Meet Krysta McGowan of Critique Consulting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Krysta McGowan.

Krysta, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have always had an interest in fashion. In elementary school, I had to wear uniforms and I vividly remember trying to be creative on free dress day to express myself as much as any 10-year-old could! As a result of my interest in fashion, I decided to pursue my Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Merchandising from Clark Atlanta University. During my matriculation, I seized the opportunity to study abroad in the fashion capital, Paris France and spent some time in London as well, another fashion capital of the world.

My interest in professional development came once I started working full time in Corporate America. After obtaining my MBA in Supply Chain Management, I was accepted into a leadership development program and noticed how much of an impact a strong personal brand can have on one’s career. A lot of my opportunities and executive support came from my ability to present information well and conduct myself in a professional manner around leadership. Regardless of my non-technical background and inexperience in the industry, I always had a seat at the table. I also noticed what often came natural or as common sense to me, was not always the case with my colleagues and that is where I knew I could make an impact. After attending formal training and a few professional development courses, I started to think to myself “Hey, I can do this, and I can do it much better!” That sparked my interest and I started doing my research on how I could development my own practice.

Overall, my Image Consulting firm was created because I wanted to find a way to combine my two passions, which are fashion and professional development. I did not want to focus on one or the other simply because they are both important to me and equally important to establishing any brand. And that is how Critique Consulting came about!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I am a firm believer in pursuing passion and creating the life you want to live regardless if it fits into a traditional career path. That way of thinking has resulted in success, but it has also created obstacles and challenges along the way. 10-15 years ago, these types of careers were not widely known, especially not in San Jose, where I grew up. Because of that, my friends and family never quite understood what I wanted to do, and at times it was frustrating because it felt like a lack of support.

Overall paving the way and being the first is a struggle because you are literally figuring things out every step of the way. Sometimes I got it right, but often I got it wrong, which caused the fear of failure to creep in and I even started to question my abilities overall. Entrepreneurship in general is figuring things out every step of the way and I am still failing forward daily. The key to maintaining my focus is to remember my WHY and stay true to the passion and purpose that God placed in my heart years ago. When things get rough, I am reminded of that and it keeps me going.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Critique Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Critique Consulting is your all-inclusive image consulting firm. We pride ourselves in providing a unique and tailor-made experience to meet the needs of our clientele. Our personal branding services include defining your color profile and body type, which allows us to develop your capsule collection of timeless pieces that can be worn year after year! If you are not looking for a completely new wardrobe, we also work with your closet and recommend a few staple items and accessories to create new looks for you to fall in love with your current wardrobe all over again.

We also have services focused on professional development. Whether you are seeking a new job and need a resume critique, or you would like public speaking coaching to deliver that special keynote address flawlessly, we have you covered! It only takes 7 seconds for someone to form an opinion of you. Do not let your image be the reason you are unable to maximize your influence and potential!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I host an annual networking event on the importance of intentional goal-setting and relentlessly pursuing purpose despite fear. This was the platform that I used when launching Critique Consulting in January of 2017 in Los Angeles, CA.

The event is broken out into three segments, starting with a panel discussion with industry experts who have been successful in their fields and have not allowed the fear of failure to deter them from pursuing their goals. Part 2 is the goal setting workshop where we take time to write out S.M.A.R.T.E.R. goals as it pertains to our careers, family, finances, spirituality and overall health. The last part, which I love the most, is where we share and network with one another. Attendees have the opportunity to state their goals out loud and network with others who may be able to support and help along the way. We are all about building a tribe! There is a brunch buffet, curated cocktails and mimosas and door prizes for the attendees. We also give vendors the opportunity to sell and market their products/services during the networking portion of the event. It is truly a vibe and I look forward to bringing it to Atlanta in January of 2020!

I recently relocated to Atlanta, GA. Not only am I excited about expanding my Sip and Speak network, but I now have the opportunity to work with clients literally from coast to coast. I am truly excited about the opportunities that are on the horizon such as working with different colleges and high schools in the Metro-Atlanta area. I love engaging with groups and providing different training opportunities and workshops to help them enhance and grow their personal and professional brand. My philosophy is when you look good, you feel good… and when you feel good, you do amazing things!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.critiqueconsulting.com
• Phone: (408)373-5180
• Email: info@critiqueconsulting.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/critiqueconsulting
• Facebook: facebook.com/critiqueconsulting
• Other: instagram.com/sipandspeak_

Image Credit:
Jerrina Montgomery, Liliane Lathan

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