Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristoff Hart.
Hi Kristoff, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sure. I’m Kristoff, a storyteller and creative business leader and I’ve been in Nashville for about 11 years. I came here for the same reasons a lot of people did, I wanted to be in music.
I always knew I wanted to do something in entertainment. I just didn’t know what it was. When I was kid, I was OBSESSED with two people Stevie Wonder and Usher. As far as I was concerned, they were the epitome of talent, charisma, and skill. I loved the stories their lives and music told; it made me want to tell the world my own.
As I got older, I unknowingly honed in on what I wanted to do. My first job when I was 13 was working for a production company in Memphis. I just kinda fell in love with video and production, and how to tell a story through art. And then I just became fascinated with the story — how art told stories, how brands told stories, how artists told stories, and what those stories told us about them.
From there, my life just kinda became a hodgepodge of all the things I loved: art, creativity, storytelling, branding, and marketing. I started my career blogging for a youth-centric urban music blog. I started telling the stories I saw and loved in the music industry. Then I started working for a label when I was a college student. I used to sling free merch on campus from all the label’s urban priorities and try to give away as much stuff as I could to local businesses and tastemakers. Think T.I. blow-up basketballs, advance copies of early Ty Dolla $ign EPs, and t-shirts with Wale’s face on it.
Over time, I honed in on my creative skills. I dug deep into video and graphic design and art and learned everything I could so I could use it as an added bonus as I made my way through the industry.
When I graduated, I worked as Client Liaison for a startup production company that was doing some great work with top-tier YouTube creators and massive brands. I was a Director of Marketing for a tech company, oversaw Strategy and Development for a boutique digital agency, and then made a HARD pivot into the non-profit world. I never saw myself moving in that direction, but it was everything my soul needed at the time. I oversaw communications and creative for the fifth fastest-growing non-profit in its sector and had the chance to speak for them often. There I just developed a love for communicating and encouraging people and so I took that and moved it online. Over time, I built a little following of people who wanted to be encouraged and one of my videos landed me in the inaugural class of the TikTok for Black Creators Incubator Program, 1 of 100 in the nation. I later joined the team of a much larger organization overseeing creative for their next-generation initiatives.
Then I felt this tug that it was time to go, which I hated to do because I had fallen in love with the work we were doing in the non-profit sector. But I felt that there was more to be accomplished, that where I was was an important and necessary step in my journey, but not the final destination.
All of that has led me to where I am now, working in partnerships for a hit tv show and owning a content development and production company. I may not be Stevie Wonder or Usher, but hopefully, my story sparks the flame in someone else’s life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. Some of the biggest challenges have come from my personal life. Back in 2018, my wife, then fiancé, was diagnosed with a recurrent disease that threatened her life and our chances of having kids.
Over the little bit, we would journey through two surgeries, countless visits to oncology and fertility specialists, and more. But it was all worth it when my first daughter was born. Considering the 2-5% chance we were given to get pregnant, this was a miracle. And when it happened twice, this time without the medicine and countless doctor’s visits, we were overjoyed. It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s led us to the best places.
Professionally, all types of fun stuff have happened. Having the head of your organization leave three months into your tenure and career change is pretty wild, but we made it through after navigating that absence for 2 years. Then there was that one time when I left a great role at a startup because frankly, I wanted more money. I got greedy and a bit impatient. I doubled my salary…but my role was terminated 9 months later.
The road of life is full of obstacles. The good news is that we can have courage on the bumpy road. Sure, you’ll catch a flat. Sure, you may crash a few times, but here’s the beautiful thing, you can overcome the obstacles on your path, including the one you’re facing right now. Up until this point, if you’re reading this, if you’re still here, you’ve gotten through 100% of all your worst days. That encourages me when the road is bumpier than I expected, and I hope it encourages anyone who reads this.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The consistent thread in everything I do is the story. I love stories because I believe it’s one of the few safe places left for human discourse. And I knew I wanted to share the stories I was passionate about as well as elevate the stories of others.
So, I currently oversee the Growth and Expansion of a hit tv show, amplifying the show’s message through strategic, organic partnerships and relationships.
I also travel and speak, encouraging thousands of people at businesses, conferences, non-profits, and universities to embrace limitations and chase after what matters most. Back in 2015, I started a company called bellhart. as a catch-all for all my creative endeavors, which I still run today. Underneath that brand is a content development and production company where we partner with brands and organizations to tell stories that lead people to greater love, greater understanding, and greater balance in their lives. We’re working on a few projects I’m really excited to share over the next few years.
And somewhere in there, I find time to post content online that brings me joy and encourages others.
I love what I do. I get to tell stories that impact lives.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
It’s so funny. I have this conversation with my wife often. I feel like experiences are what stick out most in my childhood. The stories I tell most are attached to the experiences I had. I couldn’t tell you anything I got my birthdays growing up, but I remember a family trip to Disney World when I was like 6 like the back of my hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: kristoffhart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/kristoffhart
- Facebook: facebook.com/kristoffhart
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kristoffhart
- Youtube: youtube.com/kristoffonyoutube
- Other: tiktok.com/@kristoffhart
Image Credits
Will King, Brad Smith, The Jaco Collective, Red Giant Entertainment, and bellhart
