Jen Gurecki

About Jen Gurecki

I build businesses that challenge people to live boldly and question the way we\'ve been told to show up in this world.CEO and founder of Coalition Snow—the world\'s first women-owned and operated ski and snowboard company. We build performance gear that challenges how an entire industry thinks about women. Our skis and snowboards have been featured at the Olympics and earned four Blister Review awards this season, but the most important thing we\'ve done is elevate voices that were deemed not important enough, not cool, and not core enough.I also founded Zawadisha, a 15-year-old microfinance social enterprise in Kenya serving thousands of rural women through transparent, pro-poor, pro-woman, pro-environment lending. I lead cycling and cultural expeditions through Kenya, connecting adventurers with the women whose lives have been transformed through our work.Things to know about me:I build brands that challenge the status quo and actually mean itI excel at bottom-up social change that reaches the people who need it mostI mentor small businesses on how to grow without compromising their valuesI create email marketing and content people actually want to readI\'ve spent 15+ years building businesses in both the US and KenyaI\'m a mentor and advisor for small businesses—I\'ve worked with Title Nine and REI—helping up-and-coming outdoor leaders and entrepreneurs. Recognition: Entrepreneur Magazine\'s 50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs (2018), a SheEO Top 25 Venture (2017), and featured everywhere from Outside Magazine to Huck Magazine. I also won a Nevada \"Shark Tank\" style pitch competition, turned down an offer from Bode Miller on CNBC\'s Adventure Capitalists, was named Innovator of the Year at the 2024 NCET Dragonfly Energy Tech Awards, earned recognition as a Twenty Under 40 leader, and won the Small But Mighty Award from EDAWN.Consulting and Speaking Topics: Bottom-up approaches to social change, branding that doesn\'t pander, women\'s outdoor industry strategy, social enterprise development, community-driven business models, doing business with values intact, email marketing/Substacks that people actually read.

Experience

1. CEO

   Coalition Snow

   May 2014 — Present · Reno, NV, US

   Coalition Snow is the future of adventure and lifestyle as the first ski and snowboard company created by women, for women. Our passion for playing in the mountains runs as deep as our desire to deconstruct the status quo.#shredthepatriarchy>> CEO & Co-founder>> Startups>> Marketing>> Social Media>> Branding

Education

• Northern Arizona University

  BS, Print Journalism

  1999

• Prescott College

  Masters, Non-Formal Education with a focus in Community Development

  2004 — 2006

• Northern Arizona University

  Post, Secondary Education English

  1995 — 2001

Skills

• Teaching
• Entrepreneurship
• Public Speaking
• Fundraising
• Start-Ups
• Higher Education
• Nonprofits
• Branding
• Staff Development
• Volunteer Management
• Event Management
• Writing
• Curriculum Design
• Non-Profits
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Vision
• Program Management
• Marketing
• Budgeting
• Policy
• Adventure Travel
• Workshop Facilitation
• Philanthropy
• Public Relations
• Microfinance
• Organizational Development
• Blogging
• Coaching
• Research
• Editing
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Microsoft Office
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Strategic Planning
• Program Evaluation
• Policy Analysis
• Youth Development
• Leadership Development