Influential Woman · Mental health advocacy
Kristin L. Larson
Founder, Simple Kindness
Bismarck, ND 58501
Her Story
About Kristin
Kristin Larson is a mental health advocate, author, and entrepreneur based in Bismarck, North Dakota, where she focuses on expanding access to mental health education and support services. She is the founder of Simple Kindness, a digital platform she created in 2024 to provide mental health resources, self-care guidance, and community-focused blog content for individuals and families across North and South Dakota. Through her work, Larson emphasizes accessibility and compassion, often bringing her advocacy into community spaces such as local events and farmers markets to reach people beyond traditional clinical settings. In addition to her advocacy work, Larson is an accomplished author of both children’s literature and nonfiction. Her books explore themes of kindness, love, inclusivity, and personal growth, reflecting her broader mission to promote emotional well-being and understanding from an early age. She also works with the Heartview Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to substance abuse recovery services, where she applies her Certified Project Assistant Management (CPAM) credential to support program coordination and community impact initiatives. Larson holds an MBA in international business from the University of Scranton and a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Augustana University. She attributes her professional journey to persistence, grit, and a commitment to honesty and transparency in both her personal and professional life. Guided by the belief that listening is as important as speaking, she encourages others to pursue their passions, build resilience, and stay grounded in empathy while working to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kristin
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm gonna say, grit. I never give up. There is a quote, Winston Churchill, many people know it during World War II, and that's, “never, ever, ever give up.”
I would also like to add I had two amazing parents that provided support and love and a wonderful childhood. My father was an educator for 46 years and I watched the dedication and love of teaching. Serving.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice, I would have to say it's from my grandmother. And she would say, “you must talk less, listen more.” She also said “don’t let any grass go under your feet” and that has really stuck with me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Sometimes, we have to do more and dedicate extra time to get the best results we want to achieve.
Find your passion. The number one thing is to find what you really want to do. Don't listen to others if they don't agree. Follow your heart.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I work in the field where we're working with substance abuse. Unfortunately it is not going away, and we need to address it, and to find some better solutions, and we have to go to the root of the problem of the environment and why people, resort to, the drugs and, the alcohol. There's so many factors involved with that. But the opportunities, especially within this field, we have more people becoming licensed addiction counselors going into the field to help.. There are opportunities in the mental health field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My number one value one is honesty. In my work and in my personal life, I'm honest and transparent. If I do see something that I don't think is right. I will address it. ... I have such strong principles that were embedded in me from my parents and grandparents.
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