We were lucky to catch up with K. Short recently and have shared our conversation below.

K., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

Moving to Tucson in 2018 felt like starting over. After a painful split with my co-founder in Phoenix over creative differences about our multimedia platform Peddlr, I found myself alone in a new city, questioning everything. But that solitude became a gift—for the first time, I could truly listen to my inner voice without external noise.

Living on my own for the first time, with fewer distractions around, I was actually able to observe, listen, and process my most recent experiences and connect the dots of what truly mattered to me. Over the course of two years, I reflected on the spaces, places, and people that had influenced me and had a positive impact on my life.

Despite finding acceptance in most spaces I entered—my alma mater Northern Arizona University, Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc., my experience with the Brown Boi Project, and my previous multimedia platform experience—there was always this underlying feeling that I didn’t fully belong. I was constantly performing parts of myself, explaining who I was just to be understood. There were always parts of me that I felt I had to justify to get to the core of why I express myself the way I do.

I took time to reflect on each of those spaces, identifying what I loved about them and what I would do differently. Then I asked myself: What is missing in my life that I can create to serve those who may be having similar experiences?

Four key experiences shaped my vision. First, Northern Arizona University, where despite being on a predominantly white campus as a first-generation student, I felt supported in obtaining my degree and exploring my interests. Second, Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc., which was a game-changer in building my leadership skills and showed me the importance of community service and having a tribe while pursuing any endeavor. Third, my experience with the Brown Boi Project—a cohort where for the first time I felt fully seen and understood based on my lived experiences. I didn’t have to explain myself and could just exist. And lastly, my experience with Peddlr, which revealed my love for the arts, creativity, and expression.

After two years of reflection, the question became clear: What if I created the space my younger self desperately needed? Not just representation in media, but also within the educational system and community—a platform where people like me could exist fully, without explanation or performance. At the end of the day, I didn’t see people I could relate to who walked a similar path and were doing things I admired and wanted to do myself. So I thought, why not create it?

Initially, I hadn’t taken action because the idea felt too big for me, and I was navigating yet another life transition. But as I observed other creators, platforms, and media, I still hadn’t found what I was always looking for.

When 2020 forced everyone inside, I decided there was no better time to test my theory. I did what I do best—I asked questions. Using social media and podcast conversations, I reached out to people with similar backgrounds to see if this was something they wished existed. Every conversation validated what I suspected—this need was universal. The logic became undeniable: if I was still searching for this after all these years, and others were too, then someone had to create it.

Sometimes the idea still feels too big, but the continued absence of what I’m seeking tells me I’m the one I’ve been waiting for. So I decided to get over myself, get out of my own way, and create Tomboi International—a multi-media platform built to celebrate, educate, and develop opportunities for masculine of center queer womyn of color to personally and professionally develop as leaders through mentorship, education, and creativity.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a Creative Communications & Leadership Coach, Creative Director, and Curator of Connection and Engagement, and my journey began with a simple mission: bridging the gap between education and entertainment. It all started in 2012 when I launched my YouTube channel—my first foray into self-expression, creativity, and education. This became the foundation for everything that followed.

My Path Into This Industry:

In 2013, I started my career in radio while also hosting local shows, motivational speaking, and substitute teaching for high school students on the side. From there, my path wove through various roles that all served my core mission of supporting young people and creating platforms for leaders that looked like them that they could follow. I facilitated transitional programs for Arizona State University, worked at the Boys and Girls Club, and created my own radio shows and podcasts supporting women of color in the creative and entertainment industry.

I had the opportunity to host SoFar Sounds Phoenix for two years, and afterward created my own living room experience—intimate events showcasing QTBIPOC+ artists, musicians, and creatives in the Phoenix community. I also worked at Phoenix New Times and served as a substitute teacher for my high school district. Each role built upon the last, creating a unique blend of educator, entertainer, and community builder.

Through Tomboi International, we provide:

Mentorship Programs – Connecting young masculine-of-center queer womyn of color with seasoned mentors who understand their lived experiences

Leadership Development Coaching – Personal and professional growth programs specifically designed for underrepresented communities

Creative Direction Services – Leveraging my skills in photography, videography, writing, and communication to help brands and individuals tell authentic stories

Mastermind Collectives – Creating organized community spaces for peer-to-peer learning, networking, and professional development

Educational Content & Resources – Workshops, programming, and materials specifically designed for the masculine-of-center community

Creative Expression Events – Opportunities for artistic expression and storytelling that center marginalized voices

Problems I Solve: Isolation with projects and platforms that embody Mentorship, Connection, and Belonging.

What Sets Me Apart:

What sets me apart is the vast range of experiences I have, all connected by a consistent through line of intentionality and integrity. It’s not just my diverse background, but the unique combination of skills I’ve gathered as an educator, entertainer, and entrepreneur. My foundation as a YouTuber primed me with essential skills—photography, videography, writing, and communicating—that now fuel my mission forward.

I bring both the credibility of an educator and the engagement skills of an entertainer, creating a rare blend that resonates with diverse audiences while maintaining authentic connection. I’m solving the problem I experienced myself—creating the space, support system, and opportunities that my younger self wished existed.

What I’m Most Proud Of:

I’m most proud of my commitment to reflection and intention in everything I do. Above all, I’m proud of staying true to myself throughout this journey. Despite the various roles and platforms I’ve worked through, I’ve maintained my core values and voice, which has been essential in building trust with the communities I serve.

