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Women of Distinction

purchasing a second unit in this condo And then 1% of our team members time the world. The focus of Krista's own charity,
complex downtown and asked if they could would also be dedicated toward service Unknown Voices, is to educate the youths in
do a quick walk through so he could make and outreach. San Diego to be aware of all that is going
a final decision and then he would take Krista’s non-profit is called Unknown on around them. "We focus on issues that
her on the tour of the city. Krista agreed, Voices, and on the profit side, she has impact our youth. We teach them about
“I walked into this place, and every hair Clutch Branding and Merack Publishing. the horrible problem of human trafficking
on my body stood up. By the end of that "Within these companies, we serve indi- in San Diego so that they don't get dragged
weekend, he had said to me, you know, you into it because they are ignorant of its exis-
should live in this new unit that I'm buying.” tence. We are currently putting together a
Krista knew she wanted to live in San proposal to host a TEDx youth conference
Diego, but she had a life back in Vancouver here in San Diego, where we would tackle
and couldn’t just pick up and move to a two distinct objectives. Saving yourself and
new country on such short notice. So, he saving the world. We would talk to young
told her that he felt she would be the per- people about things like body image and
fect tenant and would not look for anyone social media, topics that directly affect
else until he heard otherwise from her. them, and how they feel about themselves.
When you know things are meant to be, Then also bringing them up to speed on
they just somehow fall into place. The next things like human trafficking, or climate
day Krista received a call from a friend of a change, and how they can do their part
friend who was looking for a fully furnished to be a great global citizen while building
one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, and themselves up as well.”
she needed it starting the following month. As busy as Krista is, she still concen-
Krista couldn’t believe this was happen- trates on the main priority in her life, her
ing, but before she knew it, she was pack- seven-year-old daughter Kennedy and her
ing up her belongings and heading to San 12-year-old stepdaughter Lindsay, and of
Diego. The stars were definitely aligned for course the love of her life, Ryan.
Krista, "I had not only moved to my dream Krista rereleased her book 'Get Noticed,
location, but just two weeks after I got here, Be Remembered,' last year making some
I met the love of my life, Ryan.” Photos courtesy of Krista Clive-Smith minor changes to it. "I was honored to find
This experience taught Krista a vital out that my book received the Ben Franklin
lesson, follow your heart. A few weeks after award this year, an Independent press
Krista moved to San Diego she landed a award and an International book award. I
role as the host of a TV show on personal was also just informed that it will be used
branding. The only problem was that the as a textbook for a course on personal
job was in Canada. They were searching for branding at Purdue University."
a female Canadian host who was an expert I asked Krista to tell our readers what
in personal branding. "Since I was living in viduals who have established expertise in she has learned along this path to success
San Diego, they put it in my contract that a nonfiction category. We publish their and what her book says to the world. “I
they would fly me to Vancouver to film, and manuscript and build their personal brand, think it's really about determining and
then back to San Diego in between filming, because as an author it's one thing to write discovering who you really are at your most
so I could actually live here in the US.” a book and monetize it, but especially in authentic core, and then empowering and
When the show ended, Krista searched the nonfiction space, you need to build a inspiring people to use their voice in the
for another position that would allow her to platform. We help people develop their world so that those gifts that are unique
remain in the US on a work visa. She land- personal brand, which comes with a per- to them, can be put out there to serve the
ed a new job which gave her a three-year sonal brand logo, a website, and a strategy world in the best way they can. People
work visa, though it wouldn’t be needed, for how to monetize it. need to have the courage to dream bigger
since one year into the visa she and Ryan Krista’s fourth business is called Little than what they are comfortable dreaming,
were married. Authors Academy, which is an afterschool and just being brave enough to take one
Happily married and living in San enrichment program and summer camp. tiny step in that direction.”
Diego, Krista knew it was the time to finally They are just about to launch their Little “With courage and persistence and an
take the leap and open her own business. Authors at home division, which helps kids open mind, you can accomplish any goal.
Today Krista has a family of companies… when they're young, to empower them and Remember, it is hard to drive a parked car.
four for profits and one 501c3 non-profit inspire them to use their voice and put it Once you get in the driver's seat of your life
“I really believe in the power of integrated into written form. They can write books, and you start going, then everything along
philanthropy, which essentially means that and Krista’s company will publish them the way can give you feedback. Is this clos-
you integrate your philanthropic side of while they're kids. er to where I want to go? Or further from
who you are right into the fabric of how Krista still spends a reasonably large it? Just continue to do what a GPS does,
you do business. So, when I started the portion of her life speaking, coaching and you continue to course correct toward what
for-profits, I started the non-profit at the consulting, but one of her great loves is feels right and what feels like your ultimate
same time so that even while it's young, a charity that she has been a part of for ideal destination. There's an amazing quote
I could be donating. We donate 1% of quite some time called Watts of Love. (www. by Martin Luther King Jr that says 'you
revenue now while we're smaller, but then wattsoflove.org) This organization distrib- don't need to see the whole staircase, just
that'll eventually turn to 1% of the profit. utes solar lights to the ultra poor around take the first step.’
You can reach Krista at krista@kristaclivesmith.com or visit her website at www.kristaclivesmith.com
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