Young Entrepreneur Makes Waves in Colorado Springs
Picture: Kristen Faith hosts a new workshop called, “Leading with Impact,” for El Pomar’s ELD program in Pueblo, Colorado.
“This last year in business has taught me so much and I’m honored to be recognized as one of the top finalists for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. I hope this inspires other young women to walk in their purpose and create a life of their dreams,” says Kristen Faith.
Colorado Springs based entrepreneur, Kristen Faith, is making waves in the small business arena and has recently been nominated and selected as a top three finalist for the 2022 Young Entrepreneur of the Year award recognized by the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado and Small Business Development Center.
Kristen Faith Sharpe, Founder of The Nonprofit Makeover and Boss Babe Networking is being honored for her efforts in the community which landed her a seat in the finals for this years awards for the second time in a row. Recipients will be announced on Saturday, June 4th at Red Leg Brewing at the 80s Small Business Bash. Guests are encouraged to grab their tickets here to join in the festivities.
Get to know Kristen Fair and the work she has been doing for nonprofits and small businesses in Colorado Springs and beyond.
Please tell us about how you are innovative in small business.
After transitioning out of the nonprofit I founded, I created two successful business models during the pandemic that inspire philanthropy, community, and empowerment for women. Boss Babe Networking and The Nonprofit Makeover are sister companies that uniquely reach our community and provide support for an underserved demographic.
My small businesses encourage members to strategically invest into our community and provide resources for deeper engagement. Social impact is at the heart of both of my companies and has been a pivotal piece to inspire members and nonprofits to utilize my services to strengthen their business efforts.
By incorporating my entrepreneurial and nonprofit strategies, I serve small businesses and organizations by creating a digital footprint. My nonprofit clients raise more money online and transform their followers into donors, while my boss babe members volunteer and donate to worthy causes while developing an impactful business infrastructure through our coaching and marketing services.
My innovative approach to business (both for and not-for-profit) encourage women to take a leap of faith and start pursuing their passions, we inspire partnership and collaboration, and more importantly we invest into the wellbeing of our community.
2. Please tell us what you have done for our community such as increasing available jobs, volunteering, board service, etc.
Giving back to my community was something my mother taught me as a child. I remember picking up trash at the beach, feeding homeless families, and stuffing holiday stockings for underprivileged children in low-income areas. I knew moving to the Springs, I wanted to instill these same values in my family. From raising money for Break the Silence against Domestic Violence’s scholarship program to serving as an ambassador for Mt. Carmel Veteran’s Service Center, my heart for giving back keeps on growing. I actively volunteer with
Springs Rescue Mission, Leadership Pikes Peak, Discovery Church Colorado and COS I Love You. In 2022, The Nonprofit Makeover donated over $10,000 in in-kind services through the Give Campaign.
Last year, Boss Babe Networking raised over $7,000 to sponsor two all-inclusive getaways to Hawaii for local women entrepreneurs who have selflessly given their time, energy, and efforts to supporting others in El Paso County. We called these recipients our Shero of the Year.
On top of this goodness, culture is a very important part of my identity as a young Asian Pacific Islander woman, so this year I created a special multicultural production called Women of the World in honor of International Women’s Day. I’ve partnered with the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum to create the first Women of the World exhibit to honor “women from all walks of life.”
Community is a huge part of my life both personally and professionally. I’ve also volunteered and provided educational workshops and professional development training for the Pikes Peak United Way, El Pomar Foundation, and Leadership Pikes Peak.
3. Please tell us why you think you have demonstrated entrepreneurial potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth.
Colorado Springs has been dubbed the “mecca of successful nonprofits.” As the number of charitable organizations continues to grow, services dedicated to serving nonprofits haven’t increased at the same level. The pandemic has shown us that nonprofits do not have the resources or infrastructure capacity to withstand the changes of this new normal. The nonprofit I created in 2011 called Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence is the cornerstone and model I use to serve organizations. Raising over a million dollars online, reaching 232 million subscribers worldwide, and developing a well-oiled fundraising machine through social media is the new standard for nonprofit organizations. My extensive experience in nonprofit management gives organizations an edge in fundraising and marketability that in return directly impacts our community’s health and wellbeing. The stronger the flow of philanthropy the stronger the social impact will be. In the last 12 months, we've already touched hundreds of nonprofits across El Paso County and beyond and we anticipate serving triple the number of organizations this fiscal year. The Nonprofit Makeover fills in the necessary gaps in services the nonprofit sector needs to succeed. We’ll be offering cutting edge workshops, trainings, events, and networking opportunities for nonprofits to connect with local funding sources. The vision for The Nonprofit Makeover is to become a strong ally with every chamber, network, and foundation in El Paso County to directly serve and provide resources for the more than 1,500 nonprofits in our community.
Furthermore, women's economic empowerment is key to transforming the trajectory for the future of women and the world. When more women work, economies grow. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes (UnitedNations on Women). Boss Babe Networking’s mission is to empower women in business and in life on a deeper more relational level. Our unique collective for women provide members professional development opportunities, sales and networking experiences along with mental health and wellbeing support programs which all contribute to the success of women. When women are empowered our whole community and families thrive.
4. Please tell us how you think your age has impacted your business opportunities.
How does that one song go, “Age ain’t nothing but a number...” I remember walking into my first domestic violence advocacy conference at the tender age of 22 and being the youngest woman in the room by a landslide. My ideas were cutting edge, different, and challenged the concepts and ideologies that had been done for years for the domestic violence movement. I was met with resistance - which was all I needed to motivate me to run with my ideas and keep growing. I was featured in Glamour, ESPN, Huffington Post, New York Post, PEOPLE and so many other media outlets because of the groundbreaking efforts I made during my tenure as the CEO of the one most successful and notable domestic violence nonprofits in the world. Before transitioning out of my nonprofit, our organization was raising $20,000 per month on social media during the pandemic - on autopilot. I created and implemented new concepts and shocked the world. I knew at that point my talents were meant to be shared with more organizations.
The thing I learned about age and business is success is not only measured by your accolades and accomplishments, it’s also about the confidence and faith you have in yourself to succeed. I’ve been invited to some of the most powerful tables with some of the most influential leaders and business owners ranging from executives at Sephora to political figures and the common underlying theme is, “What are your ideas and how can we do it better?” My ideas kickstarted Sephora’s company wide effort to create the Sephora Stands program which provides employees with support in the event they are suffering from domestic violence.
My age has inspired older generations to be more open to new fresh concepts and has paved the way for collaboration. My age has inspired younger generations to pursue their passions and fulfill their dreams. My age and accomplishments are a true testament that anything is possible, you just have to have faith.
Interested in learning more about how you can connect or work with Kristen Faith, click here.
