Fuel, Not Failure: Transforming My Story Into Strength

My name is Christina Urbina, and my story is a testament to rising, rebuilding, and choosing hope even when the world tells you to give up. Years ago, I faced one of the hardest chapters of my life: prison. It was an experience that could have broken me, but instead, it became the moment that awakened my determination to rewrite my future.

When I walked out, I made a promise to myself. I went back to school with a fierce commitment to build a life rooted in purpose. Education gave me direction. Discipline gave me momentum. And every milestone reminded me that my past was not a barrier—it was fuel. I earned my AA and BA degrees while sharing my journey so others could find strength in their own. In doing so, I discovered the power of turning pain into purpose.

Today, I am the General Manager of a cannabis company in Colorado, leading a team in one of the state’s most innovative industries. My leadership is shaped by lived experience—the kind that deepens empathy, sharpens intuition, and builds a steady presence people trust. This chapter allows me to lift others as I continue to rise.

I lead with authenticity because I know what it means to start over. I know the courage it takes to fight for a second chance. And I know how life changes when someone believes in you—especially when that someone is yourself.

Being recognized as an Influential Women honoree is more than an award. It is a reflection of the resilience, growth, and unwavering determination that carried me forward. I am proud of the woman I have become and the leader I am still becoming.

My journey proves that your past does not define your future. Your choices do. Your resilience does. Your willingness to rise again does.

I am still rising—and I hope my story reminds others that they are capable of rising too.