#WISHRM25 SMILE Team Spotlight: Ky Matkovich

It is an honor to lead the 2025 WI SHRM State Conference SMILE Team. This year's team is made up of six amazing HR professionals who are excited to share some pre-conference sneak peeks and share their conference experiences with all.

Today, I spoke with one member of the SMILE Team, Ky Matkovich, about her career, SHRM volunteering, and more!

Q & A with Ky:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in Human Resources? Was there a moment or a mentor that sparked your interest? 

I was working in marketing and public relations at a small company. I couldn’t help noticing some... let’s call them “HR oopsies.” Since I reported directly to the President, I asked if I could step in and take on some of the HR responsibilities. He simply said, “Go for it!” That moment sparked a permanent career shift, and nearly 25 years later, I’m still all-in on HR.

2. What’s your favorite part about being an HR professional today? Any recent trends or topics you’re especially passionate about?

I love diving into interesting problem-solving—because people are delightfully messy in all the best ways. Every business decision reverberates through the organization, and I thrive on wrestling through tough questions and finding solutions that make sense for the company and empower individuals to do their best work, grow, and have a little fun along the way.

I'm super passionate about leadership development. I am energized by partnering with leaders to help them leverage their strengths to tackle challenges, and build teams where people actually want to show up. When we equip leaders to balance business results with meaningful, engaging workplace cultures—it’s magic.

3. Why did you volunteer for the 2025 WI SHRM SMILE Team? What does this experience mean to you?

This is my 3rd year on the SMILE team. Why? Community is everything. HR is all about people and relationships—but let’s be honest, it can also be really hard. HR can feel isolating. (Anyone who has been in HR for any amount of time has experienced this.)

Volunteering with SMILE is my way of helping bridge those gaps. The conference content is always solid, but it’s the community—the conversations, the laughs, the shared stories—that truly makes it meaningful. Iron sharpens Iron. We’re stronger when we lean on each other, and my goal is to help people find those moments of connection that remind them they’re not in this alone.

4. How do you plan to connect with attendees through social media during the conference? Any creative ideas or strategies you're excited to try?

For me, it’s all about access and amplification. I want to spotlight key insights from speakers, vendors, and sessions—sometimes with a little added commentary—so even those who can’t attend (or are caught in the conference whirlwind) still benefit from the content and expertise being shared.

I like to keep it simple and engaging: quick posts, practical tips, and short videos tend to land best. I also love doing daily wrap-ups featuring standout moments, meaningful connections, and one or two takeaways that really stuck with me. It’s a great way to keep the energy going and bring the heart of the conference to life—one post at a time.

5. What’s one tip you’d give to HR professionals trying to build their presence on LinkedIn or other platforms? (Or, what's helped you the most?)

Consistency. Visibility. Engagement. You don’t need to go viral or have a massive following to make an impact. Some of the best conversations I’ve had have come from a small, engaged community that shows up regularly.

Engage with others and their posts/content. Share what you’re learning. Add your own thoughts —even if it’s just a quick takeaway or a favorite quote. For me, #HRShenanigans and #HRCoffeeShot series were born out of showing up authentically, a little at a time. Building your presence takes time (years, honestly), so don’t get discouraged. Be consistent, be curious, and most importantly—be unapologetically yourself. That’s how meaningful connections grow.

6. Which part of the WI SHRM State Conference are you most looking forward to? (A speaker, session, activity, etc.)

Connecting with peers—obviously! But beyond the hallway hugs and impromptu coffee (or cocktail) chats, I always look forward to the opening night in the Expo Hall. It’s high energy, full of games, giveaways, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting (a.k.a. my natural habitat).

I also love the keynotes. They always offer fresh perspectives that challenge my thinking and get me looking at things through a new lens. It’s that mix of community and curiosity that makes this conference such a standout experience.

7. What’s your go-to social media platform, and why? How do you use it to stay connected professionally?

It used to be X (Twitter), but... we broke up. These days, I split my time between Instagram and LinkedIn.

Instagram is home to #HRShenanigans and #HRCoffeeShot—it’s lighthearted, fun, casual, and occasionally snarky. It’s where I lean into humor and everyday realities of HR life (or... just life). During conferences, I use it for behind-the-scenes moments, quick hits of inspiration, and the occasional Expo Hall shenanigan.

LinkedIn is more of my professional anchor. I use it to share insights, reflect on leadership, and highlight takeaways from speakers or sessions. It’s also where I stay connected with fellow HR pros long after the conference ends.

Different platforms, different styles—but the goal is always the same: connect and contribute.

8. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day in HR? Any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

For me, unwinding is a mix of creativity and connection — you’ll find me in the garden, hosting friends, cooking something delicious, or shaking up a craft cocktail.

But if it has been a rough day, I fire up Call of Duty. It’s my favorite kind of stress relief — fast, strategic, and unapologetically rebellious. There’s something oddly satisfying about crushing egos while rocking the ultimate plot twist: HR leader. Mom over 50. Not here to "play nice."

9. Share one fun fact people might not know about you.

Oops—I might’ve already spilled one. (See above.)

But here’s another: my husband and I are beekeepers and homesteaders. We’ve got five thriving hives and spend a lot of our time focused on organic gardening, pollinator habitats, and soil rejuvenation. One of my favorite places in the world is our greenhouse—half plants, half outdoor living space—where I sip my morning coffee surrounded by kale, tomatoes, and whatever’s blooming that day. It’s my quiet counterbalance to the fast-paced HR world.

10. If you had to describe the SMILE Team in one word, what would it be and why?

Connection. Because at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. SMILE creates a space for people to find each other. And that’s where the real value of this community lives.

Meet Ky:

By day, Ky Matkovich is a Principal HR Business Partner at Exact Sciences, where she has spent the last seven years supporting the Science Office. With more than 25 years in HR, she’s known for wrangling strategies, coaching leaders, and making workplaces less boring and more human. Her sweet spots? Leadership development, strategic business partnering, making sense out of chaos, helping leaders thrive through change, and turning people strategies into business wins.

By night, she’s still wrangling — only this time it’s teenagers, a hyper rescue pup named Wesley, and anyone bold enough to challenge her in Call of Duty (spoiler: she’ll eliminate you faster than excuses in a coaching conversation).

Ky also has a long history of giving back to the HR community — from SHRM Foundation Director in Colorado, to Communications Director for WI SHRM, to her current gig on the WI SHRM SMILE Team.

She’s a breast cancer survivor, wife, mom, gardener, beekeeper, cocktail experimenter, and coffee enthusiast (#HRCoffeeShot). Her favorite pastime? Stirring up a little good-natured chaos (#HRShenanigans) — because whether it’s HR, family, or video games, Ky believes life’s too short not to laugh along the way.

Follow the 2025 WI SHRM SMILE Team: https://linktr.ee/wishrmsmileteam