by Kimberly Cohen, Director of Operations for Crave
Hi everyone! I’m Kimberly Cohen, Crave’s new Director of Operations. As the newest member of the Crave staff, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about how and why I came to the Crave family in March 2024.
I grew up in Winter Park, the oldest of three girls in a family that prizes education, ambition, drive, and giving back to the community. For most of my adult life, I focused on the first set of values: I was fortunate enough to receive a top-notch education, I held multiple enviable jobs over the years, and I rose up in the ranks to eventually become a Vice President for North America at a Global Fortune 500 tech giant.
But I was deeply unfulfilled and woke up most mornings suffering from severe anxiety at the thought of sitting down at my desk to do a job that didn’t resonate with my personal values. While I had always donated to worthy causes, I felt it was time to really give more of myself instead of just writing another check. I was miserable and didn’t want to be a cog in the machine anymore, but I was paralyzed at the thought of what to do next. I ultimately decided that living my core values was more important than a steady job, so despite having no plan at all, I quit my job in January of 2024. I was also searching for a community of like-minded individuals who were focused on bringing out the best in humanity, rather than bringing out the best possible share price.
In February, I was introduced to Crave’s founder, Michele, by my friend (and former Crave Board Member) Faith Buhler, and by March, I was the new Director of Operations at Crave! It felt like I had been handed an enormous gift from the Universe, and the more time I spend with everyone in the Crave family, the more I know that Crave is the gift that keeps giving!
I am so grateful for the chance to spend time and work with the incredible people that make up the Crave family. I am so inspired by and have such admiration for the Crave Leaders and Alumni, and I am in awe of everyone’s generosity: generosity of spirit, as everyone is called to their mission of service outside of their demanding day jobs; generosity of time, as each Leader finds a way to carve time out for their family & friends, their nonprofits, their beneficiaries, their faith community, and then maybe – MAYBE – some time for themselves; and generosity of finance, as all of the leaders spend their own money to get these nonprofits up and running. I am also grateful for the opportunity to work with the Crave staff and Board – here, too, everyone is involved because they feel a call to serve and be a part of something bigger than themselves. I am constantly humbled by the company I now get to keep as part of the Crave family.
