StoryEQ™

Founder

flynnkristina media, inc.

with over 17 years of building story-driven brands and communities for exceptional individuals—from NBA All-Stars to venture capitalists and renowned artists—my approach combines traditional storytelling with the latest in tech and AI. giving you a transformative perspective and uncovering new dimensions in your personal and professional journey.

how can you work with me?

• 1:1 guided personal story discovery 
• story articulation, content strategy and market positioning
• personal story playbooks, knowledge bases, and custom GPTs

accomplishments:

- transformative brand and operational advancements to over 20 award-winning artists, Ivy League PhDs, industry-leading CEOs, Gates Scholar recipients, and multi-million dollar bootstrapped startup Founders.

- built my personal brand to 20,000 followers + subscribers across platforms and a “Top Personal Branding Voice” recognition by LinkedIn in 2 years.

- created "StoryEngine", an AI-powered platform enhancing personal branding and professional growth among influential women and non-binary leaders; 90% approval rating from all BETA participants.

- led the development of a sold-out, first-of-its-kind, 1,000-piece generative art collection on the Ethereum blockchain that generated over $250,000 for award-winning musician, Ed Balloon, in 72 hours.

- engineered Kyle Lowry's pioneering Genesis NFT Collection, marking a significant intersection of technology and sports on blockchain technology.

- enhanced operational efficiencies and cross-functional team communication by over 25% in less than a year and advised and acted as a thought partnership to the CEO for the #1 training program for underrepresented tech founders in the US, Founder Gym.

Personal Brand + Story Strategist

Rug Radio

content focused on all things web3 (culture, community, creators, tech et. al.). platform and format agnostic.

host of weekly podcast, Web3 Queeroes.

Freelance Content Creator

elected, founding, member leading the establishment of the governance framework of pioneering decentralized autonomous organization in the media sector, underpinned by 1000 ETH ($5 million) and a community of over 1,000 co-owners.

Council + Founding Member

Marigold Capital

advisor to one of North America's first and top impact investment funds.

Advisor

jiiWA

- escalated and bootstrapped the startup to over $500,000 in revenue in less than 3 years through strategic development and oversight of all core business units.

- led JIIWA to successful B Corp Certification, acknowledging stakeholder governance policies and company procedures that embody the values of community investment and sustainable business practices.

- facilitated close to 3 years of industry research and customer discovery, collecting over 800,000 data points from over 10,000 end users across multi-year, enterprise clients in North America.

Co-Founder & CEO

GuardLab

- orchestrated the development of operational systems and digital platforms, including a DTC Website, Shopify backend, iOS and Android apps, leading to significantly enhancing efficiency and team and stakeholder engagement.

- established pivotal partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and major sports franchises across the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, UFC, and NCAA.

- acted as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the CEO and Board of Directors on industry trends and consumer behaviours that informed critical business decisions.

Vice President, Operations

The 519

- spearheaded the execution of a groundbreaking $100 million capital project of the world’s first inclusive sport and recreation facility, led by one of Canada’s wealthiest families. 

- acted as the primary liaison and strategic council between a major philanthropic donor and critical project stakeholders, including Federal, Provincial, and Municipal elected officials.

- directed the development, presentation, and administration of the project’s annual $1.5 million budget.

- facilitated a comprehensive community engagement process for over 2,500 residents of Moss Park, leading both the planning and execution phases.

Senior Project Consultant, The Moss Park Project

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

- promoted 3 times in under 6 years beginning as Intern, and ending as Manager, Community and Player Engagement.

- led a team of 4 in the strategy and execution of all business and personal initiatives and charitable investments for 90+ professional athletes, coaches and executives annually. 

- generated $1.7M through event management, sales and operations for major MLSE Foundation events through innovative sponsorship and donor engagement strategies. 

- launched MLSE’s educational platform, coordinating cross-functional teams to create a comprehensive resource for community health and wellness that served over 100,000 teachers across Canadian school boards.

- spearheaded MLSE’s first-ever Pride Night and Pride March.

