A powerful personal narrative about overcoming academic setbacks and discovering that time is the most valuable resource. This inspiring story explores how resilience, determination, and the belief that "the time is going to pass anyway" transformed a career and shaped a philosophy of mentoring and growth.
Her Story
About Kristin
I didn't set out to build a career in marketing because I loved advertising or logos. I was drawn to marketing because I discovered something much bigger: every organization has a story, and every person deserves the opportunity to have theirs heard.
Early in my career, I realized that the most rewarding part of my job wasn't launching a campaign or increasing revenue. It was watching people grow. It was seeing a young professional gain the confidence to speak up in a meeting for the first time. It was helping a colleague earn a promotion they never thought they were ready for. It was bringing women together to build relationships, share experiences, and realize they weren't navigating their careers alone.
That belief became the foundation of everything I do.
Over the past two decades, I've had the privilege of helping organizations grow, building brands from the ground up, and leading transformational marketing initiatives. But the work I value most has happened away from the spotlight. It's mentoring women, opening doors, creating opportunities, and reminding others that leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about making sure someone else has the confidence to find theirs.
That passion led me to be part of teams that have established Women's Business Councils, creating a space where women could learn from one another, expand their networks, and grow as leaders. It has guided my work with nonprofit organizations, my time mentoring students and emerging professionals, and my commitment to giving back to the communities that have invested in me.
I've been fortunate to receive recognition throughout my career, including the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England's Leading Women of Distinction Award and Providence Business News' 40 Under Forty. While I'm incredibly grateful for those honors, the moments that mean the most will never appear on a résumé. They're the phone calls from someone who landed their dream job, the message from a former mentee who stepped into leadership, or hearing that something I taught helped someone believe in themselves.
If there's one legacy I hope to leave, it's not the campaigns I created or the businesses I helped grow. It's that I made people feel seen, encouraged them to believe they belonged at the table, and left every person and every organization stronger than I found them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kristin
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success has come from perseverance.
Early in my college journey, I was academically dismissed. At the time, I was working full time, trying to balance responsibilities, and simply was not ready. That experience could have defined me, but instead it became one of the most important turning points in my life.
As I progressed in my career, I saw firsthand that while experience and hard work could open many doors, education often opened even more. I made the decision to go back to school, not because I had to, but because I wanted to remove the limitations I had placed on myself and become the kind of leader who could contribute at a higher level.
While working full time, I completed my bachelor's degree in just three years in my thirties. I then earned my master's degree in less than two years, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. More than the degrees themselves, that journey taught me discipline, resilience, and the confidence that it is never too late to redefine what is possible.
My mother also played a significant role in shaping who I am. Watching her face life's challenges with determination taught me that obstacles are not excuses. They are opportunities to grow stronger.
Today, I often tell others, "The time is going to pass anyway." Whether it is returning to school, pursuing a new opportunity, or taking on a challenge that feels intimidating, the hardest part is deciding to begin. Once you do, you will be amazed at what you are capable of accomplishing.
That belief has guided my career, my leadership, and the way I mentor others. I hope my journey reminds people that setbacks do not define us. Our decision to keep moving forward does.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was that it is okay to leave a place where you are comfortable in order to grow. Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone, and taking a thoughtful risk can open doors you never imagined.
That advice has stayed with me throughout my career. Every meaningful opportunity I've pursued has required me to embrace uncertainty, trust my abilities, and be willing to start something new. Looking back, the moments that felt the riskiest often became the most rewarding.
I now share that same advice with others. Do not let comfort become the reason you stop growing. Believe in yourself, take the opportunity, and remember that the greatest professional growth often begins with a single leap of faith.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering marketing is to be patient, trust your expertise, and develop resilience.
Marketing is one of the few professions where almost everyone has an opinion. You'll find yourself presenting strategies, campaigns, and creative ideas to people who genuinely believe they could do your job. That can be frustrating at times, but it is also part of the profession. One of the most valuable skills you can develop is learning how to listen, filter feedback, and stay confident in your expertise.
You do not learn that in a classroom. You learn it through experience, perseverance, and the confidence that comes from continually refining your craft.
Most importantly, do not let someone else's opinion diminish your voice. Continue learning, ask questions, support others, and remember that your value is not measured by how many opinions you receive, but by the impact your work creates.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges and opportunities in marketing today is artificial intelligence.
