Christina Shrive
Business Foundations StrategistA strategist, problem-solver, and guide for small business owners who want clarity, alignment, and forward momentum - without burning themselves out in the process. Christina brings a steady, thoughtful approach to growth, helping you move with intention rather than urgency, and leaving room to genuinely enjoy the business you're building.
Meet With ChristinaA path that isn't straight - and that's the strength
Christina's career hasn't followed a straight line, and that's been one of its greatest strengths. With degrees in Fine Arts & Humanities and Marketing & General Business, she learned early how to navigate both creative intuition and analytical strategy. She's worked inside organizations, led marketing efforts, built businesses from the ground up, and seen growth from multiple angles. Along the way, she realized that sustainable success isn't about chasing every opportunity - it's about knowing what actually fits.
Growth is not only about return on investment, but also return on energy.
Today, Christina helps heart-led small business owners and founders bring clarity to their marketing and operations so growth feels aligned instead of overwhelming. She takes a full-picture approach - looking beyond tactics to systems, people, timing, and energy. Her role isn't to push solutions, but to guide you toward intentional decisions that support long-term, sustainable momentum, without burning out or losing the joy in what you're building.
The principles that guide the work
Clarity creates momentum
When you understand what actually matters, decisions get easier and progress becomes steadier.
Growth should respect your capacity
Businesses thrive when strategies are built to support your energy, time, and real-life constraints - not ignore them.
Marketing works best when it's honest
When your message aligns with who you are and how you operate, trust builds naturally - without forced tactics.
Enjoyment isn't a distraction from success
When you reconnect with why you started and make room for curiosity, work feels less like work and more like fun.
How she helps
- Business clarity & prioritizationUnderstand what matters most right now so you can make confident decisions without spreading yourself too thin.
- Marketing strategy & alignmentBrand, messaging, audience, channels, and systems together - so your marketing supports your goals instead of creating noise.
- Practical direction & planningComplex business and marketing considerations translated into clear, realistic next steps.
- Collaborative supportWorking alongside you through conceptualizing, planning, decision-making, and execution - with an empathetic, thoughtful approach.
What it feels like
- She helps you see what's actually happeningBy zooming out and connecting the dots, she brings perspective when you're too close to see clearly.
- She approaches growth with intentionInstead of piling on tactics or timelines, she helps you choose paths that are sustainable and aligned.
- She respects both logic and intuitionDecisions grounded in experience and analysis, with room for judgment, creativity, and timing.
- She makes space for enjoymentWhen the pressure eases and the noise fades, the work becomes more focused, effective, and enjoyable.
She's a great match if this sounds like you
Christina works best with owners who value clarity over noise and intention over urgency. You might recognize yourself here:
Too many decisions? Let's slow it down together
If you're feeling the weight of too many directions, let's sort through it together. Sometimes a focused conversation is all it takes to see the path.
Book a Free 30-Minute ConvoThree ways to partner with Christina
Support that scales to your needs - from guidance only, to a full hands-on team.
Consulting
Direct access to my expertise and guidance. We meet regularly to talk through strategy, uncover blind spots, share best practices, and make sense of the bigger picture. A great fit if you already have a team and want thoughtful direction, steady accountability, and an objective outside perspective.
Consulting + Marketing Team
Both strategic guidance and hands-on support. I don't just advise - I partner with you to get things done. From project management and research to CRM setup, email flows, website updates, and design, you'll have help with planning and implementation. Each package includes implementation hours, with flexibility to add more.
Marketing Team
Ideal if you already know what you need and want a trusted team to handle execution - website updates, copywriting, data work, systems setup, and more. Offered through separate pricing or time-based packages, giving you flexibility to get the work done as needs arise.
Not sure which option fits?
You don't have to decide on your own. We can talk through your goals, your capacity, and what level of support makes the most sense right now. The right fit should feel aligned, not overwhelming.
Let's Talk It ThroughCreative thinking, business training, and lived experience
Christina's background reflects a balance of creative intuition, formal business training, and hands-on experience navigating growth from the inside.