Manager, Community & Player Engagement (Toronto Raptors | Toronto FC | MLSE Foundation)

Coordinator, Community and Player Programming (Toronto Raptors)

Coordinator, NBA Programming (NBA 3on3)

Community/Basketball Development Intern

Fasken Martineau DuMoulin

- Acted as liaison between Toronto and Ottawa legal offices in the acquisition of Johnson and Buchan LLP. Included software and systems training of 15 Ottawa personnel. 

- Created and maintained corporate manual on department policies, procedures and guidelines.
	
- Delivered training seminars to legal secretariat assistant groups and conducted departmental orientations for new legal professionals.

- Assisted with special projects by researching new resources and testing new products and software.

- Provided support to the Records Management team as required.

Analyst/Coordinator, Records Management

make your personal story a profitable brand | i help high-potential women understand & share their stories to effortlessly sell themselves & their work | +15 years building brands for NBA All-Stars, founders, VCs | ADHD

aren’t you sick of playing small?

maybe you’re:

• feeling overlooked while you watch others rise
• unsure how to own your story & show up confidently
• ready to finally get paid for what makes you unique

🟦 short 🟦

for 18 years, i built personal brands for NBA All-Stars, Olympians, and VCs. now, i help mid-to-late career founders + pros use StoryEQ™—my AI-driven, neuroscience-backed approach—to discover, articulate, and own their story so they can GET PAID for their expertise.

tired of staying safe? go to my “featured” section to book a discovery call.

🟦 long 🟦

if you’re here, you’re feeling it. the frustration of not fully knowing (or owning) who you are or how to communicate what makes you valuable.

you’re wondering:

• how do i explain what i do in a way that feels like me?
• how am i different and why should people care?
• who the f*ck am i to call myself an expert?

you’ve tried to "figure it out"… journaling, courses, reading. but it never feels complete.

but you’re still stuck:

• holding back
• doubting your worth
• feeling invisible in rooms you belong

the reality is you don’t feel like you because you haven’t fully discovered who you are.

but, here’s what i know from 18 years with top talent:

• you’re not alone in feeling this way
• it can 100% be fixed (in way less time than you think)

if you want to show up with confidence, get paid for your unique expertise, and build a personal brand that "feels like you" AND deeply connects with your audience, it starts with two things:

1) getting clear on your personal story and why it matters
2) learning to share it authentically—in a way that connects with any audience

that’s what i help you do with StoryEQ™. 

this AI + EQ framework makes self-reflection accessible, storytelling strategic (without the trauma-spilling), and your personal brand your greatest professional asset.

ready to enter your no f*cks era? book a discovery call in my FEATURED section.

---

real results from leaders who’ve used StoryEQ™ to step into their No F*cks Era™:

🔸 “i built a multi million dollar company in 18 months, and if i'd had StoryEQ™ early on, my team and i could’ve done it in 9. it is so impactful that we now send all of our consulting clients through the process with Kristina.” — Amanda Northcutt (Founder and CEO @ Level Up Creators)

🔸 “kristina is kindness and warmth personified. she creates a safe space to dig into the nitty-gritty parts of your life and analyze them in a way that gives them deep meaning.” — Erica Schneider (Founder + Creator @ Cut The Fluff + Full Stack Solo)

kristina flynn

walking into a room of 100 accomplished women is my nightmare. last week i not only walked in - i got on stage…


the first thing i asked?


"how many of you looked around today and thought… i must be in the wrong room?"


90% raised their hands.

90% of the top creators. journalists. executives. entrepreneurs. from Spotify, CNN, Forbes, Vanity Fair, iHeartRadio…

90% felt like imposters who got "lucky."


we'd all been telling ourselves the same lie.

that everyone else belonged.
that we were the only ones who didn’t. 

it was wild. 

and a perfect intro to my talk, The Science of Trust in the Creator Economy. 

because the best news is that we can rewire this sh*t. we can engineer self-trust. 

by understanding when we're performing instead of being ourselves.
by proving to ourselves - one terrifying moment at a time - that we can handle it.

micro moments. big shifts. 


standing on that stage, my body screamed RUN. 

