Kristin believes that words aren’t just words—they're bridges, catalysts, and sometimes, lifelines.

Her journey to become a founding CEO started in the hills of rural Nicaragua, where she met Ana, a young girl with a sharp mind and a dream of going to school—but no real path to get there. That moment didn’t just change Ana’s life—it changed Kristin’s. She went on to found Project Alianza, a purpose-driven organization that blends low-tech and community-driven solutions to close the education gap for children across Central America. Since then, Project Alianza has reached over 170,000 students, ensuring more children—especially girls—stay in school and learn to read. One of its biggest achievements? AnGo, a learning platform designed by and for rural Central American educators, built to serve kids in the region’s most remote areas.

But launching a nonprofit and securing funding wasn’t just about having a great mission—it was about telling the story in a way that moved people to act. Kristin had to learn how to pitch ideas that people believe in, navigate high-stakes conversations, and make every word count. That experience led her to create SpeakHero, where she now coaches leaders, executives, and teams to communicate with clarity, presence, and impact.

Kristin’s coaching style is a mix of precision and presence, helping people grow their unique strengths as a speaker, share a vision that resonates, and turn ideas into action. Her speaking style has been described as brave and fiercely engaging, making her an ongoing coach for brands like Uber, Bank of America and Microsoft.

Her own ability to connect people to causes has earned her a spot on the TEDx stage, in The Boston Globe, and at the MassChallenge accelerator, where she won a Gold Prize for world-changing ideas and took a top place in their pitch competition. She has been recognized as a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur, Fulbright Scholar, Aspen Global Leaders Fellow, NYU Changemaker, and was awarded the Horseshoe Hero Award from the Indianapolis Colts. Before founding Project Alianza, she worked at RAND Corporation, a global policy think tank, where she gained deep expertise in research, program design, and systems change.

When she’s not leading or coaching, you’ll likely find her on her yoga mat, walking her dog, Phoebe, along Boston’s waterfront, or claiming the window seat on her next flight—passport in hand, ready for the next adventure.