Connect
To Top

Conversations with the Inspiring Kathryn Knighton

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Knighton.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I moved to Colorado 7 years ago and, in addition to my “real job” I have a food blog and a gym. I’ve always been interested in cooking and fitness and, as a college athlete, I learned the important impact of each on the another.  My husband got me interested in CrossFit and we decided to take the leap: using most of our savings to start our own gym, Driven to Conquer (DTC) CrossFit. We have an amazing community of people who love to challenge themselves physically & mentally. My food blog is called Zeal & Zest and it started as a way to document and share my recipes.

I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy entrepreneurship of both ventures – I’ve learned so much about myself and feel grateful to be able to empower others through both nutrition and fitness.

Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not! I still find myself googling “how-to’s” relating to website development, photography, small business accounting, etc. I have to remind myself to lean on my strengths rather than feel intimidated by what I’m not as familiar with. Looking for those gut instincts in times of uncertainty has allowed me to keep a healthy (I think 🙈) balance of risk and comfort.

Time is also a big obstacle. Between my day job, running the gym, cooking+blogging, and working out, there’s not a ton of free time. Having a rough idea of how I’ll tackle my day/week is important but being flexible with that timeline is even more so. I also have a list of to-do’s on my phone that I try to check off when I have an extra 30 minutes here & there.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Zeal & Zest; DTC Crossfit story. Tell us more about the business.
Someone once told me I was a “Jill of all trades” and I’ve realized that’s pretty accurate. I can’t imagine a job where I did the same thing over and over- I crave change & challenges.

DTC CrossFit is a community of individuals who also enjoy challenges. We want to foster an environment where folks of any level of fitness experience can feel included and empowered to reach their goals. I am happy to help the community by handling all of the back end logistics, social media, and finances. As an athlete myself, CrossFit has been a ton of fun because there is always a movement or lift to improve on – I never get bored!

Zeal and Zest started somewhat selfishly as my creative outlet. It wasn’t until I had multiple people telling me they tried AND LIKED some of my recipes that I realized that I could help others through that medium. I enjoy sharing my love of food and I want to help others feel comfortable in the kitchen through approachable, healthy recipes.

What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I think there’s still a huge opportunity around representation. Owning a business always seemed like something someone else did and without some reflection & encouragement from others, I don’t think I would have started either venture.  In the age of social media, there are a lot of highlight reels, masking the hard work that goes on behind the scenes- including the mental hurdles of imposter syndrome. You have to realize that no one starts anything as an expert, including their business. Find a group of people who inspire and encourage you to be your best, are honest, and are willing to push you harder than you may on your own!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Lisa Haefner Photo, Zeal & Zest, Hilary S Barreto

Suggest a story: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in