(a yell that started over 72 hours earlier)

turns out, I didn't need to be fearless.
those women didn't need me to be fearless. 

they needed me to be real. 

to be terrified and do it anyway. 

because self-trust doesn't come from never feeling fear.

it comes from feeling like you’re gonna puke and still taking the mic. 
feeling like you don't belong and still sharing your story.


rooms of all women have rarely felt safe to me. 

as a mom who didn't birth my kids, i'm often seen more like a "Dad" — never quite fitting the mold.

but by refusing to “perform professionalism” last week at Amy Sterner Nelson’s The Gathering in DC 

I gave others in the room permission to do the same. 

and from the moment i walked off stage, I felt supported, welcomed, seen. 

turns out the wrong room was exactly where we ALL needed to be.

90% of us, learning we weren't alone in feeling alone.


real talk 💬 does walking into a room of all women feel safe to you?


—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers turn their personal stories into personal brands (that feel like them and make shittons of money).

• follow me here: kristina flynn  
• subscribe to my newsletter (relaunching soon!)

you don’t know why you’re valuable. I fix that | 18 yrs w/ NBA All-Stars, Olympians + VCs | founder, StoryEQ™ — helping overthinking high-achievers see, own, and get paid for what makes you unique | ADHD

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42 years old. moving back in with my parents. and finally okay with it.


labour day weekend. kids are set to go back to school. 

text from our landlords: 
"are you around to chat?"

f*ck.

wifey and i have been renting for over a decade. 
we knew what that meant.

no worries though. they were just listing the house, that didn't mean it would actually sell.

fast forward 2.5 months and we move out Saturday.

5 days on market. 
sold over ask. 
60 days to get out.

(still don't get how a single dude is given the same amount of notice when evicted as a family of four. wild.)

out of over 15 places we went to see, 
2 were in our price range.

both applications were rejected.

my parents offered their place.
"just a few months while you figure it out."

the voice in my head (whom i call Regina George) got real loud:

• they're offering out of obligation.
• your wife doesn't want to live with in-laws.
• you're 42. how are you moving back home?
• what if the kids break shit? what if the dog pisses somewhere?

so we kept searching.
kept applying.
kept getting rejected.

then i looked at wifey:

"i know this sounds silly but it feels like the universe is telling us to go be with my parents."

"i feel the same," she said.

when we stopped resisting, things got way less stressful:

• the kids get more time w/ nana + poppa
• we get rare time as adults w/ my aging parents
• the financial breathing room to find the RIGHT place
• my parents get to be needed (they f*cking love that)

when i read (heard) this line in The Surrender Experiment last week, i felt a crazy energy run throughout my entire body: 

"challenging situations create the force needed for change. the problem is - we (often) use that energy to resist change."

the Author, Michael Singer learned: 

"if i could handle the winds of the current storm, it would end up blowing in some great gift."

overthinking high-achievers: we're so busy performing "having it together" that sometimes we miss the gifts wrapped in the storm.

that thing stealing your sleep?
that "failure" you're hiding?

what if it's not happening TO you?
what if it's happening FOR you?

you'll never know unless you take a moment to stop, assess the chaos, and listen long enough for what the universe is trying to show you. 

this is the reframe i'm bringing with me as we pack up the truck this weekend. 

surrendering to reality
instead of resisting b/c of preference. 


real talk 💬 is resistance a new topic for you (it is for me)?

—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers like you turn your personal stories and wild careers into personal brands (that feel like you and make sh*ttons of money).

if you liked this (and don't hate Queer people)

follow me here: kristina flynn

my therapist says i need "consistency." so here's 12,000 thoughts from this morning.



(welcome to #overthinkinginpublic — my brain dump series happening every Wednesday)


the avg person has 4000 thoughts/day. 

overthinkers like me? we're *at least* triple that. 


here are some of mine:
(that literally no one asked for)


• whoever said Allan Keys are the best invention has never actually used a f*cking Allan Key

• we have tech that lets rockets take off, come back and land…Apple, can you really not build an AirPod case that stays closed when it drops???

• i don't care how much of a Millennial it makes me. i'm not booking no flight on a f*cking phone. 

• 🎵"i'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby"🎵 

• are we "officially old" when a car peels around the corner and we respond with "well, that was unnecessary."

