Alumni Snapshot: Laiki Huxorli

Title:
Studio Director

Current Organization:
Along with her husband, Herb Kearse, Laiki built and now runs Bikram Yoga Bloomington in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Perot Systems Experience:
Laiki joined Perot Systems in 1996 when she transitioned from the Swiss Bank/UBS account as a Help Desk Agent. In addition to the Project Manager role she held when she left in 2002, she had also made contributions as a Relationship Manager and Technical Trainer along the way.

What do you like most about your current role?
Everything! I feel so blessed to be doing what I’m doing. Everything I’ve done in the past has led me up to this point, and my life experiences have all been brought into play. My husband and I do most of the work ourselves — I do the marketing, finances and manage the website, while Herb handles the facilities piece. We don’t outsource much. But this job doesn’t feel like work! The real joy is the teaching itself, which Herb and I both do. It enables us to connect with so many people on a profound level.

How did you make the transition from Information Technology to Bikram Yoga?
I started taking Bikram Yoga classes in May of 2000. I wasn’t a very athletically inclined person, so when my athletic husband saw me taking class 5 or 6 times per week it got his attention! He started taking classes himself and it became something that we could do together. It evolved into more than just an exercise program; as we continued to practice we explored the yoga philosophy. Although I had been casually interested in yoga for years, Bikram Yoga really got my attention, and I knew it was time to get seriously involved.

At the end of 2000, Herb took a sabbatical from his IT job so he could study for his MCSE certification. He aced the exams and finished more quickly than expected. That’s when we came up with the crazy idea for him to take the Bikram Yoga teacher training, since he had all this extra time!

Herb and I each took the Bikram training in Los Angeles in 2001, but at different times. I had already signed up for the teacher training session beginning in September of 2001, when the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in NYC occurred. This was a pivotal event — a wake up call. Now instead of just being something cool to do, teaching Bikram Yoga became a mission. It wasn’t just about me anymore. I was thinking about how to make a positive difference in the world.

I finished the training in December of 2001 and returned to New York. It didn’t take long for us to decide that we didn’t want to live there anymore, so we began teaching classes while trying to figure out our next move. Herb and I had fallen in love with the Twin Cities while I was working for Perot Systems on the Lutheran Brotherhood account, and so we thought Minnesota would be a great place for us to make our new home! We found the perfect location for our yoga studio within 3 weeks of moving to Bloomington, and opened our doors in 2002. Things are going great! We were recently named “Best Yoga in the Twin Cities 2007”!

Who was your role model or mentor during your career at Perot Systems?
I can’t narrow it down to just one! There are four people who really stand out in my mind:

Shelly Harris is a fantastic man — warm hearted and smart. Worked as hard or harder than anyone on his team.
Bill Penoza mentored me by helping me design a new role for myself when I had reached a career stalemate. He is one of those rare people who can handle chaos and turmoil with ease.
Larry Robbins Introduced me to the wonderful world of Minnesota and taught me what it really means to be part of a team. He is a powerful leader and always forward thinking.
Stuart Tozier (also a Perot Systems alumnus) was always very supportive. He helped me to come into my own as a project manager. Stuart is there when you need him, yet gives you complete freedom to be creative in your work.

One thing I can say about all of them collectively is that they each have a strong moral compass. That’s one of the fondest memories I have of Perot Systems — the integrity of its associates. It makes me proud to say I’ve worked there.

Where did you grow up?
I’m a born-and-bred NYC girl!

What do you like to do outside of work?
I’m a big music fan and collector. I have 2,000 LPs, 1,000 CDs, and lots of online music in my collection. I love to read. I have this great recumbent tricycle that I ride around the nature preserve right across from our house. It’s a great way to enjoy the scenic beauty of where we live.

Laiki has offered a free Bikram Yoga class at her studio to anyone who mentions this Alumni Snapshot. You can visit www.bloomingtonyoga.com for more information on Laiki and her studio.