Kristi Piehl spent 12 years as an Emmy Award-winning television news reporter, appearing on Good Morning America, CNN and the BBC. In 2008, she was unexpectedly laid off. Kristi was at a crossroads; she could either look for another job in news or flip her script. She chose the latter and, in 2010, launched Media Minefield, a one-of-a-kind, national award-winning public relations agency specializing in earned media, social media, executive thought leadership and crisis communication.

In addition to being a CEO and a sought-after keynote speaker, Kristi is a champion for entrepreneurs of all genders and ethnicities and family-first work policies. Kristi won the 2024 PRNEWS Top Women Award, the 2023 PRNEWS People of the Year Award and has been named one of Minnesota’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders.

Kristi is a founding member of DePaul University’s Women in Entrepreneurship Institute and The 25 at Bethel University. She joined the Board of Trustees at Bethel University in 2020. Kristi received a Master’s of Science in Management and Leadership from Pepperdine University Graziadio Business School.

Under Kristi’s leadership, Media Minefield has won numerous local and national awards for client work and culture, including Best Place to Work and Best Public Relations Firm. The company has also landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies three times and is recognized as a WBENC-certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

Kristi is passionate about sharing diverse stories that connect with a wide audience and launched the Flip Your Script podcast. She was honored to host the show and interviewed more than 150 people who faced a critical turning point in their lives. The podcast’s purpose was to help others learn how to find the inspiration to move forward and rewrite their own unique stories.