Meet Chrysta Bairre

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chrysta Bairre.

Chrysta, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Much of my childhood, my family lived in poverty, on welfare, in the Denver area. I grew up with family alcoholism and significant mental illness in my family. I, myself, have lived with Complex-PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Despite all this, I never gave up hope. Even in my darkest days, and there were some really dark days, I had hope. When I was eight years old, I made a decision to create a better life for myself. I didn’t know how I would accomplish this, but I was determined to live a happier, more fulfilled life than the one I was born into.

Throughout my childhood and into adulthood, I created. I created the life I wanted. I created a better life. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and after eight years of blogging with a “hobby” business, I decided to start my business for real. After a few false starts, I got fired from my job and committed myself to create a successful business. As an introvert and a business owner, I wanted to support, connection, and community, but traditional networking groups weren’t the right place for me. I started a women’s leadership group for introverts in Northern Colorado, focused on building a different kind of community.

She Goes High is a place where all women are welcome to show up just as you are because you don’t need the right marketing copy or a great elevator pitch for me to know that you’re contributing in bold, brilliant, and beautiful ways. I know because you show up. And as women, it’s not always easy to take up our space in the world, to allow ourselves to be seen just as we are. She Goes High is a space for us to be witnesses and celebrated for being just who we are.

Our first event, I hope to have five women in the room, and I was overjoyed when we packed our small meeting space with 22 women, most of whom I did not know personally. We continued to grow into a thriving community of women leaders who are bravely showing up each and every day, in small and large ways in their own lives, through their work, and in their communities.

While She Goes High was growing quicker than I ever dreamed, I started writing a book. I was an experienced speaker, presenting 2-3 times per month, and got tired of people asking me, “so when are you going to write a book?” I used to think I didn’t want to be an author, but one day during a journaling exercise I was surprised to discover I do want to be an author, despite near-crippling impostor syndrome about being an author!

I continued to nurture She Goes High, speak on bigger and bigger stages, and in February 2020, I released my first book, Beautiful Badass: How To Believe In Yourself Against The Odds. I had created the happier, more fulfilled life I dreamed of as a girl.

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?
There have been plenty of struggles along the way, including impostor syndrome, divorce, a devastatingly disruptive early menopause, and a significant mental health crisis. I’m still struggling, but my journey is not at an end. I have created so much beauty and joy in my life, even at the same time, I have experienced hardship. I keep creating.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
As a speaker and author, the feedback I hear most is how relatable I am. I share my stories in such a way people can see themselves in my story. They see their own struggles and their own triumphs. They see their beauty and significance. Through me, they see and celebrate themselves.

This experience is shared in She Goes High, where every woman is welcomed, celebrated, and loved for exactly who you are in the moment. Because whether you just celebrated a big win, or cried in your car earlier in the day, you do enough and you are enough. You are worthy just as you are. One of our members shared, “As I was launching my business, She Goes High was launching me.”

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
As soon as larger in-person events are back on the schedule, I look forward to speaking on more stages in 2021 and beyond! For now, I’m speaking at virtual events, including Longmont Startup Week, Denver Startup Week, and more! I’m about to start writing my next book and hope to release it in 2-3 years.

She Goes High has felt some growing pains and setbacks from COVID, and as a community, we continue to stand together, supporting and celebrating women as we navigate the uncertainty and chaos of our current social and political climate. Now, more than ever, women need to be celebrated not only for our contributions, we also need to be supported in the “enoughness” of who we are right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: shegoeshigh.us, beautifulbadass.me
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @shegoeshigh, @liveandlovework
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheGoesHigh, https://www.facebook.com/LiveLoveWork/

Image Credit:
Caronita Bonita (Panoramic speaking photo), Candace Leczel (She Goes High Summit “action” shots and “Beautiful Badass book launch party), Don Hajicek (stills/headshots)

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