AI has the potential to make marketers more efficient by helping analyze data, identify trends, streamline workflows, and eliminate hours of manual work. Used thoughtfully, it allows us to spend less time gathering information and more time developing strategy, creativity, and meaningful customer experiences.
At the same time, AI cannot replace the human element of marketing. People connect with authenticity, empathy, and genuine storytelling. Audiences can often recognize when content lacks a human perspective, and brands risk losing trust if they rely too heavily on automation.
I believe the future of marketing is not about choosing between AI and people. It is about using AI as a tool to enhance human expertise, not replace it. The marketers who will thrive are those who embrace technology while continuing to build authentic relationships, think strategically, and create work that resonates on a personal level.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is the foundation of everything I do, both professionally and personally. I believe in being honest, transparent, and doing the right thing, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Empathy is equally important to me, especially as a leader. Over the years, I have learned that everyone is carrying something we cannot see. We do not always need to know someone's story to treat them with kindness, patience, and respect. Sometimes a person is simply having a difficult day, and offering a little grace can make all the difference.
I believe the best leaders balance accountability with compassion. They set high expectations while recognizing that people are human. When individuals feel respected, heard, and supported, they are more likely to do their best work and help others succeed as well.
Those values of integrity, transparency, empathy, and grace guide my decisions every day. They shape how I lead teams, build relationships, and strive to leave a positive impact on the people around me.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Kristin
The Time Is Going to Pass Anyway
From Academic Dismissal to Master's Degree: How One Woman Discovered That Time Waits for No One
I wasn't supposed to earn a master's degree, let alone do it with a 4.0 GPA.
In fact, years earlier, I had been academically dismissed from college.
At the time, I was working full-time, trying to balance responsibilities, and school simply wasn't my priority. Life got in the way, and eventually, I walked away convinced that chapter of my life had closed.
For a while, I accepted that.
As my career progressed, I discovered something that changed my perspective. Experience mattered. Hard work mattered. But I also saw opportunities that seemed just out of reach because I didn't have a degree. I realized the only person standing between me and the future I wanted was me.
So I went back.
While working full-time, I returned to school full-time at night, on weekends, and during the summer. I completed my bachelor's degree in just three years in my late 20s. Instead of stopping there, I continued on to earn my master's degree in less than two years, graduating with a 4.0 GPA while working full-time and maintaining the same demanding class schedule I had used to earn my bachelor's degree.
The Time Is Going to Pass Anyway
People often ask me how I found the time.
The truth is, I didn't find it.
I made it.
One sentence became my motivation through every late night, every assignment, and every moment I questioned whether I should keep going:
The time is going to pass anyway.
A year from now, five years from now, or ten years from now, that time will pass whether you pursue your goal or not. The question isn't whether you have enough time. It's whether you'll use it to become the person you want to be.
That lesson has shaped every major decision I've made.
It gave me the confidence to leave jobs where I was comfortable in order to pursue growth. It encouraged me to take risks, even when success wasn't guaranteed. It reminded me that growth almost always begins with discomfort.
More Importantly, It Changed How I Lead
Over the years, I've had the privilege of mentoring women at different stages of their careers. Some are stepping into leadership for the first time. Others are considering going back to school, changing careers, or pursuing opportunities they aren't sure they're ready for.
Many of those conversations have very little to do with resumes or job descriptions.
They have everything to do with confidence.
I often tell the women I mentor that they don't need permission to grow. They don't need to have every answer before taking the next step. They simply need to begin.
That same belief inspired me to establish the Women's Business Council for the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. I wanted to create a community where women could support one another, share experiences, build meaningful relationships, and realize they weren't navigating their careers alone.
Some of the accomplishments I'm most proud of aren't listed on my resume. They're the promotions earned by people I've mentored. The phone calls from women who decided to go back to school. The messages from someone who finally applied for the leadership position they thought they weren't qualified for.
Those moments mean more to me than any title or award ever could.
Obstacles Aren't Roadblocks
My mother taught me another lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life. She faced challenges with resilience, determination, and grace. Watching her overcome adversity showed me that obstacles aren't roadblocks. They're opportunities to discover what we're capable of becoming.
Looking back, I'm grateful for being academically dismissed.
At the time, it felt like failure.
Today, I see it as the experience that taught me perseverance.
Success isn't about having a perfect path. It isn't about never failing or never doubting yourself.
It's about deciding that your story isn't over.
Because the time is going to pass anyway.
You might as well spend it becoming the person you were meant to be.
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