Joyfully Ambitious: Katherine Foote
If you randomly stumbled upon Week of the Website on the vast world wide web, you — and we! — have Katherine Foote to thank. This intrepid marketing consultant helps global brands, agency partners and small businesses — including WOTW — not only tell their story, but most importantly, get that story in front of the right audience.
Her skill set includes content writing, paid ads management, user-generated content creation, email marketing and more. But she doesn’t stop there — as someone who took a leap from the corporate world (at Disney!) to the freelance life, she is passionate about helping others live their dreams, offering freelance coaching and marketing mentorship to others in her field.
Katherine is not only whip-smart, strategic and knows her industry, but she does it all joyfully, making her a perfect addition to the WOTW marketing squad.
Name: Katherine Foote
Pronouns: She/her
Website: creativelykatherine.com
Social media: @creatively_katherine; @creativelykatherine
LinkedIn: Katherine-foote, Creatively-katherine-llc
Was there a moment when you knew you were absolutely on the right path?
To answer this, I have to go back a few pages. In 2019, I was working in marketing at Disney, specifically supporting Disney Springs, the shopping, dining and entertainment space at Walt Disney World. I LOVED everything about my job. It was a dream come true. Fast forward to March 2020, when the global pandemic hit, I was furloughed and eventually laid off. I was devastated. I felt like I lost my entire identity losing my dream job with Disney.
Thankfully, I was able to find a new job quickly as a Content Manager. And while it wasn't my dream job, it was a job, and for that, I was thankful. In July 2021, I had the opportunity to go back to Disney as a Digital Project Manager supporting the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World. I returned to my dream company and worked with some incredible people, but a few months in, I felt like something else was calling my name. I realized I found a new passion and a new dream: freelancing. So it was in that moment of returning to Disney, that I realized what I'm meant to do.
How do you handle self-doubt?
I'm thankful to have a few options when it comes to self doubt. 1. I call my fiancé, my mom or my best friend for a quick vent session. 2. I listen to podcasts from women who inspire me, like Jenna Kutcher, Marketing Happy Hour, and, of course, No Surprises. 3. Sometimes, I call it a day and unplug or focus on a different task and try again the next day. Something that has taken me a while to figure out is that not every day will be my most productive or creative — and that's okay! It's important to give yourself grace, show yourself love and take a moment when you need to.
Is there a life or business mantra that you live by?
‘It's never too late to start.’ As a marketing freelancer, I love the variety of work I can do. But sometimes, I talk myself down from trying new things because I'm like, ‘That person is already doing this, and they're WAY better than me…’ But the truth is, there is room for all of us and it's never too late to learn new things. I'm the same way in my personal life. For example, since I was little, I've always wanted to figure skate, but as I've gotten older, I’s think that it's too late. But the truth is, it's not! So I put figure skates on my holiday list two years ago, and my fiancé and I go pretty often now. I'm even considering taking lessons.
How do you find joy in moments of uncertainty?*
I remind myself of all of the hurdles I've overcome at work, school or in everyday life. Even when things felt heavy or unattainable, I've managed to succeed in my own ways. It helps when I make a mental list of things I've overcome recently or new things that I've learned.
Is there another woman in your field that you admire?
Someone who I really admire is Suzanne Dayton, owner of LevelUp Co, an amazing marketing and business management agency. Suzanne and I first met when we worked together at a large apartment complex at the University of Maryland. Now, I have the privilege of working with Suzanne again, supporting with content creation and analytics reporting. Suzanne has always been such a kind, driven and inspiring leader, and I admire her dedication to her business.
What does community mean to you?
Community is the heartbeat of my business and my personal life. It's a warm, welcoming space where like-minded individuals can come together to share their passions, dreams and inspirations. It's about fostering connections, lifting each other up and creating a supportive network where we can learn and grow together. In my business community, I strive to celebrate diversity and individuality, recognizing that each person brings a unique perspective to the table.
How do you cultivate community?
I believe transparency is an incredible way to cultivate community, whether online or locally. Thanks to the internet, I can connect with so many incredible business owners and entrepreneurs. I love chiming in on conversations in Facebook groups. It's the first place I turn when I have a question, and the various communities I am in are so helpful and supportive. For example, sharing your business journey can make a world of difference for someone who's just starting to freelance and doesn't know where to start. Without community, I wouldn't be where I am today. I celebrate it daily by answering questions in Facebook groups, sharing my to-do list on my Instagram stories and supporting local small businesses.
What is your favorite part of your work?
I genuinely love so many elements of my work, but here are three favorites. 1. Building relationships with my clients. 2. Channeling my creativity daily. Whether it's social media strategy, paid ad optimizations, content creation or anything else, I can be creative in so many different ways. 3. No two days are the same. Every day I work on something new, and it's so exciting.
What is your favorite part of your day?
I love my morning routine. I start my day with some sort of activity, whether it's a walk around my neighborhood catching up with my bestie, a spin class or heading to the gym. It helps me clear my mind and set intentions for the day or week ahead. Plus, I love starting the day doing something for myself.
What inspires you?
Chasing my dreams, whatever they are at the moment. No matter how big or small, I love jotting down things I'd like to do or accomplish and working towards them. When I'm looking for inspiration, here are a few things that I can count on: spending time in a big city, podcasts, new hobbies, taking a walk, coffee shops, the ocean and traveling.
