Bowling Green’s 40 Under 40: Kristen Robinette

Story by Amelia Bowen

Building a business around style and human connection was never just about retail for Kristen Robinette. As owner of Back Down South, the Cave City native and Western Kentucky University graduate turned a passion for people into a boutique dedicated to helping women feel confident. Her approach to leadership is grounded in personal resilience and her mother’s strength after losing her father at a young age. Now raising a family with her husband Ben, Kristen leads her team with empathy and patience, living by the advice she gives others: “You do not have to choose between a fulfilling family life and a successful career, you can build both.” That mindset fuels her work with BG50, the Women’s Fund of South Central Kentucky and Crossland Community Church as she continues growing her business alongside the community she holds dear.