We were lucky to catch up with Katie Cox recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Katie, 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 get my work ethic from my parents. Growing up, my dad was a home inspector and my mom was a Realtor. I watched them work extremely hard everyday. I even got to help my dad on inspections sometimes by making sure the outlets in homes worked or going to open houses with my mom. They were always trying to figure out how to take their business to the next level and to be the absolute best at their proffesions. Both of my parents had/have a very entrepreneurial mindset, and that is 110% where I get that from. At age 9 I had a “nail salon” business in my dining room. They inspired me, and I wanted to be just like them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I graduated from Redford University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication Studies. I really was not sure what I wanted to do with my degree, I just knew I wanted one where I could help people. I have always been very creative, independent and outgoing. Most of my classmates after graduation started working for large companies, and I really wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go in.
I was serving at a Buffalo Wild Wings, when two radio personalities (that were also my friends) offered me an internship at a radio station called Monticello Media in Charlottesville, Va. I would learn on-air, production and more. I was SO excited! While being an intern, I grew to love the company as if they were my family. When my internship ended, I decided to go into sales because I just loved the people so much, and knew that my people skills could help me with be successful in sales. I would go business to business talking about digital and radio advertising and made a lotttt of cold calls! I was getting really good, but wanted to figure out how I could become GREAT. I created a social media account to connect with clients in a different way, and that really set me apart from the rest. I started using Canva and making templates about promotions, posted “talking videos” about events/etc., and really got to dive into my creative side while also working for an awesome company. This was the TOKEN for establishing myself in Charlottesville, because I truly connected with so many business owners. I had found a way to network AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL.
Next, I wanted to have a fun little side business. I started an online t-shirt company called Barbabe. I did all of the creative development on social media, designed each shirt, created each saying, and did all of the social media marketing. It was FUN for me to sit at home on a Friday night creating cute templates for a business that was all mine. Checking insights daily, coming up with new strategies and so much more. Because so many people knew me from my sales social media account, once I announced this business I had SO much support from the Charlottesville community. I was collaborating with other businesses, doing pop ups… I had a BLAST. Barbabe was very well known at the University of Virginia, and of course at Radford.
My t-shirt business was small and online, so I wondered how do other small business owners advertise if they don’t have a physical place of business or the funds? I was beginning to feel like a pro at making Instagram Reels at this point, so I decided to go around Charlottesville and make content for business owners at NO COST. In 2022 I won Best of C’ville – Local Influencer for supporting small businesses.
One year after being in sales, I decided that I wanted to dive into the marketing world, since I now had self taught experience with social media marketing. I worked for the #1 StateFarm agent in the United States, Hunter Wyant. This was the first job where I had ever seen a strategic marketing plan and learned how to execute it efficiantly. I was allowed to be creative, interact with the community and learn from the absolute best of the best. I am extremely grateful for that opportunity.
I was very sad to leave Hunter Wyant’s office, but I knew it was time to do my own thing. I wanted to be my own boss, with my own hours, with my own clients. I started reaching out to business owners in the community to see if they would let me take full rein of their accounts for free (or at a very low cost). I ended up doing this for about 6 different business owners. I got my portfolio up, and then launched my own business, Katie Cox Consulting. In 2023, I won “Best of C’ville – Local Influencer” AGAIN.
As of right now, I am extremely happy to say that I am working with the most incredible clients and doing what I love. Being a business owner is not easy, but I’m taking one step at time. My goal is to be able to fully support myself (by myself) financially by 2024. I work every second of the day, and even serve at Outback 5-6 days per week. It’s all about structure, organization and balance. I am so grateful for every part of my professional journey since college. If you’re a past employer of mine reading this, THANK YOU. You are the reason I am where I am at today.
To work with me, send me a message on my personal Instagram: @kaatiecoxx
To learn more about my work supporting the Charlottesville community, check out @supportinglocalcville on Instagram.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It is SO important to network in your community. I would not be where I’m at today if I had not stepped out of my comfort zone and went to events, sent that DM, or posted that talking video on Instagram.
My advice for folks early in their journey is to just keep going. keep posting. keep meeting new people. go to that event. most importantly, know that in time… you WILL have that moment of “wow, I really did that.”
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?
My mom. When I was 15, I lost my dad to stage 4 brain cancer. That turned our world upside down. If it was not for my moms emotional support, mental support and financial support I would not be the 26 year old woman that I am today. She has gone above and beyond for me and I am forever grateful for her.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kaatiecoxx, @supportinglocalcville
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-cox-5036221a5/
Image Credits
@lynwaldrop_photog Lyn Waldrop
