We had the good fortune of connecting with Kris Angell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kris, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risks, when you run your own business, are about hopes and dreams. Hopes that your ideas, and hard work building towards them, come to fruition. Dreams of the next idea. The next adventure. I use risk as a game changer for myself and my business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Does my business stand out from the rest…likely no. I run a consultancy like so many others. I help businesses discover their customers through new eyes which fosters better products and services. However, the opportunities I discover don’t stop with the business—that’s just the start of something amazing. With Hopscotch Labs, I’ve started businesses that provide the community new places to call home; I’ve exposed the tech community to cultures and experiences that change their approach to work; I’ve built dreams for others that have expanded each of our worlds. Hopscotch Labs, is fundamentally a problem solver, often solving the problems that we have forgotten exist. These problems, that when solved correctly, create much bigger opportunities for all. An example: Common Salt. Developed from colliding challenges—a pandemic that closed brick and mortar stores for weeks on end; that kept talented people at home with no work. Common Salt grew from a common will to help businesses survive, we interviewed 20 business owners, cataloging their pain, triumphs and fears. Photographing their businesses, and telling their stories. Example 2: Mutiny Labs A Hopscotch Labs adventure, Mutiny Labs is an idea that stalled with the pandemic. 20 designers heading to Cuba to explore design and business. We are all waiting patiently for a vaccine.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Tacos, tacos, and tacos. If they have a passport, and COVID isn’t ravaging the community, we’re off to Mexico. But of course we’ll start with Mitch’s in Pt Lomo.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to Kylie, Raquel, Monica, Brian, Ryan, and James, my colleagues in arms at Common Salt. They put their skills to good use at the beginning of the pandemic to help business owners tell their stories and get good press.

Website: https://hopscotchlabs.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/common.salt
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10661754/admin/
Other: https://commonsalt.org https://mutinylabs.work

Image Credits
Last image (Hoppy Daze) Kylie Clarke Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.