From the Ground Up: Building the Base

Written by Mandy Krickhahn, Collective Founder & CEO // December 2025

January always feels loud. New goals, new plans, new promises. Everywhere you look, someone is doing more, scaling faster, launching bigger. And if I’m being honest, for a long time I felt like I was supposed to already have it all figured out by now. But going into our 7th year, this January feels different.

This year, I’m not starting with more. I’m starting with the base I should have built a long time ago. When The Collective began, there were no systems in place, and since it was just me for a long time, I didn’t document processes or build structure. As TC started to grow, I hired a team and led with heart, grit, and a deep belief in community, and for a while, that carried us.

As the business and team grew, I kept building without ever stopping to pour a real foundation underneath it. The pace picked up quickly, and my focus had to stay on the bigger pieces that kept everything running, supporting members, creating and running events, and making sure the parts of our business that brought in revenue were functioning. That was necessary so we could sustain the work, continue paying our team fairly, and so I could begin paying myself a livable wage as this became my full-time job. Slowing down to build systems felt like something I couldn’t afford at the time, even though I knew it mattered.

Growth happened fast, opportunities stacked up, and the mission expanded. Instead of slowing down to put structure in place, I kept moving forward, trusting instinct and momentum to carry us through. In many ways, it worked. But it also meant I was learning how to lead a team while the plane was already in the air.

This January, we’re doing something I haven’t done before, we are stopping to intentionally build the base. We’re implementing a new operating system, clarifying roles, defining ownership, creating SOPs, and aligning around shared values. This gives our team clarity and sets us up to grow with intention.

I want to be really honest here, leadership has been hard at times because building something from scratch means I’m learning as I go. I’ve never held a management position, and as an entrepreneur, there’s no handbook, no formal management training, and no established systems waiting for you when you step into growing your own business. You’re building the work, the structure, and yourself as a leader all at the same time. A lot of this I’ve had to learn along the way. I’m incredibly thankful for guidance from people I trust, and especially from Jaber, who brings basically a million years of retail and management experience to our team.

What I’m realizing, and why we’re doing this work now, is that growth requires being honest about what’s working and what isn’t, and being willing to change course when something no longer fits. Trusting people isn’t just about believing in them, it’s about giving them clarity, support, and systems that allow them to succeed. That’s what this season is about. We’re slowing down, getting clear on roles and expectations, and building the foundation that helps everyone do their best work.

I’m incredibly lucky to have a team that is open-minded, collaborative, and already comfortable with honest conversations and feedback. As we begin implementing this new system, we’re strengthening what already exists by adding more clarity and shared expectations. We’re choosing to be more intentional, ask better questions, and step into our roles with confidence and purpose.

That doesn’t happen without shared values.

For the first time, I’ve clearly defined what matters to our organization, not just what we do. Everything we’re building now is rooted in the four I’s: integrity, intention, impact and inclusion. These values guide how we show up, make decisions, and work together.

• We do the right thing, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable.

• We grow by working together and learning from each other.

• We create spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued.

• We intentionally design opportunities that benefit everyone involved.

• We take ownership of our work and outcomes.

• We communicate clearly, directly, and with respect.

• We focus on solutions and impact.

  
  

While a lot of this was already happening in real life, I hadn’t put words to it in a way we could actually come back to. Now we have something to reference when things get busy, messy, or hard.

The Collective is growing, Farmed & Forged is expanding, and our nonprofit work is deepening. The impact is getting bigger, and so is the responsibility that comes with it. This year will require focus, follow-through, and trust in one another.

Having the right people in the right places doesn’t mean perfection, it means alignment. It means people are empowered to do what they do best, without guessing, overcompensating, or burning out.

I’m proud of how far we’ve come, even without the base, but I’m even more excited about where we’re going now that we’re building one together!

If you’re building something of your own and realizing you skipped a few steps along the way, you’re not behind, and you’re definitely not alone. Sometimes it just means it’s time to pause, take a step back, and build the support your growth now requires.

Cheers to new (and intentional) beginnings in 2026!

MANDY KRICKHAHN

Founder & CEO // The Collective