The Inspiration Award for Woman of the Year acknowledges the achievements of one woman who has had a milestone year and has contributed to the evolution of the media, entertainment, and technology industry throughout their career. They are a visionary leader who is highly regarded by employees, clients, and peers for career achievement, dedication to excellence, and quality work-life integration.
"I am honored and truly humbled to receive this award. Shocked really. It feels like a dream that I am being recognized for the same award that two of my mentors have previously received. I aspire to be an impactful servant leader like they are. Thank you to The WICT Network for the recognition. I am incredibly grateful for the support of my colleagues and the Executive team at UP Entertainment. I am proud not only of the successful work I’ve accomplished at my company, but also how I’ve used my unique skillset to affect positive change outside of the industry. I hope others are inspired to find ways to use their talent and skills to positively impact and uplift others in the community."
~Kristina Kelly
"One of the most inspiring humans-personally & professionally, that I know! She inspires me daily to reach beyond what I think is possible every day!"
~Heather Symmes, nominator
BRILLIANT
TALENTED
COURAGEOUS
COMMUNICATE with passion and poise,
in writing and in-person.
How Kristina Exemplifies Our 2024 Touchstone
I am the head of Internal and External Communications for UP Entertainment and its portfolio of positive brands. I’ve known I wanted to work in the entertainment industry in Public Relations and Communications since I was a child. I love what I do. Because of this love and passion, I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life. After I was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer July 2023, UP’s CEO, Charley Humbard, shared the quote with me that was “Turn your pain into purpose.” It inspired me as I was called to share my story with the public in hopes it could save someone’s life. I leveraged my extensive PR knowledge and contacts to spread awareness about early detection and health advocacy by sharing my young onset story with almost 200 million people through interviews with People.com, Today.com, Motherluck Podcast and Inside Edition. I plan to keep encouraging others to advocate for their health while I also find ways to petition for the colonoscopy screening age to be lowered from 45 to 35 due to the alarmingly increasing rates of colorectal cancer in younger adults. The passion I have for sharing stories and positively uplifting others gave me the drive to communicate my journey while I was going through chemotherapy and radiation. I also worked throughout my treatment, but not because I had to. I worked because cancer took so many things away from me, and I didn’t want to lose this important piece of me. PR is part of who I am. It’s in my DNA so it was a needed and valued escape from the emotional, mental and physical turmoil I was experiencing. In addition to my incredible family, I am so lucky to have a company that supported me through this and allowed me to balance being a working mom while undergoing cancer treatment.