February 7 2019
Take a Trip into Entrepreneurship with Truly Amazing Woman Kristina Bouweiri, owner of Reston Limousine
Hello and welcome to the Truly Amazing Women Radio Show — the podcast channel that features women who are making strides and changing lives on the Inkandescent Radio Network.
Today’s special guest is Kristina Bouweiri, owner of Reston Limousine, Washington DC metropolitan area’s largest luxury transportation provider. Kristina and I have been friends since 2003 when we met a women’s networking event, and in the 15 years that I’ve known this Inkandescent Woman, her spirit and success have never ceased to amaze me.
Before we launch into our 10 questions for Kristina, here’s a little background on her business and career.
- Starting with the diversification into wedding transportation in 1990, Kristina has expanded the business into new market segments such as government contracts and group transportation.
- Even as shuttle contracts led to exponential growth for the company, Kristina created new markets on the charter side, such as the company’s signature wine tours in what is now billed as DC’s Wine Country.
- She is an active business community leader, and is a board member of influential civic organizations and business publications such as the DC Chamber of Commerce, SmartCEO magazine, Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation, and Enterprising Women magazine, among others.
- She also is a member of the Dean’s Council of the George Mason School of Business, where she helped launch a Women’s in Business Initiative program to support students, alumnae and other businesswomen.
- The Washington Business Journal named Kristina one of the 50 most powerful and influential women in Washington and she has been featured in numerous media and trade publications such as The Washington Post, Washington SmartCEO and Enterprising Women.
And if that’s not enough, this woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Bouweiri is committed to supporting other women entrepreneurs.
- She is the founder of the monthly networking luncheon Sterling Women and the annual Virginia Women’s Business Conference – two programs that have helped hundreds of women entrepreneurs and executives achieve their professional goals.
- Kristina is also an international speaker on topics ranging from business strategy to the use of social media in growing your business, including at the Global Summit of Women in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
- Recent awards include George Mason University Outstanding Leadership Award, Heroine of Washington, Washington Business Journal Power 100, and National Operator of the Year.
Amazing, right! So let’s get right onto our 10 questions for this Truly Amazing Woman.
1. Why do you love what you do?
2. What part of your business are you most passionate about?
3. What aspect of your career tested you the most?
4. What was the major crossroads in your career? How did you handle it?
5. Looking back, what advice would you have for your 25-year-old self?
6. What do you love most about being a woman in the business world?
7. What do you hate about being a woman in the business world — and what would you change if you could?
8. What’s your top leadership lesson for other women?
9. Do you live by that lesson?
10. You are clearly at the top of your career — what have you not yet accomplished?
Download our podcast to learn the answers to these questions!
We leave you with a parting thought from a Truly Amazing Woman who we hope will also inspire you as you got through your week. “Never say no. My employees hate this motto, but I know it’s the key to my success. Even when we aren’t currently providing a service that a customer asks for, I find a way to make it happen. As a result, I rarely turn away business — I just keep building our line of services. This philosophy has kept us growing for decades.”
I’m Hope Katz Gibbs, founder and host of Truly Amazing Women TV, a series published by my firm, The Inkandescent™ Group, LLC. I look forward to bringing you the story soon of the life and accomplishments of another Inkandescent Woman who is making strides and changing lives — on Inkandescent.TV.
