Meet Katelyn Carpio

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katelyn Carpio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Katelyn , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’ve had to get comfortable standing out not just because I look different, but because I am different. And I stopped seeing that as a weakness a long time ago.

When I walk into a room, I don’t need to announce myself. I know how to read energy, how to move with intention, how to make people feel me before I even speak. That’s never been about fitting in it’s about owning the fact that I was never meant to.

I’ve learned to lead with quiet confidence, to let my work and my presence speak for itself. I don’t force connection I attract it. And when it’s not given? I don’t chase. I observe. I elevate. I shift the energy.

The truth is, I’ve always stood alone in some way but that’s exactly why I’m strong. I know how to shine without the spotlight, how to win without the validation, and how to hold space in rooms that were never built for me.

I don’t just take up space, I transform it. That’s how I stay effective. That’s how I stay winning.

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?

My name is Katelyn. Most people know me online as @WholesomeKate and I’m a content creator, founder, and full-time mama building an empire rooted in truth, creativity, and generational wealth.

My brand was born from real life. I didn’t come from privilege, I came from passion and survival. I’ve gone through a lot including losing everything in a house fire but I never lost my vision. Every setback has been part of my setup. What makes my platform different is that I don’t just post pretty pictures I post real moments, and people connect to that. The beauty, the chaos, the healing, the lessons. My audience knows I’m not faking anything and that’s why they ride with me.

Professionally, I do a little bit of everything and that’s intentional. I’m a digital storyteller, a creative strategist, and the founder of multiple growing ventures across tech, wellness, and content. Some of the things I’m building are public, and some I’m keeping quiet until it’s time. But every move I make is designed to empower women, protect the truth, and flip the script on what success looks like especially for moms, especially for women of color.

I’ve collaborated with brands like Prada, Uber, Tommy Hilfiger, YSL, and Valentino, and I bring that same level of intention and excellence to everything I touch. Whether I’m building new platforms, launching digital products, creating content with my kids, or helping others scale their vision I move with purpose. I move with style. I move with strategy.

What’s next? A lot. New platforms, creative partnerships, more family-centered content, and a few big moves I’m keeping close to the chest for now. Just know I’m building quietly, intentionally, and with legacy in mind.

My mission is simple: to tell the truth, build with love, and leave something behind that matters. And every project I create is a reflection of that.

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?

1. Emotional resilience.
Life doesn’t always hit easy, and mine definitely didn’t. I’ve had to rebuild from the ground up more than once emotionally, financially, and physically. What saved me wasn’t just strategy it was the ability to keep going when things didn’t go as planned. I had to learn how to hold myself through chaos, betrayal, burnout, and heartbreak and still choose softness, still choose vision. That resilience is what allows me to stay grounded while everyone else is reacting.

2. Self-awareness and discernment.
Not everything that glitters is for you. The better I got at knowing myself what I value, what I need, what triggers me, what inspires me the easier it became to say “no” with confidence. I’ve learned to feel the energy in the room, in the deal, in the people around me. That discernment has protected my peace, my money, and my time. And it’s something you can strengthen: start by being radically honest with yourself about what’s not aligned.

3. Creative independence.
I learned how to do a lot on my own design, content, writing, pitching, building ideas from scratch. At first, it came from survival, but now it’s my superpower. I can turn a vision into reality without needing permission or a big team. And that freedom? It’s priceless. For anyone starting out: get scrappy. Learn how to make things work even if it’s not perfect yet. You don’t need to go viral you need to be real, consistent, and evolving.

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?

I used to think I had to be good at everything that being “well-rounded” made me safer, more marketable, more accepted. But the truth is, the second I stopped trying to be everything for everyone and went all in on what makes me me… everything changed.

I believe your strengths are your lane, and your lane is your calling. When you try to water down your magic by stretching yourself too thin trying to be the best at what doesn’t even light you up you lose time, confidence, and momentum. And I’ve learned that the hard way.

For example: I used to spend hours trying to make my content look like everyone else’s super curated, trendy, overly polished. But the moment I leaned into my voice, my vibe, and my way of storytelling raw, emotional, beautiful chaos my audience started growing, fast. Not just in numbers, but in real connection. Why? Because people connect with truth, not perfection.

Same thing with business. I’m a visionary I come up with ideas that shake people, shift culture, and solve real problems. That’s my zone of genius. Could I force myself to become a backend systems whiz or a finance nerd? Sure. But I’ve learned it’s smarter to delegate the drain and double down on the fire.

So no I don’t believe in fixing every weakness. I believe in knowing yourself deeply, owning your strengths unapologetically, and building a life around that. The areas where you’re not strong? You either learn just enough to protect your power, or you build a team around you who is strong there.

My advice? Don’t waste your glow trying to master the shadows. Water what’s already blooming. That’s where the abundance is.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholesomekate