Meet Kristen Karhio

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kristen Karhio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kristen, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
I grew up as an only child of a single mom in a small town in upstate NY. I’ve always been a sensitive, empathetic person. If I can make someone happy, it makes me happy.

As an entrepreneur, I’ve had my fair share of struggles. I’ve also had many people help me get to where I am today. Being there for someone when they need it most is the best kind of feeling. The positive energy we put out comes back to us in so many ways.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a creative photographer with an art degree and a passion for branding. Before that, I was a D1 athlete and gym owner. Photographing sports, fitness, and live events is the best of both worlds for me. I’m a very physical photographer and love capturing the action and excitement through real time, candid shots. These types of images feel more authentic and really help connect with your audience. If you have a live event you want to document, I’d love to be there.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Versatility, resilience and the ability to connect with people. You have to be willing to try new things, switch gears quickly and get back up when you get knocked down. Every mistake you make is a learning opportunity and part of the experience. Stay curious and value every relationship you make along the way. Your network is everything.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
I read a lot of different books and enjoy learning through other people’s experiences. I love an inspirational biography like “Shoe Dog” by the founder of Nike, Phil Knight. As an ex-track athlete and business owner, this was very relatable.

I also just finished “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendericks, which was a gift from my business coach. This book is about overcoming your “upper limit problem.” Most of the time, my biggest obstacle is myself. This book helped me become more aware of self sabotage and gave me the tools to get out of my own way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
@audreyinfocus (first photo of me only)

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