Zoe Krislock
StoryFlight Labs has named Zoe Krislock as Chief Executive Officer, bringing an experienced consumer and retail executive to lead the public benefit corporation as it expands AI-powered communication tools for people living with speech-limiting disabilities and conditions.
Krislock will work alongside founder and Board Chair David Betts to build the company’s strategy, leadership team and operating structure while expanding access to its flagship products, the Talk to Me, Goose! text-to-speech application and the Fable’s Adventures personalized audio storytelling platform. Betts launched StoryFlight Labs after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with the goal of developing technology that helps people who have lost the ability to speak communicate more effectively.
The leadership appointment comes as the company moves from product development toward broader commercialization. Krislock’s initial priorities will include building the organization’s executive team, strengthening financial and operational processes and expanding partnerships with foundations and other organizations that can help make the company’s technology more widely available.
Betts said Krislock brings the operational experience needed to guide StoryFlight Labs through its next stage of growth while remaining focused on its mission. He credited her track record of scaling organizations and said her understanding of both the commercial opportunity and the needs of people with speech disabilities made her a strong fit to lead the company.
Krislock’s connection to StoryFlight Labs began through her work as a trustee of the Live Like Lou Foundation, which supports ALS research and families affected by the disease. Through that role, she became familiar with the communication challenges facing people living with ALS and was introduced to Betts and the company’s mission.
Krislock said StoryFlight Labs has developed technology with significant potential, and her focus will be on creating the organizational foundation needed to grow the business in a disciplined manner while directing resources toward initiatives with the greatest impact. She added that building a sustainable company will be essential to extending the reach of its products and serving more individuals who rely on assistive communication technology.
Krislock brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across consumer products, retail and hospitality businesses. She joins StoryFlight Labs from Magnolia, the lifestyle company founded by Chip and Joanna Gaines, where she served as president and chaired Magnolia Table Ventures. During her tenure, she helped strengthen the company’s organizational structure, expand revenue and build its executive leadership team.
Previously, Krislock served as Chief Executive Officer of publicly traded wellness and beauty company MiniLuxe, leading the business through its initial public offering, a strategic acquisition and the introduction of a proprietary self-care product line. Earlier in her career, she spent 14 years at Nike in leadership roles across North America, Europe and Greater China, overseeing business units that collectively generated nearly $3 billion in revenue.
StoryFlight Labs develops assistive communication technology designed to improve accessibility for people with speech-limiting conditions. Its AI-enabled Talk to Me, Goose! application is available on iOS, Android and Windows and is distributed at low or no cost through partnerships with foundations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. The company also operates Fable’s Adventures, an iOS storytelling platform that includes a community feed, podcasts and YouTube content intended to support broader awareness and adoption of its communication technology.
