Meet Audrina Blackburn, the Co-Founder of Summit Chasers Network, a community dedicated to the success of entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and intrapreneurs.
Rooted in her experience of being adopted, Audrina’s journey to co-founding Summit Chasers Network began with a desire for belonging and inclusion. As a result, she set out to create professional environments where everyone felt valued and seen. This desire led to the creation of Summit Chasers Network, an organization that emphasizes community and mutual success. Today, Audrina and her co-founder, Zach, focus on cutting through the noise of quick fixes and endless tactics, instead on building foundations that support sustainable growth for small businesses. Looking ahead, they aim to empower future leaders through leadership development, networking, and tools for career advancement.
We asked Audrina about her entrepreneurial journey, the lessons she has learned along the way, and what’s on the horizon for Summit Chasers Network.
Tell us the story behind your company’s founding. How and why did you start working on Summit Chasers Network?
My partner, Zach Carlin, and I were actually on a road trip listening to Simon Sinek’s Find Your Why. We started doing some of the exercises from the book and quickly realized we were aligned in the impact we wanted to make and our values. About a week later, we launched Summit Chasers Network to help small businesses succeed. We both come from non-traditional backgrounds. I was a professional ballroom and Latin American dancer, and he was a professional athlete in three sports. I later spent nine years in corporate, working my way up from entry level to Vice President of Business Operations, while he has been a bit of a serial entrepreneur. Together our backgrounds helped us realize that in order for small businesses to be successful, they need a solid foundation. At Summit Chasers Network, we cut through the noise of endless tactics and quick fixes. We focus on what truly matters: building a robust foundation that supports growth and scales your business. It's not about the latest marketing gimmick; it's about setting up core success principles that work in any industry. We're talking job creation, innovation, team development, and, ultimately, crafting a legacy that's about more than just profits.
What are some of the most meaningful impacts Summit Chasers Network has had so far?
We’ve found ourselves heavily involved in the nonprofit sector—from helping the organizations build out their foundations to working with underserved youth on personal and professional development. This has been hugely rewarding.
In what ways has your upbringing or past experiences contributed to how you operate as an entrepreneur?
I was adopted at a very young age—just one week old—and often felt like I didn’t quite belong or fit in, whether that was in my family, at school, or in the workplace. In the corporate space, when I was promoted to director of my team, I realized that I wanted everyone to know that they belonged and were valued and seen. That has continued to be a value that I have taken with me into my entrepreneurial venture with Summit Chasers Network. We put “network” in the name for a reason. We are building a community of entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and intrapreneurs where we know that we are not in it alone. We are all in on the success of our clients and those in our network.
We focus on what truly matters: building a robust foundation that supports growth and scales your business. It’s not about the latest marketing gimmick; it’s about crafting a legacy.
What’s been the most unexpected part of your entrepreneurial journey?
The self growth and discovery. You are constantly working to improve your skills and have to do some things that may be out of your comfort zone, especially at the start. Being an entrepreneur has really shown me who I am and what I’m capable of. This has, in turn, built more self-confidence. Being an entrepreneur is also incredibly vulnerable. Oftentimes, we start a business out of passion, wanting to solve a problem, or wanting to make an impact. Because of that, what we do comes from our heart. To put yourself out there, whether that be on social media or to potential clients, can feel vulnerable. But when you find the people who you resonate with and who also believe in you and what you are working toward, it is very rewarding.
How do you celebrate successes along the way?
I’ve found myself overlooking some of the wins we’ve had along the way because they didn’t “feel” big enough. The problem with this way of thinking is it puts you in a gap mindset rather than a gain mindset. By thinking “This is great, but we really need X,Y,Z,” I was focusing on what we didn’t have instead of how far we’d come. Since realizing this, I now make it a point to celebrate all wins—even the smallest ones. It is so easy to get caught up in the long-term goals and vision that you can miss some of the small stepping stones helping you achieve it. My favorite way to celebrate is to “cheers” to whatever the win was, whether it be at home or out for a celebratory dinner. Success begets success!
How would you describe the journey you’ve had in a few sentences? Would you do it all over again?
My journey has been unconventional. As cliché as it sounds, it’s led me right to where I am supposed to be, doing the work I am meant to do. This wasn’t something I thought was in the cards, but now that I’m here, I’d gladly go through it all over again. The opportunity to play a role in the success of small businesses that are working to do incredible things will always feel like an honor.
What’s next for you and Summit Chasers Network?
We are continuing to make an impact daily in our clients’ lives and businesses. We are also co-hosting the Young Professionals Leadership Summit in Toronto on October 19th. We will be empowering the leaders of tomorrow with leadership development, networking opportunities, and tools for career advancement. We’re so excited for everything that’s to come!
