Ep 9: How to Succeed “Accidentally” with Kristina Bouweiri, CEO, Reston Limousine

"I learned how to do everything by doing it wrong the first time" -Kristina Bouweiri Kristina Bouweiri calls herself an accidental entrepreneur. Perhaps this is how she started - by marrying into the business, Reston Limousine - but her success was no accident. Kristina has brilliantly grown the tiny 5-car business to the #13 largest limousine company in the U.S.! All this despite personal and business crises, including divorce from the firm’s founder and periods of economic turmoil! What You'll Learn:

• Kristina’s amazing story of marrying into the limo business and becoming an “accidental entrepreneur”
• How she grew Reston Limousine from a tiny 5-car business to the 13th largest limousine company in the country
• How she managed to succeed as a solo owner of Reston Limousine and single caregiver to four kids and ten pets after her divorce
• What makes Reston Limousine repeatedly the Best Place to Work (compassion, listening and surveying employees on how to make their lives better)
• How being a life-long learner and networker has changed her life and business
• What self-care routines got her through the darkest time in her life and business
• Why Kristina attributes doubling the size of her company to finally learning to delegate
• What natural traits female leaders should leverage for competitive advantage
• How business coaching and master-minding has been transformational for her business
• How board service has helped Kristina build relationships and dramatically grow her business
• What Kristina is still working on as a person and a leader

Links & Resources

• Reston Limousine – Kristina’s amazing company
• Vistage – Business networking and masterminding organization Kristina recommends
• Reike - Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation Kristina uses for restoration and self-care
• Discover Your Strengths – Methodology Kristina uses to assess and best leverage her own and her staff’s strengths. I’ve used it with clients too, it’s great!
• How to get certified as a woman-owned business – useful Inc. Magazine article about becoming certified
• Globe Women’s Summit – global women’s conference Kristina recommends

About Kristina Bouweiri  Kristina Bouweiri is the sole owner of the Washington DC metropolitan area’s largest luxury transportation provider. Thanks to Kristina’s innovative business strategies over the last two decades, Reston Limousine and Travel Service, Inc. has enjoyed continued growth despite regional and national economic downturns. 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. Kristina also has led the company’s commitment to implementing the latest in technology trends. The leading private transportation provider in Washington DC when it comes to technology, Reston Limousine utilizes cameras on its bus fleet, GPS in all vehicles and TrafficLand software to monitor DC area traffic patterns. Kristina also has been an early adopter of social media, from blogging to social sharing sites including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, Instagram and more. Through LinkedIn, Kristina leveraged her international network to launch the company’s global services, which provides worldwide transportation through a vetted affiliate network. An active business community leader, Kristina 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. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Bouweiri has been 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. She also is 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. Her recent awards include George Mason University Outstanding Leadership Award, Heroine of Washington, Washington Business Journal Power 100, and National Operator of the Year. See below for a complete list of her achievements. ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2015 Outstanding Leadership Award, George Mason University School of Business
• 2015 Heroines of Washington (Professional Services)/March of Dimes
• 2015 Power 100 (Connector)/Washington Business Journal
• 2015 Top Women-Owned Businesses in DC/Washington Business Journal
• 2015 Top Executive Transportation Services in DC/Washington Business Journal
• 2015 Legacy Entrepreneur of the Year/EPNET
• 2014 National Operator of the Year/LCT Magazine
• 2014 Most Admired CEO/Washington Business Journal
• 2014 Washington SmartCEO Future 50
• 2013 Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, International Women Entrepreneurs Challenge Award
• 2013 Washington SmartCEO Future 50
• 2009-1013 Washington SmartCEO Top 100 CEOs
• 2012 DC Chamber of Commerce, Business Leader of the Year
• 2011 NOVA EXEC, Top 20 InNOVAtors:
• 2011 Loudoun County Good Scout Award (first woman to receive the award)
• 2010 Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist