Our Story

As a millennial black woman in tech, our CEO and co-curator, Kira Van Niel, found herself musing across other industries for examples of successful and emotionally strong women. Her curiosity about carving out a space for herself and others like her led her into tech incubation, community activism, and global travel spaces.
Across the board, she witnessed women tirelessly giving their time, talent, and competency with no expectation or promise of financial compensation. This emotional fatigue was chronic and had a devastating impact on them. undervalued, unseen, overworked, and minimally rewarded. It wasn’t difficult for us to see why there was an underrepresentation of this group in tech startups, leadership, or revenue-developing enterprises. which prompted her to consider: With the increase in the number of women and persons of color starving for self-actualization through their entrepreneurial endeavors, how do we address the business cultivation process and provide tools to address the mental, emotional, and spiritual hurdles along the journey?
While in deep prayer and meditation on sabbatical at a Kundalini ashram in Kansas City, Missouri, she received clarity on this offering. to provide space for courageous women to gather and hold each other accountable in the pursuit of our dreams. Together, we would activate our bodies in movement and our minds in meditation, fellowship over a nutritious meals and incubate our enterprising ideas with like-minded persons seeking action and actualization.
She felt it was essential to her that we use this forum to practice financial compensation for the sharing of one’s gifts with the community. On January 20, 2018, a small group of four women gathered for the first time and, together, set the course for what is now Our Creative Retreats.