Story by Stephen Wilson
Courtesy Photo
Meet Kierston Van Soest ’88, CFO of L.L. Bean.
The Bean Boot is iconic. Based on Leon Leonwood Bean’s 1912 original, the boot has the recognizable chain-tread rubber bottom, triple stitching and full-grain leather upper. The Bean Boot is hearty, waterproof and nostalgic, lasting long enough to create a lifetime of memories.
It’s no surprise that this long-lasting piece of outdoor wear is a favorite of Kierston Timmons Van Soest ’88, Chief Financial Officer at L.L.Bean. Following tradition, her well-worn pair is valued for its functionality and craft. The company’s purpose-driven philosophy in creating all L.L. Bean products—the Bean Boot and other outerwear—has enabled Kierston to thrive over the last 23 years at the family-owned company.
Growing up in New Jersey, Van Soest knew early on that she wanted to be an accountant. The inherent order, balance, structure and symmetry of accounting appealed to her. It helped that her grandfather and father had worked in the accounting/financial arena. With its strong reputation in the field, Lehigh was an easy choice for her to pursue her degree.
Van Soest recalls that accounting professor Ken Sinclair brought the subject to life with his engaging teaching style and reinforced her vision for an accounting career. His guidance and support extended beyond the classroom.
But Van Soest wasn’t only interested in debits and credits. She pursued other interests while at Lehigh, such as American literature and piano. She held leadership positions with the Alpha Phi sorority and enjoyed tailgates at home football games.
Balancing class work with an active social life demanded that Van Soest learn how to prioritize and stay organized—a skill that has served her well in business, family and community to this day.
After graduation, she began her career at Arthur Andersen in Baltimore where she learned and progressed as an auditor. A desire to tackle different challenges in new cultural settings, however, soon landed her a transfer to Poland.
Van Soest’s time in Poland was dynamic, chaotic and exciting as the country was transforming from a centrally planned economy to a market-based system. Living and working amid this rapid change required adaptability as well as curiosity to learn, listen and connect. While abroad, Van Soest developed a suite of skills that balanced the rigid and regulated nature of accounting with an open and empathetic approach to people.
Upon returning to the US, Van Soest had to decide: go all-in with public accounting or make the move to corporate. She chose the latter, and landed a position at Time Inc., in New York City. Life settled down and she met and married her husband and while living in Brooklyn, welcomed her first child.
Van Soest’s New York City career path was bright, but she and her husband desired a slower pace and more access to the outdoors. Her next career pivot was to accept a position at L.L.Bean in Maine. While this relocation was originally meant to promote quality of life for her and her family, Van Soest also progressed professionally, becoming CFO at L.L.Bean in 2018.
Utilizing her extensive suite of accounting and financial skills, Van Soest embraces Bean’s business model, where decisions are made carefully and strategically, with broad and long-term stakeholder interests in mind. Operating in the dynamic retail industry, Van Soest balances analytical expertise with relationship-driven leadership. Her multidisciplinary training from Lehigh enables her to evaluate risks and opportunities while collaborating with teams to mindfully address business challenges.
Serving at a purpose-driven company, where a stakeholder philosophy isn’t just a slogan, Van Soest has also taken her skills to the community in board roles at the United Way, Androscoggin Bank and the Portland Development Corporation.
“I am attracted to organizations that people believe in,” she says, “where folks walk the walk and talk the talk. This sense of purpose builds community engagement and personal fulfillment.”
Whether enjoying the outdoors or strategically mapping L.L.Bean’s financial future, Van Soest understands the value of tradition—and knows when to stay on a proven trail.