• as a kid i collected keychains. now i collect domains. welcome to the family, performingprofessionalism(.)com

• i resent Gen Z bringing back the tramp stamp. how are people supposed to know my age now? 

• were "The Jones'" a marketing campaign just like "Betty Crocker"?

• are we the last generation to say things like "2 shakes of a lamb's tail"? (yes i actually say this)

• what asshole decided that women needed to shave their entire bodies to be desirable?



real talk 💬 how many thoughts do you think you have daily?



—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers like you turn your personal stories and wild careers into personal brands (that feel like you and make sh*ttons of money).

if you liked this (and don't hate Queer people):

follow me here: kristina flynn

i crushed the talk. but felt nothing. like watching someone else’s success through a window. 



last week i shared that 90% of women in a room of 100 raised their hands when i asked who felt like they didn’t belong.

today i'm still thinking about why.


"imposter syndrome" doesn't capture it. 
at least not for me.

i don't feel like an imposter. 
i know logically i'm “good at what i do”.

for me, it feels more like disconnect.

my brain can list the facts:

• brought value
• crushed the talk
• people connected
• asks to work together

but my body? feels nothing.


and if 90% of the women in that room of 'heavy hitters' (barf) raised their hands? 

this isn’t just a “me” problem of knowing my achievements but being unable to feel them.


so, here's what i'm #overthinkinginpublic today (maybe you can help me figure this out):


what if the way we're taught to “succeed” actually breaks our ability to experience it when we do?

think about it.

• every time we push through exhaustion for a deadline
• every time we smile in meetings when we want to scream
• every time we ignore our gut to be "professional"

we’re doing what i call “performing professionalism” 


teaching our nervous system its signals don't matter.

teaching ourselves that success means overriding what we feel.

that to “win” we need to disconnect from ourselves.



so when we "make it" - we literally can't feel it. because we've trained ourselves out of it.


i don’t have any answers yet 
but naming it feels like the first step

and i can’t ignore the pattern.


if 90% of a room of ridiculously accomplished women feel like they don’t belong… 

that's not individual failure.
that's something bigger.

and if we wanna fix it… we’re gonna have to admit it’s a big f*cking problem in the first place. 


real talk 💬 have you ever experienced this?


—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers turn their personal stories and wild careers into personal brands (that feel like them and make sh*ttons of money).

if you liked this (and don’t hate Queer people):

follow me here: kristina flynn

my therapist says i need "consistency." so here's 12,000 thoughts from this morning (pt.2)


(welcome to #overthinkinginpublic — my brain dump series happening every Wednesday)

the avg person has 4000 thoughts/day.
overthinkers like me? gotta be at least triple that.

here are some of mine:
(that literally no one asked for)

• do 2 narcissists ever end up together?
• are crawfish actually just baby lobsters?
• do Blue Jays know that they're the Brad Pitt of birds?
• Pamela Anderson might be the best comeback story since the QR code
• “this is our daughter, Dottie, and this is our other daughter…Dottie’s sister”
• why are ears and noses the only things on our bodies that continue to grow as we age?
• if an item you washed is damp but you really want to wear it, do you put it on anyways? (i 100% do)
• i’m still working on a definition of peri-menopause but so far I’ve got: 3 days of existential crises monthly
• is my house actually a disaster or is it just a disaster compared to the house i grew up in (where you only played in your room and basement)?
• 🎵doooooo yooouurrr ears hang low. do they wobble to and frow. can you tie them in a knot. can you tie them in a bow. 🎵


real talk 💬 are you an overthinker?

—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers like you turn your personal stories and wild careers into personal brands (that feel like you and make sh*ttons of money).

if you liked this (and don't hate Queer people)

follow me here: kristina flynn

my 6 y/o discovered the $6.2 million banana. what i realized next won't leave my brain.

she doesn't overthink.


my daughter is an Artist. 
she started claiming that label at 3. 
 
wifey and i encourage it. 

i'm an Artist, 
but couldn't claim it until my late 30s. 

last week she burst through the door after school:
"Mommy, this guy's art was taping a banana to a wall!"

i said, "wild right, it's called 'Comedian.'"

her eyes went huge. "you KNOW that story?!"

