As Managing Partner of The Embedded Group, Kristen is a conscious leader set on proving that the triple bottom line: purpose, people, and profit is always worth aiming for in business. With 15 years of experience in market research and strategy, general management, and brand building, Kristen has worked for some of the world’s most recognizable companies, brands, and campaigns, including Procter & Gamble (P&G), Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson, COVERGIRL, The Olympics, The NFL, and University of Michigan Athletics.  

Her TEDx Talk “Closing The Wellness Gap” is sparking a conversation about generational wellness in the Black community; it is her motivation for mentoring girls and women on resilience, burnout recovery, and stress intelligence while on the journey of achieving their academic and career goals.  

Born and raised on the West Side of Chicago, Kristen graduated from the University of Michigan with two bachelor’s degrees and Gonzaga University with her master’s degree. She is a fellow of two highly selective leadership development programs: IMPACT (Chicago Urban League and University of Chicago) and Career Prep (Management Leadership for Tomorrow). Her awards include the David Ogilvy Award (Advertising Research Foundation) and Outstanding Arts Consultant of Chicago (Arts & Business Council of Chicago). She serves on the Associate Board for the Chicago Public Library Foundation, is a lead instructor in the Business Innovation & Growth (BIG) Center at Northeastern Illinois University, and is an advocate for literacy and the arts. Beyond work, Kristen loves reading physical books, traveling to see the wonders of the world, and the special occasions she steps back inside a studio to teach dance intensives.