Hi and welcome to the OWN IT podcast, where we celebrate the growing number of (women and non-binary) ad agency owners and talk about buying out of the boys’ club of advertising, one agency at a time.
Today, we’re talking to Kat Thay of Kat & Carter. You’ll notice right away Kat is British. She has navigated a career path through design, then advertising there. She has been state-side for about five years now, in Austin, Texas, where she and Kat & Carter is based.
Her firm is a hybrid agency and content production house that helps brands create content that builds their brand and sells product. They launched during COVID, so are relatively new to the marketplace.
We talked a bit about her partnership with Carter Pagel, whom she met at a networking event, her career path and the challenges of owning her own firm.
Kat was such a joy to get to know and learn from. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
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Kat Thay rose quickly in sales by leading with creative rather than just selling ad space. She would help local businesses redesign their ads and promote their offerings more effectively, leading to longer commitments from clients who saw the value in her approach beyond mere transactions.
Kat highlights the profound impact of her first female boss, Heidi Carroll, who taught her invaluable lessons about being a woman in business, relentless work ethic, and effective client engagement. This mentorship provided crucial skills and inspiration for her own journey into entrepreneurship.
After several years in a stable role, a spontaneous trip ignited Kat's desire for extensive travel and global work experience. She spent time in India and Australia, working in advertising agencies there, which broadened her understanding of the world and her industry before committing to ownership.
Kat found that in large agencies, her tendency to challenge existing processes and find different ways of doing things was not always accepted. Ownership, however, allows her the freedom to innovate, change rules, and constantly seek better approaches, which she sees as a key advantage.
Kat emphasizes that while entrepreneurship can sometimes be a lonely endeavor, building and nurturing a strong community around you is essential for support and shared growth. She highlights the importance of networking events and physical gatherings to connect with other owners and find mutual encouragement.
