In today's episode we welcome Katie Smetherman-Holmes! Katie discusses her journey from working at a marketing agency to becoming a business owner, highlighting the supportive environment that allowed her to learn about business operations and client management. She pursued a master's degree in brand strategy at a design institute in Milan, Italy, which provided her with a comprehensive understanding of business and branding, complementing her creative skills. This experience enabled her to establish Brand Studio Creative, offering full-service design solutions to clients.
Katie shares her experience of attending an international full-time year-long program in Milan, which transitioned to online communication due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficulties, Katie remained dedicated and completed her thesis, which involved a research presentation and a brand strategy project for Arnett, a major European eyewear company. Tragically, during this period, Katie received news of her mother's death. Katie shares her personal journey of balancing academic pursuits with personal grief, ultimately graduating with honors and later founding Brand Studio Creative at a pace comfortable for her. She emphasized the importance of taking time to develop a strong business strategy, especially for those without significant financial resources to start quickly. Katie also highlightes the value of holistic thinking in business, noting that success comes from considering the whole picture rather than focusing on individual aspects. Katie's approach to working with small business owners and entrepreneurs, emphasizes the importance of finding clients with genuine passion and potential for long-term success.
Katie and Reah discuss the importance of focusing on retention metrics and referrals as effective business strategies, emphasizing the value of positive word-of-mouth as well as highlight the power of building relationships through bartering systems, provided insights into starting a business with small, manageable steps, and offered support to entrepreneurs. Katie also teaches us about the importance in setting boundaries and protecting oneself in business relationships.
To learn more about Katie and what she has to offer visit the following links-
