Kristen Smith Young
@kcs_tarheel | Chapel Hill native and troublemaker
You may remember Kristen from her weekly conversation with Aaron Keck to give the Short & Sweet Business Beat . She’s back but for a limited time only. Inspired by so many women entrepreneurs and business owners she’s met and known, she decided to feature one woman a day in March on social media (follow her on Instagram and Twitter ) in honor of Women’s History Month . Follow along and let us know your favorite women entrepreneurs. A digest of Kristen’s posts will appear right here in the Town Square section of Chapelboro each Friday in March. Check out the first of five digests posted on March 9, 2018.
Aaron Keck talked to Kristen on-air about her social media series on March 8, 2018, also International Women’s Day. Click below to hear their conversation:
https://chapelboroaudio.s3.amazonaws.com/2018/March/08/Women%27s%20Day%20KRISTEN%20SMITH.mp3
Focus on Women Entrepreneurs (2 of 5)
When I started focusing on women entrepreneurs for #womenshistorymonth, I really wanted to highlight just on businesses and startups. But yesterday, at a friend’s invitation, I had the opportunity to help package more than 20K diapers at the @nc_diaperbank and was inspired by the founder’s story. Michelle Old, after helping her fostered (and then adopted) child fight an illness, wondered about families who couldn’t afford diapers, which are not covered by WIC or food stamps. A mom to three children, she quit her job and started the Diaper Bank of North Carolina with the goal of distributing 50,000 diapers. They now distribute more than three million diapers a year across the state and are also collecting and distributing feminine hygiene and incontinence products for those that cannot afford them. Their goal for next month? To have 30 diaper drives in 30 days! Thanks @parcelax for teaching me about this organization and I’m glad you challenged me to feature this social entrepreneur. Learn more about donating, volunteering, or hosting a drive at ncdiaperbank.org. #womenshistorymonth #aprilshowers #dignity #Repost @nc_diaperbank with @get_repost
A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 11, 2018 at 1:53pm PDT
Feeling fatigued (and feeling my age), I’m looking for renewal and restoration before heading to bed. So with a @thistlefarms lavender candle lit and a @thistlefarms facial mask smeared on my face, I want to make sure you know about Becca Stevens, founder of one of the most amazing social enterprises. Read about this business that offers employment and community to women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. And you can order their products that offer relaxation at thistlefarms.org. And hat tip to my mom who introduced me to Thistle Farms and works to support women every day. #womenshistorymonth #businessasmission #buildthefuture #loveheals #Repost @entrepreneur with @get_repost ・・・ @becca_thistlefarms is the founder of @thistlefarms, who will be at @foundermade’s #cds2017. Their mission is to heal, empower, and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Q: Why do you do what you do? A; When love and economics come together the intrinsic and extrinsic value grows a movement exponentially. That economic power helps the next woman leave the street. Q: What has been the most difficult part of growing your business? A; Convincing people that we can be a social enterprise while also producing products that are high quality. Customers aren’t just doing a good deed for Thistle Farms…they are getting a great value and a remarkable product. Q: What milestone are you most proud of? A: Passing the $2million mark in sales revenue the same year that 100% of the women in our program completed it clean, sober, and employed. Q: When business has got you down, how do you stay positive? A: By keeping myself surrounded by a community that reminds me daily of the power of gratitude.
A post shared by Kristen Smith Young (@kcs_tarheel) on Mar 13, 2018 at 8:56pm PDT
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