and we were off. 
(i'd bet my right arm she has my brain)

30 minutes deep diving into Maurizio Cattelan. 
the concept. the sales. the controversy.

about 15 mins in, she grabbed my sharpie.

didn't ask permission.
didn't worry about getting it wrong.
didn't wonder if she was artistic enough.

just...started drawing.

couple minutes later (with some spelling help from me) her interpretation was done. 

it was like i got to watch myself create before the world got to me.

before i worried "what will they think?"
before i wondered "am i qualified?"
before i felt wrong claiming Artist. 

she wanted to make something. so she did.

no overthinking to the point of paralysis.
no overriding voice in her head.
no second guessing.

just: idea → action.

this is what we lose, isn't it?

not our creativity.
not our ability.
not our ideas.

we lose the permission to just do.

overthinking high-achievers get this. 

1000s of ideas sitting in your notes app.
frameworks dying in your Notion instance.
stories you're "perfecting" instead of posting.

maybe it's time to pick up the sharpie again.

stop asking if you're ready.
stop waiting for permission.
stop overthinking it without action.

your 6-year-old self would've just done it by now.


real talk 💬 what did you want to be when you grew up?


—

hey hey, i'm kristina with a 'k' and i help overthinking high-achievers turn their personal stories and wild careers into profitable personal brands (that actually feel like them).

if you dig this (and aren't afraid of Queer people):

• follow me here: kristina flynn

Up Designs, LLC

Strategic, professional, and inspiring websites for health and wellness businesses.

Founder/CEO (Website Strategy & Design)

Uproxx Studios

An entertainment media group recently bought by Warner Music Group due to exceptional success at engaging Millennial men at mass, appealing to big name advertisers like FX, Toyota and Pepsi.

- Led and developed all marketing and sales presentations/materials (e.g. sizzle reel scripts, research, case studies, ad products)
- Developed proactive marketing strategy and initiatives (e.g. Oscars, Comic-Con, movie screenings) to elevate Uproxx and provide sponsorship opportunities for top advertisers
- Liaised with the Sales team to customize opportunities for RPFs/proposals for advertisers
- Overhauled and re-constructed a brand new corporate website

Director, Marketing

SpinMedia Group, Inc.

(Formerly Spinmedia) - An entertainment media company with premiere music, celebrity and news brands (SPIN, VIBE, Buzznet, Stereogum, JustJared, Celebuzz, Socialite Life, The Frisky and more) appealing to over 20MM Millennials and GenXers.

- Created, activated and produced some of the largest branded marketing programs in SpinMedia history (8+ years).
- Developed the company pitch presentation and oversaw all sales materials and proactive programs around key tentpoles.
- Created disruptive multimedia branded programs, in response to RFP requests and proactively, for Fortune 500 advertisers with projected spending of $500K+.
- Built and led a superior marketing team of (6) RFP, content and production specialists responsible for all phases of the marketing and content process, from pitch to activation.
- Led meetings with key stakeholders to improve cross-team communication and efficiency in our revenue processes.

Sr. Director, Integrated Marketing

Sr. Manager, Integrated Marketing

TIME

Manager, Integrated Marketing

PEOPLE Magazine | PEOPLE.com

Associate, Integrated Marketing

Your work transforms people's lives - your website should reflect that.

I help small business owners who are gamechangers in the health & wellness industry - by creating strategic, inspiring, and impressive websites that help them grow.

Working with the right health professional changed my life. Now, I use my website expertise to help small businesses, entrepreneurs & practitioners in Health, Medical, Integrative Health, Wellness, and Travel to increase their impact. 

I've helped:
- Medical Organizations & Laboratories
- Healthcare Revenue Consultants
- Health Copywriters
- Doctors & Health Coaches
- Immunity & Cancer Biotherapy scientists
- And gamechangers in travel, affordable housing, art programs for kids, real estate, and law

Unlike other web designers, I bring 20+ years of experience in strategy and marketing to your business. Your website is the front door to that business.

When I'm not working, you can find me hiking beautiful snow-capped mountains in Washington, traveling the world, or sweating at a hot sculpt class.

Need a spectacular website? 

Book a consult: www.up-designs.co/book-a-consult

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