Less than a decade ago Stephanie Tillman was a mother raising two toddlers and struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Stephanie and her husband found God, sobriety and new life, but just as they began their new chapter they faced the challenge of homelessness. Opportunity is born of adversity. As her family moved through homelessness and began to rebuild their lives, Stephanie was presented with business project that put the spotlight on her natural promotional and graphic design talents. Over the next few years Stephanie worked a marketing job, while continuing to build her skillset with design projects she contracted on the side. Eventually the time came when demand for her work required her to make a choice. Make a leap of faith to become an entrepreneur, or say no to an ever growing client list. She took the leap and Crossover Graphics was born. The company quickly expanded to become ikros.com, a full service marketing, branding and graphic design firm. In 2010, during its second year, ikros.com gained a lot of attention as it experienced with 555% growth in a stagnating economy. The company was named among the top 25 under 25. Stephanie received the Rising Star award and was honored as one of the 34 most ‘Influential Women’ of Kansas City, chosen for hard work, dedication to her organization and contributions to the community. In addition, she and the company were featured in many local media publications, NBC’s Today Show and the NBC Nightly News. Tillman was a success by any typical measure, but money and attention were not the indicators of success that mattered to her. In the life of Stephanie Tillman success is all about impact.
In April 2011, amid chaotic growth, Stephanie moved her team out of their 3,500 square foot building. She moved her employees to another firm and shut the doors of her office to find a simpler way. Feeling that she had gotten too wrapped up in the day to day business aspects, she wanted the freedom to act and go where God needed her. Reflection and meditation led her to recognize the core of her purpose – storytelling. She had seen the powerful impact created by a person sharing their story – the connection it creates, the comfort and inspiration it can provide to others. Your story and the chapters of your life make you who you are, your personal brand. Your story is the heart of what you most need to share with the world and what the world needs to hear. Stephanie realized that sharing her story over the years hadn’t been a way to turn the focus to herself, her tribulations or triumphs. Instead she thought about the ripple effect that sharing her story caused. When she opened up, allowing people to feel comfortable around her, they in turn opened up and it changed the connection between them. Suddenly Stephanie realized that the impact of storytelling is how people move from one chapter of their lives to another. It is how they express, “I’ve been there. I understand. I share your joy/pain/frustration/gratitude.” That was the moment when Chief Executive Officer, Stephanie Tillman became Chief Storyteller, Stephanie Tillman. She decided to shift ikros’ mission to one of branding and prepared for the launch of Storytellers and Chapters.
Through everything, Stephanie’s story is shaped by her life Bible verse, “But we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
