Christina Barrientos is the owner and founder of Heartstone Creative. Heartstone Creative is the soft-skill training solution for young adults and entry level positions for small businesses. They’re closing the gap between long-time employees and entry level workers by providing scenario-based learning to help meet business expectations. Read on to learn more about Christina, her inspiration, and her business.
How did you come up with your business concept? What inspired you to start your own business?
First off, I just wanted to make note that I N E V E R thought I would be a business owner. I come from a family where the expectation is you get a job, you work there for 30 years, then you retire, the end. Entrepreneurship was never modeled to me in a way that made me feel it was something I could actually do. So, this is all new to me but after dipping my toe in the entrepreneurship world, it has really inspired my confidence! I came up with this business concept after having conversations with some friends who are small business owners. Listening to their struggles navigating business expectations with their staff. I started realizing there was a common theme among long time employees and entry level workers. Business expectations of professional skills were not translating well between these two groups. With my background in career education, and in training and development, I started thinking I could maybe offer a solution. Heartstone Creative started off as a concept for “making connections''. Meaning, I wanted to help bridge the gap between long-time employees and the next generation by translating business expectations into a learning experience for new employees. I have extensive experience working with young adults and have the formal training of professional expectations so I jumped in full force and created Heartstone Creative as a way to offer these solutions. Heartstone Creative is a business concept providing custom learning solutions for small business staff. Currently the focus is on privately owned optical offices because I have ten years experience in optical and I have a local office who is piloting my program. Offering these solutions will not only help build top talent but also assist in client retention and growth.
What’s your background? Could you tell us how each of these disciplines emerge in your work?
I have had a variety of careers in retail, private practice, government, public education, and in the tech industry. In each position I have held, mentoring and leadership development have been a common theme. My passion is for people and I love empowering people to be the best version of themselves personally and professionally. I have extensive experience working with teenagers and young adults as I was a Career and Technical Educator for seven years. I have a unique ability to understand the expectations of previous generations while simultaneously supporting younger generations. I can easily connect the dots and make meaningful connections for generations to make impactful business and employee retention. I have a strong foundation in visual design and have a knack for developing impactful UX design principles in all of my learning experiences which helps make learning experiences attractive to a wide audience of users.
What led you to take Heartstone Creative from an idea to pursuing it as a business?
I was having lunch with a previous coworker when I shared this idea with her. I shared that I wanted to get in there, and change the narrative on how older generations see younger generations in the workplace. I wanted to advocate for entry level workers by empowering them with skills for future success. At first, I thought of speaking at events, or simply having more of a consulting role where I helped management navigate difficult situations. The more we talked, the more my passion for this idea came through and she had suggested the AccelerateHER program to me. I thought immediately mmmmm no. “Why would I want to own my own business?”. A couple of weeks went on, I created a website, jotted down a framework of how this concept would play out. All of a sudden I thought, maybe it would make sense to pursue this as a business. My friend texted me and was like “hey, the deadline is coming up, did you apply?”. I pulled out my laptop and applied for the AccelerateHer program and it has been a whirlwind ever since.
How did you find your way into the industry?
In 2020 I was a public school educator and when the pandemic hit, it changed the education industry (probably forever). Educators were “building the plane while flying it” as we all tried to figure out how to make learning possible for our students while still providing a sense of security and consistency. (It was really scary honestly). I had implemented online learning, resources and gamification in my previous lessons. I was able to continue doing what I was already doing, just at a different level. I found I enjoyed investing my time in creating learning experiences from visual design, to user interaction, and adaptability. This radical change in the education industry led me to be more creative and implement technology in new ways. After I left teaching, I honed my skills and navigated towards adult audiences. I now use the scenario-based approach by Cathy Moore to create a series of story-driven exercises. They include common situations that employees are confronted with whenever they communicate with clients. The learning solutions created through Heartstone Creative seek to give new employees the ability to experience several scenarios through these training sessions before they encounter the real thing.
What’s your favorite thing about your workspace?
My favorite thing about my workspace is how flexible it is. Coming from a career with little flexibility in my schedule to having all the flexibility I create has been refreshing. At Stoke I am able to have a designated desk where I can focus on the tasks I need to get done. Some days I am meeting with other entrepreneurs in the coworking space and having lunch. Other days, I am using the booth to record audio for a lesson. The conference rooms have been a great way to collaborate on business plans and share ideas with one another. I can’t say enough positive things that have come from having a workspace like Stoke as a student, entrepreneur and remote worker.
Do you have a personal and/or professional motto or mantra that you call upon during tough times? What is it and what does it mean to you?
Honestly, this may sound a little silly but something that has always stuck with me when it gets tough, confusing or overwhelming is “Just Do it”-Nike. The difference between my success or failure is getting up and doing it. It is really that simple. I don't know if this would be considered an inspiring mantra but, it definitely gets me motivated to get rid of excuses and get the job done. I have gone through a lot in my life that has shaped me into who I am and one of those things is I am not an excuse maker. It may sound harsh, but perseverance and grit are two qualities I’ve adopted because of this motto. “Just Do It” has gotten me to where I am today and I am pretty proud of that.
How do you pick back up on it when perhaps feeling uninspired?
When I feel uninspired or I hit a creative block it usually means I need a little break. Typically I will take some time off, go for a walk and practice mindfulness. I try to see the world from a different perspective and usually this allows my brain to be more in a creative space. I also try to leave this time unplanned with no agenda so I can allow my mind to be bored (and not on my phone scrolling social media). Grounding myself and reconnecting with the things around me gets me back in a reset mode.
What have you gained so far from being a part of the AccelerateHER cohort?
One of the best things I have gained from this program is being surrounded by like-minded women who are making their dreams become a reality. Like I said in my previous answer, I did not grow up with an example of entrepreneurship and owning my own business was never a thought. Each meeting I go to I am inspired to continue pushing through to make Heartstone Creative a reality. I leave each meeting feeling like I can do anything I want! Which is really cool. On top of that, I am learning foundational business skills and tools through application. This experience through AccelerateHER has complimented my coursework through the MBA program I am currently enrolled in. The MBA program at TWU has provided theoretical business knowledge and while I love it, the AccelerateHer program has taught me ways to apply that knowledge.
Name a woman, past or present, whom you admire or look up to. Why?
Michelle Obama because she has been an advocate for women's empowerment and self-confidence. Her book "Becoming" she shared about self-worth, resilience, and the importance of embracing one's authentic self. She has inspired women of many backgrounds to pursue leadership roles and break down barriers. Also, Dolly Parton. Dolly is known for her unapologetic authenticity and has encouraged many women to embrace their individuality.