Christina Martin Kenny is the founder of Guava Tree Strategies and mom of two. She joined us to talk about starting her non-profit consultancy and being a first generation American and entrepreneur.
TAKEAWAYS
LinkedIn as a Market Research Tool
Fundraisers often carry intense pressure that impacts budgets and staffing—yet few feel safe talking about it. When Christina voiced these realities on LinkedIn, it struck a nerve, grew a strong following, and eventually turned into a pipeline of new clients. Her honesty became the foundation of her business development strategy.
Hard Work Experiences Can Spark Creative, Career-Changing Solutions
When the nonprofit she loved closed, Christina couldn’t face another job search—past burnout made the idea feel impossible. Instead she doubled down on the consulting she’d done to cover daycare costs. With more stability at home, she turned it into a business and stayed in the mission-driven work she loves—on her own terms.
Learn from Women Outside Your Sector
Stepping into entrepreneurship opened up a whole new world of learning—from women in finance, SaaS, and industries far beyond nonprofits. What we share is the experience of building something—and those cross-sector insights have been invaluable. Finding a space where you can ask the “questions you can’t ask anywhere else” is one of the most powerful resources an entrepreneur can have.