What I Want You to Know:

At the heart of everything I do, I’m an educator—with all the responsibility, care, and commitment that comes with that role. The intent of my work is to be supportive not only of young people like myself, but of the next generation of leaders who are ready to create positive changes in their lives and in their local communities.

When you work with me, you’re working with someone who understands the power of storytelling, the importance of authentic representation, and the value of creating spaces where people can show up as their full selves. Whether through creative direction, leadership coaching, or curating meaningful connections and events, my goal is to empower others to find and use their voice through creative expression.

This is the mentorship and mastermind collective the masculine-of-center community has been waiting for. This isn’t just representation (though we’re doing that too). This is about connecting young leaders with seasoned mentors, sharing resources that actually understand our lived experiences, and building the organized community we’ve never had—because when you can’t find your tribe, sometimes you have to create the map for others to find theirs.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was the disempowering narrative I carried about my intersecting identities and what they meant for my place in the world.

For years, I told myself a story that went something like this: “I’m different. I don’t fit in anywhere. I have to constantly explain myself to be understood.” I carried this narrative of being an outsider looking in, of having “too many” marginalized identities that made me disadvantaged in every space I entered. It was a “woe is me” story that kept me small and focused on what I lacked rather than what I brought to the table.

The backstory stems from those years of moving through different spaces—university, professional environments, creative communities—always feeling like I was performing parts of myself or leaving pieces behind just to find acceptance. Each time I felt misunderstood or had to explain my perspective, it reinforced this narrative that my intersecting identities were burdens rather than strengths.

But during those two years of reflection in Tucson, something shifted. I started revisiting these old stories and asking different questions: What if my experience of not fitting neatly into any one box wasn’t a disadvantage? What if it was actually my superpower?

I began rewriting the narrative entirely. Instead of seeing myself as the person with “too many” marginalized identities, I reframed it as being the most relatable person in the room because of those intersecting identities. If I—someone who carries multiple marginalized identities—could develop as a leader and show up authentically in every space, then I could recognize and focus on what I now call the “underdog advantage” rather than disadvantages.

This perspective shift was everything. Instead of “I don’t belong anywhere,” it became “I belong everywhere because I understand what it’s like to navigate multiple worlds.” Instead of “I have to explain myself,” it became “I can help others feel seen and understood.” Instead of “My identities hold me back,” it became “My identities give me a unique vantage point that allows me to connect with and support others who feel marginalized.”

Now when I walk into rooms, I’m not looking for where I fit—I’m looking for who else might need to know they belong too. This reframe didn’t just change how I saw myself; it became the foundation for creating Tomboi International. Because if those of us with the most intersecting marginalized identities can develop as leaders, we become walking examples that there’s space for everyone to thrive authentically.

It’s all about perspective. What I once saw as my greatest weakness became my greatest strength—and the very thing that allows me to create the spaces and opportunities I wish I’d had.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

What non-creatives often struggle to understand about my journey is that every role, job, or position I’ve taken was intentional to the vision and feeling I desired to experience. While others might look at my path—from barista to Youtuber to radio host to substitute teacher to event curator—and see inconsistency or lack of focus, I see a carefully crafted foundation.

I followed my internal compass instead of external expectations of timelines, traditional career paths, and conventional security. When I worked at the Boys and Girls Club, I wasn’t just earning a paycheck—I was learning how to connect with young people who felt like outsiders. When I hosted So Far Sounds Phoenix, I wasn’t just booking artists—I was understanding how to create inclusive spaces where marginalized voices could be heard. When I substitute taught, I wasn’t just filling in—I was honing my ability to adapt, communicate, and educate in any environment.

Each experience stacks one on top of the other, creating a unique skill set that supports me in our ever-evolving world. The traditional model of picking one lane and staying in it forever is becoming obsolete. I believe the world is moving toward “generalists” rather than “specialists”—people who can bridge multiple industries, speak different languages of experience, and adapt to whatever challenges arise.

What might look like “wandering” to non-creatives is actually strategic preparation. I wasn’t collecting random experiences; I was collecting the tools I would need to build something that didn’t exist yet. Every radio show taught me how to engage audiences. Every educational role taught me how to break down complex ideas. Every creative project taught me how to tell stories that resonate.

The insight I’d offer is this: trust the process, even when it doesn’t look like progress to others. Sometimes the most powerful careers and movements are built not by following someone else’s blueprint, but by creating your own through intentional experience-gathering. My “scattered” journey gave me the exact combination of skills needed to create Tomboi International and serve my community in a way that someone with a traditional, linear path might never have been able to.

In a world that’s changing rapidly, the ability to adapt, connect across differences, and draw from diverse experiences isn’t just valuable—it’s essential. What looks like chaos to some is actually the blueprint for innovation. Trust your creative instincts, follow your vision, and remember that every experience is preparing you for something greater, even when you can’t see the full picture yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tombointl.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombointl/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleenshort/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tomboitv
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/curious.kshort/
  https://www.instagram.com/kshort.kreates/
  
  https://open.spotify.com/show/1H5UxnaW2fWtqe0u1LAusw?si=51302a14e0f44565

Image Credits

Nikki O’Hara (Sitting on the couch and writing on the white board)
Hannah Bernabe (photo studio)