Meet a CSGer: Kyleigh
CSG’s new strategy intern, Kyleigh McGrail, is a globetrotting recent grad with a heart of gold and she’s taking us on a musical journey through her life. Read on to learn more about her favorite high-flying activities and how this lifelong learner tries to be a better person everyday.
Alexa, play…
“Sweet Home Alabama” & “Rocky Mountain High”
The past two months have been a whirlwind. I graduated from Auburn in May with plans to move to Indonesia for six months, but the Universe said “Ha!” so I got to spend a bonus month at home in D.C. living off my parents and annoying my little brothers. Then things aligned, as they do, and some good family friends moved from Puerto Rico to Denver the same week I was offered the chance to join CSG. They have three rescue dogs and have graciously adopted me as well — for the time being!
“Fly Away”
My first passport picture was taken when I was two months old, laying on the ground on a white sheet. I haven’t stopped flying ever since! My mom is from the U.K, so travel has been a big part of my upbringing. I also love to solo travel, which began when my parents handed me my passport in elementary school and shoved me up toward the airline check-in desk. (Shout out to mom and dad for raising me to be independent!) My last trip was to Nosara, Costa Rica, right before COVID-19 to work on my surfing. I interned in CR last summer and was itching to go back.
Not sure where to go next, but I’m working on visiting all 50 states before I turns 25, and 50 countries before 50.
“Lust for Life”
Speaking of travel, I’m a total adventure and adrenaline junkie. Some of my all-time favorite life experiences have been trapezing (is that a verb?), bungee jumping, zip lining, whitewater rafting and free-climbing up the inside of a 100-foot-tall Ficus tree. Next up on my list: skydiving and hang gliding. I’ll never turn down an opportunity to do something exciting, but don’t ask me to ride a bike, because I’m hopeless.
“We are Family”
I have a very big family, plus a pretty broad concept of what family means — a combination of biological family and friends who have practically become blood. My diverse mix of family members has hugely shaped my worldview from a young age, as my grandmother was born and lived in Africa, and I have aunts from Peru and Ghana. My soft spot for kids started early on too, as I’m the the second-oldest of 16 cousins on my dad’s side. I’m also the godmother of two precious little boys, Mannix and Maverix, who I used to nanny in high school and have become another extension of my family. This is them (and their siblings) on the left!
“Man in the Mirror”
Working to become a better human is really important to me. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I’m constantly reading and reflecting on how I can be a more ethical, sustainable, and conscious consumer, traveler, and overall human. I’m passionate about natural food, skincare, home products, etc., as well as making healthy living more accessible. I’m certainly no zero waste pro or clean beauty guru or human rights activist, but I’m working to become more aware of how my mindset and actions contribute to society. And I’m a sucker for a good self-help book! Here’s to changing myself to change the world.