We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katherine Papatheodore. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katherine below.
Katherine , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I think this is an interesting question because I believe it’s an ever-evolving process to “overcome” imposter syndrome. As someone who has started a business that’s not in the same industry as the grad program I was going for, the imposter syndrome is WILD. Constantly comparing myself to others who are “more experienced” or have a certain degree, or are what I deem as “better” than what I do.
A constant battle I have to face is challenging those initial beliefs and thoughts that I am not as deserving to be in the position that I am in, or that others are better than me as a creative professional. Committing myself to always challenging those beliefs is how I “overcome” imposter syndrome, or at least try to cope with it!
No matter what industry you are in, I think this sentiment is important to adopt because we all compare ourselves, we all make judgements. But reminding yourself to take a step back and engage in positive self-talk rather than constantly pushing ourselves down will make a monumental difference in how we feel.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hey hey! I’m Katherine, your disco-retro-rockstar Web & Brand Designer.
The short story – I’m a lover of creativity, storytelling, my 2 cats George & Barry, 70s fashion & music, and constantly evolving as a person.
The long story – It has taken me a minute to get to where I am… I started my business almost a year and a half ago now, and it has been such an incredible journey thus far. But I definitely did not start here!
Growing up, I always had the predisposition of going to college and working a regular 9-5 job because that was the lifestyle that was laid out for me. I grew up privileged in that way that I didn’t have to think about or make any real decisions, which came to bite me in the booty later on…
I was a competitive dancer growing up and loved it oh so dearly, but I never thought I could actually make a career out of a creative outlet. So I kept on moving and went to school for Psychology, and later enrolled in a Master’s program for Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
I almost finished the program, only to find out that I felt more out of place and was more unhappy than ever! During my program I started my side-hustle business and it started to fulfill me creatively in a way that counseling could not. The more I poured into myself and my creative career, the more I felt myself pull away from the life that was never meant for me.
And bam! Here we are today! I’ve evolved into specializing in web design and branding for creative business owners, and I could not love anything more. Being able to get to know business owners to their core and represent their vibes and values as a brand and website is SO satisfying to me it’s almost unexplainable. I get so giddy creating every logo, every moodboard, and even every quick chat I have with potential clients!
I have a bold & retro style when it comes to my designs, and I typically work with female business owners like Photographers, Florists, DJs, Interior Designers, Cake Decorators, Vintage Shops, Dance Studios, Wellness Coaches, Therapists, and any other badass creatives!
It is my mission to represent you and your brand as accurately as possible to eliminate any gaps of personality that may not be translated on your website/brand. I truly believe you should LOVE every single part of your branding and your website because it’s one of the most important aspects of your business – YOU OWN IT!
I’m so excited to help you evolve and grow just like I have! I offer Branding, Website Template Customizations, Custom Website Design, and a Template Shop coming soon!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Allowing yourself to change – Fear is such a real obstacle for many of us who are afraid to take the leap into something that feels unattainable. Believe me, I’ve been there. I was trying to fight every urge in me to not make the decision to drop out of my program because that would mean my entire identity was going to shift. But, it is OKAY to change. It is okay to switch career paths. It is okay to not engage in activities or people who no longer are filling you up. Allowing and inviting that change is something that once I let happen, changed my life for the better.
Resilience – That is not to say this path has been easy. I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count in just this past year alone. I’ve thought about quitting, of course. But despite all of the rejections, despite all of the no’s, I have to keep going. Continuing to put in the effort and consistency is what will bring success later on, even if it all feels crumbling down in the moment. Teaching myself to be resilient through the hard times has become a superpower.
Positive self talk – Along similar lines, having positive self talk can impact your day-to-day life in ways that you don’t even know! When I really took the time to reflect on how much I was talking poorly about myself in my head, it was daunting! Especially online, it is so easy to compare ourselves to others, and once I became aware of that, I started to shift my thinking to not care about what anyone else thinks. Positive self talk has helped me to get rid of all of the noise and remind myself that I am capable & worthy.
Consistency is key! The more you challenge your old habits and beliefs and engage in activities like these, the easier it becomes to make those hard decisions that at one point felt so scary and dangerous.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My own little village of community has helped push me in ways that I didn’t know were even possible. One, my partner has really challenged my predisposed beliefs on a traditional career path as he has his own business as well. He grew up around his family business, and was always brought up to question things – The more I was around him, the more I was able to crack open that part of my brain and truly develop who I wanted to be. I have endless love and support from him, which makes this journey feel even better!
Secondly, my community of female entrepreneur girlies have been a blessing for me to look up to. From going on women-led retreats, to just meeting people online, I have met some incredible women in business who have encouraged me and shown me what it takes to be successful. From things like creating strategic plans, to focusing on our own wellness, to even just talking it out about a client/situation, I have learned so much from them. One of the most important things I’d say is the power of resilience, especially as women in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kpvirtually.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpvirtually/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092376447235
- Other: Pinterest: https://pin.it/4NbN0RQRW
Image Credits
@alexandrae.photo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
