Kristyan Mjolsnes, owner and principal marketing and strategy advisor of Maven Marketing LLC has built a distinguished career through her passion for marketing and dedication to helping others succeed. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in business management and marketing from Hamline University and graduated magna cum laude in 2001. She has successfully combined her academic background with real-world experience to create an impressive path in the marketing world. In her Compute North and Trustwave leadership positions, Ms. Mjolsnes led teams and helped businesses grow significantly. In 2022, she launched Maven Marketing LLC, offering marketing and strategy consulting to business owners and founders aiming to expand their ventures. Additionally, she serves as a fractional chief marketing officer with AcornOak and holds the roles of chief marketing officer and general partner at Northspring Partners.
Ms. Mjolsnes began her journey by gaining experience in production management and marketing with several companies, including SecureConnect Inc., Town Square Mortgage and Cherry Creek Mortgage, A Division of Guild Mortgage. At SecureConnect Inc., she quickly rose to prominence, earning recognition as both sales and marketing employee of the year and company employee of the year. These early accolades set the stage for her continued success in the marketing field. In addition to marketing, Ms. Mjolsnes is involved in civic activities, serving as a patroness for the National Charity League, Inc. since 2023 and hosting an exchange student through Nacel Open Door, Inc. in 2022 and 2023. She believes in giving back to the community and helping others, values that have shaped her personally and professionally. She received the prestigious IM100 Award from Infrastructure Masons in 2022 and has earned a reputation for her marketing strategy and leadership expertise. She helps businesses grow and succeed by assessing challenges and developing actionable solutions.
Ms. Mjolsnes attributes her success to surrounding herself with positive, like-minded individuals who challenge her to grow. Persistence and resilience have been key components of her journey, especially during times of adversity. She emphasizes the importance of facing challenges head-on and learning from them, rather than being discouraged. She is naturally optimistic and finds great joy in working with people, fostering growth in her team. In her early years, Ms. Mjolsnes pursued psychology in college, fascinated by how the mind works. However, her interest in business and marketing eventually led her to switch focus. She appreciated the balance that marketing provided between creativity and analytical thinking, allowing her to use both sides of her brain in her work.
Over the years, Ms. Mjolsnes has enjoyed building and leading successful teams. Watching her team members grow and achieve success has been one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. Taking the leap into self-employment and launching her own company was a significant milestone, and she has continued to grow Maven Marketing LLC by applying the lessons she has learned throughout her career. Her approach to leadership has evolved over time. She practices servant leadership, putting the needs of her team first and supporting them in achieving their goals. As a naturally strong communicator, she has learned the importance of patience and active listening, particularly in the remote work environment. She has built more effective relationships with her clients and colleagues by taking the time to listen and process information before responding.
One of Ms. Mjolsnes’s strengths is her ability to see the big picture, assess a situation, and create a roadmap that others can follow to achieve their goals. This skill has made her a highly effective teacher and mentor, and she takes great pride in helping others succeed. She brings energy and enthusiasm to everything she does, creating a positive and motivating environment for those around her. She plans to continue expanding her business and team in a methodical and sustainable way. She is passionate about sharing her experiences and helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Additionally, she hopes to realize her long-time dream of owning a vineyard, blending her personal and professional goals into a fulfilling life.
In her personal life, Ms. Mjolsnes enjoys spending time with her family and traveling with them. She values the experience of hosting an exchange student and looks forward to hosting more students in the future. Ms. Mjolsnes draws inspiration from the successful people around her, particularly her aunt, who is her role model. She also finds motivation in the success of others, especially her children, and loves seeing their growth and development. Her ability to inspire and motivate others reflects her servant leadership philosophy.
One of Ms. Mjolsnes’s greatest achievements was building a global team and traveling the world to experience different cultures. She played a key role in organizing global sales kickoffs, bringing hundreds of people together to learn and set the tone for the coming year. Additionally, she helped a company grow by nearly 700% in two years, a remarkable accomplishment that earned her recognition as a leader in her field. Ms. Mjolsnes loves solving problems and finds great satisfaction in helping others achieve their goals. She has a passion for animals and, along with her family, supports efforts to find homes for pets in need. Her focus on serving her clients and community is central to her values and approach to life. She is also actively involved in several professional organizations, including CMOx, Infrastructure Masons, and the International Society of Female Professionals. She is also a member of Pi Gamma Mu, a national honors society.
Ms. Mjolsnes maintains her commitment to continuous learning and growth. She attributes her success to her hard work, persistence, and ability to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing business environment. Her dedication to helping others and her passion for marketing have made her a respected leader and mentor, and she looks forward to continuing to build on her success in the years to come.