How Chanel Cathey of CJC Insights, Owns It
On this week's episode of Own It, we’re talking to Chanel Cathey from CJC Insights. Her firm is an award-winning strategic communications firm that helps brands move forward with creativity, connection and community. She founded the firm in 2018 after leading the corporate practice at Hunt & Gather. She also spent time at Viacom, Unilever and ABC News.
We dug into that journey and her thoughts on the advertising and marketing world. And we loved her thoughts on the problem we face with the lack of women in ownership roles in our industry.
Chanel is just smart and fascinating and we loved this conversation. We know you will too.
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Key Takeaways
EPISODE: Chanel Cathey from CJC Insight
1. Nurturing Your Spirit and Finding Your Path | 00:03:56
Chanel emphasizes the importance of understanding oneself and taking time for activities that nourish personal growth and well-being. This self-awareness helps in supporting and empowering others, and aligning personal passions with professional pursuits can lead to a fulfilling career. Her early life experiences, like pretending to edit newspapers and mimicking news anchors, showcased her innate interest in media, which her mother encouraged, allowing her to trust the process of finding her career path.
2. The Power of Speaking Up and Seeking Opportunities | 00:09:12
Chanel highlights how clearly articulating what you want and being willing to share it with others can open doors to unexpected opportunities. Her proactive approach in college, presenting a handmade business card and asking for a job, led to crucial internships and her first full-time role, demonstrating that being clear about ambitions can attract the right connections and pathways.
3. Shifting Mindset for Entrepreneurship | 00:11:38
Overcoming the fear of failure is crucial for aspiring entrepreneurs. Chanel's journey to ownership began when she reframed her perspective, realizing that even if her business failed, she would "always have options." This shift removed the immense pressure and allowed her to recognize entrepreneurship as a viable path for wealth creation and personal fulfillment, emphasizing the importance of valuing one's own worth and building a supportive team.
4. Addressing Lack of Representation and Funding Disparities | 00:12:30
Chanel's vision for her agency, "creating space for all people and stories," was born from the stark observation of the lack of diverse representation in business media. She channeled her energy into changing this narrative, emphasizing that seeing diverse individuals in ownership and leadership roles matters. Her agency actively works to address funding disparities for women and people of color, using data and storytelling to highlight these systemic issues and advocate for equitable access to capital and opportunities.
5. Overcoming Isolation and Fostering Community in Business | 00:14:48
The initial isolation of being a founder was a significant challenge for Chanel, who was accustomed to large team environments. She learned that recognizing her limitations, building a strong team, and fostering community among peers were vital. She stresses the importance of vulnerability and shared experiences, noting that finding solidarity and support networks can help individuals, especially women, navigate difficult managerial moments and push through career challenges to achieve ownership.
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