We recently connected with Caitlin Thomas and have shared our conversation below.
Caitlin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I started my first business at seventeen years old and spent a decade with a constant focus on growth and scaling my business, with little to no true vision behind all of the hard, relentless work that I was doing. By 27 I was burnt out and tired of the constant grind.
I had my first daughter in 2017 and it changed everything for me. Becoming a mother made me realize that chasing a vision for your life is far more important that just scaling a business and making more money. My purpose very rapidly evolved from “MORE MORE MORE” to “how can I do less, help more people, and still hit financial goals that give me the freedom to enjoy my life”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I began my entrepreneurial journey as a freshman in college when I started my photography business. I spent well over a decade photographing thousands of weddings, families and brands stories, before becoming a mom to my two daughters. A traumatic birth and rough postpartum experience resulted in a period of introspection that led me to found my next business, Beyond Boss.
Established in January 2020, Beyond Boss emerged as a visionary force in the landscape of women entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh. Originally conceived as a modest one-day event, our inaugural gathering defied expectations, drawing over 150 accomplished women entrepreneurs seeking education and networking opportunities through curated classes, networking stations, and opportunities to support and engage with like-minded entrepreneurs while raising over $3,000 for The Alexis Joy Foundation, supporting woman and families who are suffering from and affected by perinatal mood and anxiety disorders — from their participation in the full day event.
To our surprise, the dawn of our organization coincided with the onset of the pandemic, introducing to us a formidable challenge. In a testament to our adaptability, we executed a swift pivot, transforming our event materials into a robust online platform in the mere two days leading up to the shutdown. Thus, our journey took an unexpected turn, unveiling a digital realm that would become a cornerstone for growth and connectivity for female entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh area.
During this time, we cultivated an online membership program while fostering an environment where women could learn, connect, and mentor each other, transcending the limitations imposed by the physical barriers of the pandemic.
As the years have unfolded, Beyond Boss has undergone a strategic evolution, refining its focus to provide essential support to women-owned small businesses through curated networking opportunities and bespoke digital marketing services focused on authentic connection and organic growth.
Our small team is guided by the ethos: “more time for life, more money in the pockets of women.” This guiding principle encapsulates our unwavering commitment to not just entrepreneurship but also to the holistic empowerment of women, helping guide them to work smarter, not harder and take back what we all want and need – time. Time to grow personally and professionally. Time to rest. Time for family. Time to LIVE our lives.
Today I manage my photography business, my young children’s busy schedules, the exciting growth of Beyond Boss, and an active healthy lifestyle. In addition to my personal and professional pursuits, I spent the summer of 2024 as one of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations 50 Finest, raising funds and awareness for the foundation. Everyday is an adventure as a busy working mom, but I welcome the challenge of living a full, happy life!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my career, I believe that grit is the number one quality that has guided me through my journey. Having the courage and determination to be willing to try new things, to fail boldly and get back up and do it again is absolutely necessary to succeed in the entrepreneurial world.
I firmly believe while many entrepreneurs are naturally gifted with grit, it can be cultivated through having the discipline to regularly do hard things. Not just in business, but in our every day lives. Every day that you wake up and hit a hard workout that pushes your limits. Every time you learn a new skill that challenges you. Every time you stick to your daily routines. Every time you put yourself out there in relationships. The willingness to be willing to fail is how we develop grit.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
In the words of my best friend of nearly 20 years and business collaborator, “why don’t we regroup”. Knowing when to grind through a rough patch, and when it is time to stop, breath and regroup on whatever is going on in life is essential to ensuring that your growth is sustainable, and supports a joyful life.
For me, a regroup looks like slowing down and taking the time to examine the root cause of my overwhelm. Is it my personal life? Projects or clients that are not in alignment with my vision for my businesses and life? A need for reorganization and updates to systems and processes?
By allowing ourselves the time and space to be introspective, we can learn so much more about why we get overwhelmed, versus constantly slapping a bandaid on it and continuing until we reach burnout.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beyond-boss.com
- Instagram: @caitlinthomas and @beyondboss_
- Other: https://tiktok.com/caitlinthomas___
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