick Kalenichenko: everything. I do I hold with open hands. and See where the Lord leads and what doors he opens or closes? because you never know what he's gonna close. And my whole heart posture behind it is.
Nick Kalenichenko: if my identity is in Jesus and not in my work. or what I do. Then. I want. the tech company to be God's tech company. not something leading, asking God to bless.
RJ Caswell: ah
Nick Kalenichenko: I want the nonprofit to be God's nonprofit and God's work. in Charlotte. where it's not me controlling the different outcomes but it's like him working through the ministry and doing his purpose.
Nick Kalenichenko: So. If they both. shut down or stop or something terrible happens in the next like even one year. And I'm no longer involved in them or something happened, whatever the circumstance hypothetically can be.
Nick Kalenichenko: And it's like, how would I be personally? like would i be ah okay with that reality of what I built. is no longer where a majority of my time is spent.
Nick Kalenichenko: And for me, it's like. praying that. my hands can be open enough. where I know that God's just leading me to the next thing. and that the doors will continue to open and then whatever purpose he wants.
Nick Kalenichenko: will continue to be carried out. For right now, it's like. how can we like for kingdom kickbacks in five years, we're thinking through. If we've already seen and heard so many stories of how it's impacted young adults in Charlotte.
Nick Kalenichenko: through people finding community. husbands and wives people getting connected to different nonprofits and then serving there outside of our events that we do with them. How can we...
Nick Kalenichenko: continue to help. more young adults had that same experience. So we've talked about city expansion. And that's something we're going to be talking through at our board retreat this next weekend. So. We have some fun.
Nick Kalenichenko: exciting ideas there. And then for Lyra. are. Team is growing internally. So it's just like thinking through what do the next. What does the next phase of business look like for Will and I?
Nick Kalenichenko: End. Yeah, it's hard to answer that five -year question.
RJ Caswell: Well, I'm privileged to to be able to follow along. So what we'll do one in a couple years and see what it looks like.
Nick Kalenichenko: yeah
RJ Caswell: um So one other. Quick. question, maybe it's not quick, I think it'll be quick, before the final question, because we're almost there to the to the big question. um You and I, before we hit record on this, we're talking about you're starting to meet with even people younger than you that are already starting companies or moving to Charlotte and trying to figure out work. and community. um So as you look back and reflect, what what advice are you giving them or would you give?
RJ Caswell: somebody who just graduated college and moved. Tube. maybe not Charlotte, but but a city. and are looking to figure out how to. build community relationships and balance work? What what would you share with them?
Nick Kalenichenko: My biggest piece of advice is to stay curious. My curiosity.
RJ Caswell: I love that.
Nick Kalenichenko: and asking people good questions will open so many doors. Just like be genuinely interested in who you're talking to. And then... Don't try to expect something in return. But just.
Nick Kalenichenko: pick their brains, just ask questions, learn what they know. and then that will lead to you having like more people in your circle who have your back, who know you. and then That'll launch you. further than you could ever imagine.
RJ Caswell: Be curious. I love it.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: That's great, great advice for all of us. So now... Um, We're winding down. It's the final question. It's the big question.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: So... It's Friday night. There's no Kingdom Kickbacks event going on. There's no games. you're you're deciding to to hang out by yourself. not not with anybody else.
RJ Caswell: and you have nothing to eat.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yep.
RJ Caswell: So you go to the grocery store. And you got to go down there. the cereal aisle.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yep.
RJ Caswell: You know you have milk.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: what's What's the pick? What is Nick Galanchinko? What cereal are you picking? for dinner.
Nick Kalenichenko: I am picking. Drum roll.
RJ Caswell: We'll put it in there and post edit somehow.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah, there we go.
RJ Caswell: Okay.
Nick Kalenichenko: Catalina Crunch. Cinnamon.
RJ Caswell: Oh. Cinnamon Catalina Crunch.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: You know what? I don't think I've actually ever had that.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. I hadn't had it until about a year ago. It was on sale at Costco. It's like some protein cereal. and i tried it I was like this is great.
RJ Caswell: That might be, if we aggregate all these in a year, if i if we're able to keep doing episodes, that might be the only one.
Nick Kalenichenko: Okay.
RJ Caswell: their picks. Cinnamon Catalina Crunch. I could be wrong.
Nick Kalenichenko: People have got to try it. People of God at church.
RJ Caswell: but but we've heard it here. And so that's awesome. But Nick.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah.
RJ Caswell: Thank you. Thank you for joining. I really appreciate who you are and what you're leading in our city. So thank you for being here.
Nick Kalenichenko: Yeah. Thank you, RJ. This was awesome. Thanks for having me on the podcast.
