BIO
Kristin Carrillo brings more than a decade of experience helping creatives navigate complex decisions and long-term growth. Before entering wealth management, Kristin was at the heart of the music industry working alongside artists and songwriters at companies including Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Group, SMAC Entertainment, and Creative Contender. In those roles, she helped develop songwriters’ and artists’ careers, managed tour budgets and release campaigns, and helped clients capitalize on opportunities to grow their careers.
When the world slowed down during the pandemic, Kristin found herself in lockdown with her pup, Bear. Amid the isolation of the pandemic, she taught herself graphic design and launched what would eventually become Barkada, a pet accessories company. What started as a passion project designing pop-culture inspired pet ID tags quickly became a crash course in entrepreneurship. From brand strategy to marketing and customer relationships, she wore every hat to turn it into a growing e-commerce brand. Today, Barkada continues to expand through wholesale partnerships and retail opportunities while remaining deeply committed to animal welfare — a mission she’s carried with her for years inspired by her trips to the Philippines where she witnessed the harsh realities of stray dogs. Barkada dedicates a portion of proceeds to international rescues such as PAWSsion Project, local animal shelters, and other rescue organizations providing aid to animals affected by natural disasters or humanitarian crises such as Shelter Ugolyok, Community Loving, and Wildfire relief funds.
Building a small business introduced Kristin to a community of women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, and she saw firsthand just how many felt overwhelmed by the complexities of long-term financial planning and investing. That experience ultimately brought her to Gerber Kawasaki, a firm whose entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking approach aligned with her own values. Today, she works with individuals, families, and business owners to create personalized financial strategies that help them build wealth, protect their success, and pursue their long-term goals with confidence.