Meet Cat Rickman

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cat Rickman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cat, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

I found myself in leadership roles at a pretty young age–I was an Editor-in-Chief by the time I turned 25, and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. Around this time, I was also running an open mic in Brooklyn, and organizing a songwriting showcase called Bitch Music Series. I didn’t have much guidance, and I was often managing people far older and more experienced than I was. It really felt like a “fake it til you make it” kind of situation. But that’s honestly kind of what happened. I had to do the work so I could point at something and say, “I wrote that,” or, “I organized that.” When I talked to people, I made a point to share my successes and not act like they were no big deal. Not only did this make me feel like more of a professional, but it made others treat me like one. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to take yourself seriously. Be open about your accomplishments, and never call yourself “an aspiring [X, Y, or Z].” You’d be surprised how affirming it is to say, “This is what I do. This is what I’ve done. No one can take that away from me.”

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a food and travel writer, and the Editor-in-Chief of the French culture website, Frenchly. Currently I also cover food and beverage news for Food Republic. I feel really grateful that I am able to spend most of my days connecting with readers who love to travel and eat good food, covering both global and local stories, and learning something new every day.
When I’m not writing about France or food, I am usually writing music or performing with my band as Cat Rickman & The Boys. I have a few records available on most music platforms, but I’m hoping to get back into the studio to record new material soon. I have the support of an incredible music community in Brooklyn, and I’m always looking to make new connections and help that community continue to grow.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

In terms of occupying leadership roles, one of my greatest skills has been my ability to understand how to make the most of other people’s skills and interests. Artistically, I value my sense of curiosity, which exposes me to stories and perspectives that can serve as new inspiration. Finally, time management and boundary setting have been imperative to my journey. If you don’t know the value of your own time and how to best use it, you will end up doing more work and spending less time on friends, family, your passion projects, and crucial rest and relaxation. Be clear about your capacity to take on new projects, so that other people know to respect your time and energy.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

If you are a highly motivated person, a lot of times there is this impulse to try and be perfect at everything. And while there is always a benefit to self-improvement, especially in skills or qualities that challenge you, it’s important to first understand why you want to improve in a particular area. When I was younger, I invested a lot of time into things that weren’t really my strong suit, because I thought they were the kinds of things I was supposed to be good at. When I started leaning into my talents and working to improve on them, is where I found success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/catrickman
• Instagram: @catrickman
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-rickman/