We were lucky to catch up with Kristen Birkbeck recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kristen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I’ve always had a passion for helping others bring their ideas to life, but getting from “idea” to “execution” wasn’t a straight line. My journey has been layered: corporate strategist, change agent, community marketer, business owner, and always a connector at heart.
Before launching my current business, I spent years in the corporate world managing large-scale projects, leading change initiatives, and optimizing operations. I thrived in the in-between, the space where chaos needed clarity and teams needed a plan that worked with their strengths. I learned how to listen, how to lead through transition, and how to build systems that support sustainable growth.
Outside the office, I was always the one organizing events, connecting the right people, and creating opportunities for collaboration. Community marketing wasn’t just a job, it was something I lived and breathed. And still do today. People often called me the “community connector,” and I started to realize maybe that wasn’t just something I was good at, maybe it was part of my calling.
That mindset led me to launch the CoLounge, a co-working space designed for entrepreneurs and creatives to gather, grow, and build something meaningful together. It wasn’t my first experience with business ownership, but it was one that taught me a lot about seasons. After two beautiful years of impact, I felt a shift. It wasn’t a forced closure, it was just time. My family needed me in a new way, and I knew it was time to transition.
But I wasn’t done serving.
I leaned on my experience and my God-given gifts, my love for writing, my knack for organization, my ability to bring clarity to chaos, and built something new. I started helping small businesses and nonprofits scale with intention, writing with purpose, communicating with connection, and building the operational backbone behind the scenes so they could grow with clarity and confidence.
I didn’t just want to do the work, I wanted to help others build trust through storytelling, to show up in a way that felt human, not just transactional. My business is rooted in strategy, but it’s built on heart.
Because at the end of the day, this was never just about business. It was about using what I’ve been given to serve others well, in every season, in every space I’m called to.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
At my core, I’m a strategist, storyteller, and calm in the chaos kind of person. I help small businesses and nonprofits move from overwhelmed to organized, from stuck to scaling, and from unclear messaging to confident communication. I do that by blending operations, content strategy, and heart-led leadership into a business model that supports growth with intention.
I’ve spent over 20 years working across corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit spaces. In the corporate world, I led supply chain and change management initiatives, often stepping into messy or transitional moments to help teams find clarity, process, and momentum. I was the one who could zoom out, see the big picture, and then build the structure to make it all work.
But my passion has always been people. That’s why I’ve always found myself in community-centered roles, whether that was launching a co-working space to support local entrepreneurs, leading marketing and engagement for nonprofits, or writing words that truly resonate and connect. People often call me a community connector, and I wear that title proudly. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.
Today, I provide freelance writing, strategic communications, and operational consulting for mission-driven brands, small businesses, and nonprofits. That includes everything from website copy and email campaigns to process documentation, marketing strategy, and scalable systems behind the scenes. Whether it’s helping a nonprofit prepare for growth or a founder finally get their message clear, I partner with clients to build something lasting, not just loud.
What sets me apart? I don’t just show up to complete a task. I come in to create meaningful change with clarity, purpose, and a little bit of grit. My work is rooted in trust, simplicity, and momentum. I combine heart and systems, strategy and storytelling, so my clients can stop spinning their wheels and actually move forward.
I’m most proud of how my business has become a reflection of what I value – connection, service, and using your gifts to make a difference. I want people to know that when they work with me, they’re not just hiring a freelancer. They’re getting a partner who cares deeply, thinks strategically, and is fully invested in helping them bring their mission to life.
Because to me, this isn’t just work. It’s a calling.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Yes, my side hustle absolutely turned into my full-time career, though it wasn’t an overnight leap. It’s been a winding, purpose-driven path rooted in alignment, service, and trusting when it was time to grow or pivot.
In 2015, while still working in a high-level change management role at a global CPG company, I took a leap into community marketing. At first, I didn’t see the full value of what it could bring. I had doubts, made excuses, and wasn’t sure how it would all fit into my life. But eventually, I opened my mind to the possibilities and I said yes.
That simple decision changed everything.
For two years, I built that business during early mornings, lunch breaks, and late nights, any pockets of time I could find. What I gained was far more than income. I found confidence, personal growth, and most importantly, time. Time to be present with my daughters. Time to live in the “I get to” moments, not the “I have to” ones. In 2017, I left corporate life and stepped fully into entrepreneurship.
From there, I continued building a business that has taken many forms. What started as a side hustle evolved into a multi-faceted career that includes community marketing, business consulting, and freelance writing. My work centers on helping purpose-driven people and organizations scale with clarity and connection, whether that’s through strategic content, brand communication, or building strong operational foundations behind the scenes.
One milestone along the way was opening the first-ever coworking space in my community, a space built for connection, collaboration, and impact. After two years, life shifted, and it was time to transition. I chose to listen to the season I was in and leaned into what I knew best – helping others grow with intention.
Today, I run a business fully on my own terms. I work with nonprofits, small businesses, and big-dreaming founders to help them communicate with clarity, build sustainable systems, and connect with their people in ways that actually matter. I still actively lead an e-Commerce business, just as I did back in 2015, which continues to allow me to build relationships and engage in making a difference far outside my zip code.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that a side hustle can be the seed of something so much more. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need a “yes” that feels aligned and the courage to keep showing up.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I believe my reputation was built on simply showing up as myself, consistently. What you see is what you get. I’m someone who listens well, leads with heart, and stays down to earth, whether I’m consulting on strategy, writing brand messaging, or navigating life’s curveballs.
I don’t try to polish over the hard stuff. I’ve shared the highs and the lows because life, and business, isn’t always sunshine and success stories. There have been seasons that stretched me, challenged me, and forced me to reset. But I always come back with resilience and a willingness to keep moving forward. I think people respect that honesty. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being real.
That same transparency shows up in how I work. I’m intentional with my time, focused on what matters, and grounded in purpose. I don’t speak just to speak, I offer ideas that bring clarity, connection, and direction. If something doesn’t feel aligned, I’m not afraid to say so, but I don’t criticize for the sake of it. I lead with a vision for how things can be better.
I’m also someone who believes deeply in the power of connection. I stay open to meetings, introductions, and conversations because I truly believe you never know who you’re meant to meet or why you’ve been given the opportunity to spend time with someone. That openness has led to some of the most meaningful partnerships and unexpected pivots in my journey.
At the end of the day, I think people are drawn to authenticity. And I’ve built a reputation by being the same person in a meeting, on a client call, or at a community coffee shop – someone who genuinely wants to help others succeed and isn’t afraid to do the hard work to get there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://onamission.bio/kristenbirkbeck
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohheykristenb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristen.jonesbirkbeck/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-birkbeck/
- Other: My business email should be used (this Voyage request went to my personal). My business email is: [email protected]
Image Credits
Lauren Grayson Photography
Kelly Weatherwax Photography
Level Up Studios