P.O.P. Retreat WHEN: 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, April 4 WHERE: Zingerman’s Cornman Farms MORE INFO: www.reflectioninstitute.com/retreat
photojournalism from Ohio University, and a master’s degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago. After college, she sold her car and moved to Paris. “I taught English to Parisian executives. They wanted to learn English so they could advance in their own fields, which is very cool. Paris is the fashion capital of the world -- seeing people make careers out of beauty and luxury products. Seeing that you could be very fulfilled and have so much passion for a career was very inspiring.” Her interest in language inspired her to speak American English, free of an Irish lilt. But the accent tends to return around friends and family, she says. Returning to Chicago from Paris, she started a photography
business, shooting weddings and corporate events. Kjellstrom also worked with a leadership development consulting firm. One assignment involved creative portraits of executives. Each was asked to bring symbols or tools to the photo session, to illustrate their professional role or strengths. “One leader brought a giant nail. I asked, ‘Why does that speak to your leadership legacy?’ He said a nail has a sharp point, and that he has to bring things together like two pieces of wood and has to be malleable to adapt to the surroundings.” She moved to Northville 2-½ years ago with husband Henrik Kjellstrom, controller at SKF in Plymouth Township. At this time, she and sister Jenny – both are program managers with Harvard Business Publishing Co. -- started throwing around leadership-meets-fun concepts for their own business. They came up with the Reflection Institute. “We both worked in leadership consulting, seeing what works, what doesn’t. We also have a love of cooking and sharing recipes. Then there’s the
Lisa Kjellstrom makes her pasta from scratch. Photos by Bill Bresler
whole selfcare movement. That’s the space we wanted to play in, inspiring people to bring the best pieces into your life every day,” Kjellstrom said. ‘FOODIE’ While Kjellstrom loves to check out area farmer’s markets, she says the Northville Farmers Market – open from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays May 7-Oct. 29 in the Northville Downs parking lot at Seven Mile and Sheldon – is tops. “It’s the ingredients. I’ve gotten to know local farms and farmers, and become more mindful where food comes from, and what a bountiful area we have – and to have all that right outside my door.” So how would she define “foodie?” “I think a foodie loves food but also seeks to nourish others,” she says. “It’s seeing other people and their faces as you feed them. Also, cooking and baking are selfcare. You’re also trying different things. You struggle sometimes and succeed. There’s also that bigger piece around community connection and that’s why were so excited about the event.” Local businesses are donating gift cards and food products to the retreat. “We hoped we would get that community buy-in, that momentum that there is a bit of magic happening,” Kjellstrom said. The sisters seek to connect with more local businesses interested in donating foodie goodie bags or raffle prizes, in return for promotion at the retreat and on Reflection Institute social media channels. Kjellstrom says she is proud to live in America and to call Northville home, and loves the friends she’s made here. For more information on the P.O.P. Retreat, go to www.reflectioninstitute.com/ retreat.
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