Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in organizational development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristi Howard Shultz, President and Founder of Kristi Howard Shultz Consulting, located in Bloomington, IN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Kristi Howard-Shultz Consulting is a central Indiana nonprofit management firm specializing in fundraising, board development, and capacity-building services. Since 2018, we’ve worked with clients to elevate their brands, grow engagement, and build sustainable fundraising practices. We blend data-driven decisions with our years of experience to build strategies that are right-sized for our clients and evolve as they grow.
Tell us about yourself
Like so many others, my business was born out of necessity. I had a newborn baby, a son about to start kindergarten, and a husband that was being deployed to the Middle East for the second time. Flexibility was paramount, and the best way to achieve that flexibility was to start my own firm.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Beyond the necessity, I had a deep desire to change the way we work in nonprofits. For nearly two decades, I worked with consultants that provided strategy but little-to-no support. I wanted to change that, to be a thinking and doing partner. That’s my biggest accomplishment. Once we work together, you will have a strategy and support, success, and sustainability. You have an ally for the future. It’s not any one campaign or about the bottom dollar. The winning is in the approach.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It can be lonely. The only thing I miss from a traditional office environment is having a team to make decisions and celebrate with. As an entrepreneur, you absolutely can still do this. You just have to work a little harder and create your own team of trusted advisors, partners, and friends.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay Curious. The world is ever-changing. You have to stay curious to keep up. Curiosity, as a mindset, helps me reframe failure. When I “wonder” or “notice,” that gives me permission to “try.” This trying leads to a love of learning and continuous growth.
- Embrace Creativity. Trust your experience, imagination, and intuition to solve problems. There will be plenty to solve!
- Make YOUR “C” Contribution. You, yes you, have something special to offer the world. Show up and do just that! What is your unique contribution? What can you do that no one else can? When I make my “C” contribution, meaning I really cast aside doubt and lean into my vision, I know I’m not only making a difference, but I also feel more fulfilled and purposeful in my own life.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.khsconsulting.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristihowardshultz/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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