Meet Kait Benetz Lovitt

We recently connected with Kait Benetz Lovitt and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kait, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I often, and maybe not often enough, take a minute in my busy day, ok actually it’s at night once I finally sit down at 8:45pm. In that minute I think about all that I did today. And where I came from. It’s in that moment thinking back to where I’ve been that my drive to show up and get stuff doen is re-lit. Fuel on my already quite strong fire.

I’m a VP at a pretty amazing marketing agency based in Chicago (that’s in my opinion of course – I’m obsessed with the brands we work with so it’s exciting to me!). But never EVER did I think it’d be where I am today. Let’s rewind a bit.

I was born into a beautiful family. My mother who was a pastor (6th generation), father who owned his own home improvement company, and a older sister who’d always be someone I’d admire and try to impress. We had so so so much love. Some people say that’s enough. But mental illness was really prominent in our home – My dad was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when HE was 17 years old so that’s just everything we knew with our dad. His highs we’re so high and his lows were the lowest. While both my parents genuinely enjoyed their jobs, money was always a topic. So much of a topic that we lived in goverment housing, used foodstamps and my sister and I were the names and wishes on the cut out angels you find on the local Christmas tree when you want to donate to a family in need.

This type of childhood instilled a drive in me to keep going, do more, and never take it for granted. This is my work ethic.

I promised myself when I was in my late teens that I would work, work and work, and do whatever I had to in order to take care of other angels on the Christmas tree when I was older. I would provide for myself, my own children, and my parents too (and that happened sooner than I expected it too).

While it’s hard to think back on waiting in lines at the grocery store while my mom searched for the foodstamps, and difficult to process, even today, the endless visits to phsyciatric hopistals, one thing brings me peace. The unconditional love my parents always had for my sister and I. No matter how tough the week was, how difficult the hospital visit was, they would always hug us, and tell us how much we are loved. And I vowed to never forget that, and committed to showing that type of infectious love to my kids too.

So here we are. I am 36 years old, I got my BA in media arts, and design, with a minor in theatre. I took care of my mom with stage 4 breast cancer. She persisted. We presisted. I moved to LA to chase my dreams of being an actor. I got married. I began a career in advertising and I felt seen for my work. I took care of my dad with stage 3 esophogeal cancer. I got divored. I moved. I found true love. I worked my ass off and moved up, up, and up. Then we moved to Singapore b/c that’s a serious once in a lifetime opportunity, right? I hustled and got a global marketing job in Asia. We had a baby and OMG being a mom is my favorite thing IN. THE. WORLD. So much so that we moved back to the States and I was welcomed back to my old company. Guess I’m doing somethings right 😉

Now we live in Chicago with my bestest friend and husband, my most precious joy, my son Theo, and our doggo Jaxy. I work. I hustle, I provide. Not only for my immediate family but for those that provided for me when I was young. It’s the circle of life and THAT is why my work ethic is what it is today. I show up every single time. I do it for the little girl inside of me, who vowed to work hard. I do it for my son. I do it to take care of my dad. I do it to choose 2 names on a Christmas tree this year. And maybe, just maybe, the people I work next to feel my drive and get inspired by it too. That’s just a beautiful bonus!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a VP of Client Success at a branding and omni-channel marketing agency. I LOVE the people that lead this company – They’re genuine and kind and hilarious. It makes work so enjoyable. On top of that, they’re so creative and that makes it exciting. we work for brands that are better-for-you and better-for-this planet. That lines up with my values as a woman, mom, and fitness fanactic. THIS is my work and I love it.

And since becoming a mom, I now more than ever feel a pressure to be just that. A mom. I mean yes it’s a full time job, but I am also a leader, a colleague, a daughter, a friend, a wife. I am so much more than a mom. In that theme, I am launching a platform dedicated to bringing moms together to discuss all areas of life – we meet, we talk about ALL of motherhood (which is also being a VP, being a daughter, wife, friend, etc), we workout, we share recipes, we listen, we grow. *Website is WIP as I haven’t found time to connect the domain (LOL) but you can check out my IG which I’ll be bringing back to life during the holidays! @immamatoo

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Resilience and drive – Get knocked down 7, get up 8. Life is too short to stay down. AND when you are down, just remember that the lows allow us to be grateful for the highs.

Empathy – If you’ve been there (or even a version of ‘there’), then you an relate and understand other people’s perspective SO much clearer.

Gratitude – While much of what I’ve been through was difficult (from divorce both with my parents and myself, to navigating mental illness, oh and eating disorders too!), it’s what pushed me to overcome them and be the woman I am today. For that I am grateful.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

No matter what role you have, I feel we all are wondering what’s on the other side. Is the grass greener? And/or am I truly doing what I’m called to do.

Right now I love my job. I’m happy that I’m driving businesses forward that I believe in. HOWEVER since becoming a mom, yea here it is, I know I’m meant for something a little bit more than driving revenue for brands.

I know the platform I want to launch b/c I need it myself. A place for moms to come and show up authentically as their whole selves – not just as mom. But as leader, mentor, team player, daughter, wife, partner, etc. We wear so many hats and are often just pressured to be a ‘mom’ once that title is achieved.

I personally am trying to balance a demanding job, a busy and beautiful home, and a passion to start a side hustle.

Aren’t we all though?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ranunculus-cornet-gdr3.squarespace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitblovitt/

Image Credits

N/a