Kristy Jackson – Success Story

The Challenges

What challenges did Kristy want Red Cape to address?

Initially, Kristy approached Red Cape for assistance with productivity. She said she had ideas as the organization was growing but needed support with social media management, content creation, communication, emails, and event planning. 

“The demand for this community of women who value faith in business was also growing, and I wanted to be able to provide that space with more fidelity and provide more value to those women. So Red Cape came at just the perfect time,” Kristy explains.

Kristy’s goal was to move away from a local monthly meeting format and create a nonprofit organization with national and global reach. “I’ve been able to do that through the marketing and storytelling support with Red Cape.”

Why did Kristy face this challenge?

As a solo entrepreneur, Kristy managed all the marketing, operations, and administrative tasks of running SheCan Connect while working full-time as Executive Director of the Center of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Harris-Stowe State University. Balancing both kept her from focusing on the bigger vision to scale the organization.

What initial solutions or marketing companies did Kristy try prior to Red Cape?

Kristy worked with a few contractors who managed social media, and she had a virtual assistant prior to working with Red Cape. This ad hoc support, however, wasn’t meeting all of SheCan Connect’s needs.

The Solutions

Why did Kristy choose Red Cape?

Because Kristy had experienced some issues with previous contractors, she was hesitant to start a relationship with another company. However, trusted acquaintances highly recommended Red Cape to Kristy, praising both the team and their services.

“We started with simple standard operations support, and they delivered. They were able to talk us through the process, and we were very happy with the results. It has grown from there,” Kristy explains.

How did Red Cape help Kristy solve this challenge?

Kristy relied on Red Cape’s support in administration, operations, communications, strategic planning, and event marketing to help grow SCGN. Red Cape also helped with the financial tools and platforms she requested and served as a thought partner.

“What I like about Red Cape is that it’s comprehensive and that they are relational, and so I feel comfortable that they are able to grow with us as we are developing our organization and continue to scale it,” Kristy says.

How did this solution impact Kristy’s business?

Red Cape was instrumental in helping SCGN build a stronger presence through consistent marketing. “People speak highly of our marketing. They love our posts and the emails that they get. We’ve always had a good product, but people just needed to know about it. Now that we are consistent, we can do a better job of telling the stories of our members and speaking to the impact we are making,” she relates.

During the transition from an LLC to a nonprofit, Red Cape helped SCGN start their donor program so they have more funding to invest in the marketing and the organization. They are now in a position to scale and grow chapters in other cities and countries.

Knowing that she has Red Cape’s support getting all the pieces and marketing in place when she launches programs gives Kristy confidence to put more programs into place.

What was the timeline?

Red Cape began working with SheCan Connect in June of 2024, and the work is ongoing.

The Road Ahead

Were there any unexpected/surprising benefits that Kristy was also able to receive with Red Cape?

One unexpected benefit was a grant that funded their LIFE Institute program, a leadership, innovation, faith, and entrepreneurship professional development program. 

“I already had the vision and the idea for the program, but because they were taking care of the other administrative marketing tasks, I could really focus on developing that program. So it bought me time back to focus more on securing grant funding,” Kristy shares.

The personal investment that Red Cape made in SheCan as a sponsor for their Sundresses and Shades event was another unexpected benefit. “As a company, they do not have to invest in their clients’ businesses, but Tiffany has done that. She was one of our first sponsors when we launched, so that means a lot.”

Has Kristy signed on for additional services beyond what she initially engaged Red Cape for?

An additional service Kristy signed up for was help with her podcast. She had the episodes recorded, but Red Cape uploaded them to the podcast platform and helped with the marketing. “That was a heavy lift because all I had to do was focus on doing the interviews, and that’s where I want to stay– with the connection to the guests,” she says.

What benefits does Kristy anticipate long-term with Red Cape?

Ultimately, Kristy would like to work in the nonprofit full-time as the executive director and hire a team so that she can continue to build her personal brand as an author, speaker, and podcast host. 

“Red Cape has been my saving grace because they’re able to keep up with my pace.”