Kristin Smedley is a visionary leader who empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to unlock their hidden potential and gain a competitive edge. Kristin, a TEDx speaker, best selling author, nonprofit founder x2, business owner, and acclaimed filmmaker, leaves audiences on their feet cheering and wanting more of her energy and influence.
Kristin has spent her lifetime studying people that succeed without sight and discovering those repeatable systems and strategies that cause a competitive advantage.
As a single mom with a signature smile that has raised three children (two of which are blind) to surpass all grim expectations and out- achieve everyone around them, Kristin leaves a lasting impact on those fortunate enough to experience her powerful presentations.
Kristin’s participation in ACRP’s 2023 diversity, equity, and inclusion panel fundamentally shifted and expanded the discussion to be more inclusive than in years past. Her contribution to the panel discussion opened the minds and hearts of our members and conference attendees. She helped to raise awareness for the critical topic of accessibility and was able to make a direct connection between her advocacy for disabilities and our industry’s opportunity—and need—to be more inclusive.-Susan Landis, Executive Director, Association for Clinical Research Professionals
The Book that started it all…
This book will transform your idea of what is possible for people who encounter a devastating life event and will catapult your motivation to set extraordinary expectations for your own life.
Hey there! I’m Kristin. You’ll see around my website here that I smile a lot. It’s kind of my thing. I can find happy no matter the hell that is happening. I’m wired that way. However, there was a time that I couldn’t find happy anywhere in anything. It was when I heard the words, “Your son is blind.”
That little sentence was a sucker punch to my heart that knocked me down for a while. I was scared. Terrified actually. And honestly, I was pissed off. Blind? Are you kidding me? As if that wasn’t enough, my second child was diagnosed with the same blindness three years later.
A double dose of darkness.
Well, not exactly. Once I learned to SEE blindness differently, my life filled with light and joy… and my smile returned! When I stopped seeing blindness as a barrier and instead focused on addressing the real barriers (access to the right tools, etc) my fear, anger, and grief disappeared and I was able to enjoy the journey of raising three humans with unique purposes in this world.
I will help you through your challenge too.
I know what that unexpected sucker punch to your heart feels like. I can’t take your challenges away, but I can walk with you and give you the tools I use to come through that stuff brilliant, not broken.
NOTE: This site is being reconstructed to make your access to my tools a much easier experience! Please be patient with the construction process! If you can’t find what you need, please send me an email at SmedTalk@gmail.com
