We were lucky to catch up with Kaitlyn Haupert recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kaitlyn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I got my work ethic from starting my career in New York City. Moving to Manhattan in my early 20s, finding roommates and an apartment on Craigs List, working for MTV in Times Square and learning to navigate a new city – THE city – was thrilling and impossible if I didn’t give it my all. I learned early on to be confident in what I was doing – be it getting on the subway or completing new tasks as work. Sometimes I went downtown instead of uptown and sometimes I made mistakes in the office but I always learned from it and didn’t make the same mistake twice. New York’s fast pace, high energy, never stop attitude taught me that keeping up while being confident and committed is the way to make it. I never said no to an opportunity or a work event. I took it all in, sometimes working until midnight or taking a side job to meet new people, get a new experience and make new connections.
I’d also give credit to my mom. She taught me how to be a doer. If you want to see something done, do it. And being a doer is so important. If you won’t do it, someone else will and I find it’s best to be the one to give it a go.
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?
While the foundation of my career is marketing, I am in the business of growing brands online. I start with their website, the digital foundation of every business. Websites should tell a brand’s story in a clear concise way through text and visuals. It should be easy to navigate and have clear calls to action that lead to sales or engagement. Next I focus on driving customers to the website through digital marketing. Social media, email marketing, online partnerships, creative content and advertising are all strategies I use to build successful digital marketing programs. Then I measure. What is working? What is not? What is driving sales? Where are people falling off? What do customers like? If marketing is not contributing to the bottom line, it is not working. Tweaking my marketing strategies based on wins and losses is how I’ve been successful in my career. Each role I’ve had and brand I’ve worked with has contributed to my repertoire of marketing techniques. From big brands to small businesses, they are all in the business of being successful and I am here to help.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Three skills that have been most impactful for me, and still are: 1. Building relationships 2. Learning from mistakes 3. Trying something new. Relationships are such an important part of the work world (and the regular world!). If people trust you and enjoy you, they are more willing to help you. Recognizing and identifying others’ skills that compliment yours and working together achieves the best outcome. And I genuinely like getting to know people. Making mistakes is a natural part of life and when you can own it and learn from it by making different choices next time, you will see more success. Trying new things in the work place is an awesome way to show that you are not a one-trick-pony and that you have a wide range of skills. This is so important for finding your next role, getting a raise or a promotion.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
The people who have helped me overcome challenges and grow in my career have always been my coworkers. I’ve built deep friendships with many colleagues, we often spend more time together at work than we do with our own families! They know the ins and outs of my role and responsibilities as well as the dynamics of the workplace which makes them a great resource for advice and support. From my days at MTV to my time at a digital start up to my role at a PR firm, I’ve kept in contact with coworkers who became friends and my biggest cheerleaders. We still check in, give each other advice and reminisce on our days of sharing an office or hosting events or starting a small business. These people helped make my career what it is and I will always be grateful for their partnership and friendship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kmhcomms.com
Image Credits
Headshot: Lisa of Little by Little Photography Lifestyle images: Raemi or Raemi Rue Photography
