About Kimberly Zawi Carlson

I’m an entrepreneur, creator, and experience-driven professional based in Southwest Florida. My journey began young, fueled by a relentless curiosity and a willingness to dive into the unknown—whether that’s building businesses from scratch, performing on stage, or raising a family in Oaxaca, Mexico. Today, I channel that energy into a career that spans corporate leadership, innovative ventures, and creative expression, all rooted in a deep respect for nature and community.

I cut my teeth as an entrepreneur early. At 20, I managed a Furniture Medic franchise in Chicago with my family while studying Public Relations at Columbia College Chicago—learning the ropes of business before I could legally drink. By 22, I launched my first true venture, Movements Gallery, Austin Texas, a venue that won awards for its vision, blending operations with a flair for the unconventional. Trained in opera, theatre, and improv, I took on quirky character roles including on Motor Sports Unlimited (a cult classic) pushing my own comfort levels, shedding ego and expectations to understand people and systems—a thread that’s run through every project since.

One of my proudest chapters was resurrecting Shangri-La Springs (2012–2019). I took a shuttered property and turned it into a thriving community hub and private event venue, wrapped in organic principles and respect for nature. Before “experiential marketing” had a name, I launched monthly art events that showcased its historic charm, drawing crowds and fostering connection. At Everglades Wonder Gardens (2019–2022), I launched private events, managed internal events and marketing, pivoting through COVID-19 to keep the community alive. These weren’t just jobs—they were lessons in resilience and reinvention.

My corporate side sharpened as CEO of Mushrooms Inc. (2022-2025), where I led a small public company through SEC compliance, financial strategy (no toxic debt), and team growth. That role birthed MYCOLabX.com, where I now drive mycelium-based innovation—think smart bandages and eco-textiles—merging science with purpose. In the years that led up to these roles, I played with new ventures learning and evolving a deep understanding of people, practices, and business acumen. My Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship from Florida Gulf Coast University ties it all together—earned while raising three of my four sons as a single mom. 

I’m a sponge for experience, deciphering it through art. I’ve written hundreds of poems—most written with a constraint of time—plus novels and novellas that wrestle with life’s messiness. My stage training and global lens (living in Oaxaca, and traveling Europe shaped me deeply) fuel how I approach everything: with discipline from my military family roots combined with a drive to connect through meaning. Workaholic? Maybe. But it’s less about hours and more about chasing what matters.

This space is my lens—where past ventures meet current missions. Explore my event legacy at zawicarlson.com, my innovations at mycolabX.com or stick around here for the full story. I’m still building, still learning, still connecting the dots.