About Us
Golden Heartland: Where Creative Rural Women Discover Their Path to a Joy-Led Business
About Golden Heartland
Welcome to Golden Heartland, where we're dedicated to empowering Christian women through a Joy-Led approach to entrepreneurship. We believe that every woman is uniquely gifted by God, with creativity meant to flourish in business. Our mission? To help you uncover those gifts and combine them with business skills to support the rural creative lifestyle you love.
What It Means to Be Joy-Led
Being Joy-Led isn't just a tagline for us—it's our way of life. It means seeing business as more than just making money; it's about becoming a whole person with the lifestyle of your dreams along the way.
At Golden Heartland, we focus on three key things:
Clarity - Decide what you want from business
Confidence - Build what you need to get there
Commitment - Action daily to make it happen
When these come together, that's where true joy in business happens—whether you're creating products, serving your customers, marketing your brand, or connecting with your community.
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 1:6
Meet our Founder
Tina Joy Cochran
A Faith-Driven, Joy-Led Coach Dedicated to Empowering Rural Business Women
Hey there! I'm Tina, and I've been exactly where you are. Traditional business models never quite fit my desire for a joyful, faith-driven life in the countryside. So, I decided to pave my own path—one that honors my values and passions. That journey led me to create Golden Heartland, where I'm blessed to help others embrace their unique journey to success.
With over three decades in business and entrepreneurship plus degrees in Human Resource Development and Business Administration/Finance, I've faced my share of challenges—doubt, fear, and moments of feeling like I didn’t fit as an employee. I tired it all, city government, corporate training, director of operations, even managing an alpaca ranch and founding a nonprofit didn’t truly fit. —So I turned to my faith and discovered Jesus has been there through it all, and he gave me a passion for empowering women like you to thrive in business on your terms. Now, I'm dedicated to bringing that wealth of experience to support your creative ventures. Oh, and I've also penned a couple of books, Coming Home to Joy and 30 Days to Joy, sharing my personal story and providing tools to help you find purpose and fulfillment in every part of life.
Joy-Led Business Podcast
I now get to host the Joy-Led Business Podcast, where we dive into topics that inspire and empower creative women in business. Each episode is packed with practical tips, insightful interviews, and easy-to-follow training—all designed to help you build a business that reflects your faith, values, and love for creating and rural small-town living.
Our Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Golden Heartland is working to expand from a virtual community to become an in person vibrant hub for entrepreneurship and community in the heart of the Midwest. We're passionate about empowering local makers, creatives, and visionaries to thrive in their unique lifestyles, making a real impact on our local economies. We dream of a future with a Business Incubator, a collaborative Maker Space, and inspiring Retreat Spaces—spaces designed to nurture your business dreams and connect our community.
Join Us
So, are you ready to join me and the Golden Heartland community on this journey of discovery and transformation? Let's build businesses that not only honor our faith and creativity but also celebrate the joy of rural living together.