- University of South Florida - B.S., Marketing & General Business
- St. Petersburg College - A.A., Fine Arts & Humanities
- VisionFront Coaching - Thinking Into Results program
- Coursiv - AI tools (Midjourney, ChatGPT, DALL-E, JasperAI)
- Transformation Academy - Self-Care Life Coach Certification
- H7 Networking - Alpha Team Member
- 4Ocean - Ambassador
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
- National Audubon Society
- Children With Hair Loss - donor for 20+ years
Mindful Marketing
Strategic Partner - Small Business & Marketing Consulting
Tampa Bay Women's Business Center
Business & Marketing Advisor
Closer Creations LLC
Founder & Business Lead - Retail, Art & Creative Services
National Aviation Academy
Internet Marketing Specialist
Whiteline Creative
Director of Marketing
Glass Doctor
Director of Marketing
A little more about me
The best partnerships start with knowing who you're working with. Here's some of what makes me, me.
My Family
Family is at the center of my world. I married my best friend in 2006, and we're raising our son together in what we affectionately call the Shrive Tribe. We genuinely enjoy being together - traveling, exploring new places, sharing music, and revisiting favorite movies.
Watching our son grow into his own interests has been one of the most grounding parts of my life - a reminder that growth doesn't have to be rushed, and the best things unfold when there's space, trust, and support.
Myself
I've always had a curious, observant nature and notice details others might overlook. One quirky example: I can write in mirror image, a skill I picked up in elementary school and still use to exercise my mind.
I'm drawn to experiences that feel meaningful without being heavy, and lighthearted without being shallow. I'm comfortable being curious, a little unconventional, and unapologetically myself.
Rooted in the outdoors
I grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where the forest was simply part of daily life. That early connection stayed with me. Today it shows up at home through the animals and plants we care for - three chickens (Pretzel, Panko, and Plum), a dog (Floki), a guinea pig (Zee), freshwater fish, and a tarantula.
Spending time with our animals and in nature is genuinely comforting, and I believe staying connected to the natural world matters in ways we often overlook.
How I unwind
As a kid I was always working a jigsaw puzzle or taking things apart to see how they worked. That curiosity still shows up today - puzzles, logic challenges, cryptograms, LEGO builds, and small dioramas are how I step away from screens.
I enjoy focusing on something hands-on, noticing patterns, and figuring out how pieces fit together. It keeps my mind engaged without feeling overwhelming - and I believe it's the little things that bring us the most unbiased joy.
Curiosity that travels
I've long been fascinated by language, learning, and how people experience the world differently. About ten years ago I traveled outside the U.S. for the first time - backpacking through Ireland, Scotland, and the UK for two and a half weeks.
That trip deepened my appreciation for tradition, history, and how the past shapes the present. I'm currently learning German, Latin, and Spanish, simply for the joy of learning and the perspective language brings.
Effort connected to outcome
From baking bread and preserving food to gardening and raising chickens, I enjoy hands-on projects that connect effort with outcome. There's something grounding about experiencing a process from start to finish.
Working with food this way keeps me attuned to natural cycles - growing seasons, patience, repetition - and deepens my appreciation for the planet and the resources it provides.
You don't need more noise. You need clarity.
Thoughtful strategy and support that respects your time and energy. If you're ready to explore what that could look like, Christina would love to talk.
Schedule Your Free ConsultationFrequently asked questions
Who does Christina work best with?
Heart-led small business owners and founders - especially those who are newer to business or navigating an early, figuring-it-out stage. If you value clarity over noise and intention over urgency, you'll feel at home working with her.
What actually happens in a first conversation?
A relaxed, no-pressure 30-minute chat about where you are and what's on your mind. No pitch, no presentation - just a focused conversation to help you see your next right step. You'll leave clearer than you came in.
Do I need to know exactly what I need first?
Not at all. A lot of Christina's work is helping you figure out what matters most right now. If you're feeling pulled in too many directions, that's exactly the place to start.
What if I need hands-on help, not just advice?
That's one of the three ways to work together. Christina can advise only, partner with you on both strategy and implementation, or bring in a marketing team to handle execution - whatever fits your capacity.
How is Christina different from a typical marketing consultant?
She looks beyond tactics to the full picture - systems, people, timing, and energy - and approaches growth with restraint and intention rather than piling on to-dos. Growth is measured in return on energy, not just return on investment.