Career Diaries: Meet Nicole Powell, the woman who founded Kinfield

Pure beauty has become more and more popular in recent years, but one area of ​​the industry that has been seriously lacking is floor products. You can find a variety of vegan, natural cosmetics on the market, but when you go on the hunt for a clean bug spray, the results are a lot less promising. This is what inspired Nicole Powell to create Kinfield, sustainable, clean brand with several main products for a great outdoor experience. “The very first thing I did when we started working on Kinfield was fly to Indonesia to personally purchase citronella and clove oils,” she says.

Even if it's just drinking roses in the park, Powell wants to encourage people go outside every day with her simple, clean and effective skin care products. We spoke with Powell to learn more about her background, her favorite outdoor activities and what she has to say to others. women entrepreneurs, forthcoming.

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up in Minnesota, was the eldest of three children, and knew from an early age that I loved to explore and create—although I didn't know I could pursue a career as an entrepreneur until much later. I've always been a very inquisitive person, and I've been lucky to have been able to follow that curiosity into several different areas, from studying political campaign marketing in my undergrad to startups and the tech industry, and then into the world of email. -commercial fashion before diving into Kinfield. 

What is the history of Kinfield and what inspired you to create the brand?

It started when I realized there was an opportunity to make the best outdoor products when packing for a Yosemite hike. I still used the same regular products that I remembered from my childhood in Minnesota and I kept using these products not because I loved them, but because there were no better options. There has been no innovation in these products or brands for many years! I found it particularly strange to use toxic ingredients naturally. After looking around and asking friends for recommendations, I realized that the products I wanted to buy - clean, effective, modern - do not exist. Instead of giving up, I dug in and Kinfield was born.

In addition to creating better and more sustainable outdoor products, I also wanted to start a conversation about the many ways we all go outside today. Encourage picnics in the park, barbecues in the backyard, and day trips. Research has shown that even short periods of time outdoors bring incredible benefits to our mental, physical and emotional health, and Kinfield products are designed to make your daily outdoor life easier. 

We have to ask, what is your favorite outdoor activity?

I'm up for any adventure, even if it involves waking up at 2am to get to the top of the mountain for sunrise (Mount Batur, it's worth it!). Lately, however, I prefer quieter pursuits—reading and napping while swaying in a hammock on a sleepy day—that’s my idea of ​​heaven. 

What is your favorite Kinfield product? 

I honestly couldn't choose! i tend to use water balm most of all because it's a great everyday moisturizer on the go.

Where do you hope to see the brand in ten years?

I see Keenfield pioneering sustainable consumer products that are both clean and effective, creating and celebrating an inspired community of people who love the outdoors. I hope we can continue to set the bar for incredible products that are plant-based, backed by science, and part of a happy, healthy outdoor lifestyle. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs? 

Surround yourself with good people - your community is everything. Find people who celebrate, support, and encourage you (and who you want to celebrate, support, and encourage in return). These confidants will support you in difficult days and will be the first to celebrate the victory.