Meet Pekio Vergotis

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pekio Vergotis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pekio, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Full disclosure – my confidence and self-esteem are a work-in-progress. Some days I wake up feeling completely competent and other days, I need to talk myself into it. During those times, I use whatever I can – a walk, meditation, cooking, reading, music, etc. – whatever helps me feel grounded and happy and remember who I am. That’s when all of the good things start to line up – a wonderful network, lucrative projects, fulfilling work.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am the Founder of Culinary Kitten, a consulting firm specializing in PR, publicity and digital marketing insights for food and drink crafters across the Pacific Northwest. My big-picture mission in creating Culinary Kitten is to support the local artisans who make the things we love to eat and drink, promote our region’s economy, and support food systems that are fair, healthy, thriving, and sustainable. I’m a Portland native and feel fortunate to have been raised by parents who taught me to grow, harvest and preserve local foods in season. It wasn’t unusual for us to be out picking strawberries at Sauvie Island, catching perch off the jetty at Garibaldi or canning the different vegetables and fruits we grew in our gardens each year. There were probably times I’d wished I were at the movies or the mall with my friends, instead, but the experience left me with a deep appreciation of our region’s rich culinary landscape, and a belief that the very best food we can eat is what grows and thrives where we do.

I focus on small businesses, helping with everything from product research, social media management and digital marketing insights to collaborations, product launches and strategic philanthropy. My clients tend to be creative and busy individuals who are fully tasked with running their businesses and often don’t have the bandwidth or resources to do much in the way of marketing. My aim is always to offer them solutions that are effective, scaled and tailored to their needs, and I love to see them thrive.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

It’s important to know what makes you happy and to move towards that thing. For example, I’m analytical, and I adore research and data and spreadsheets. On the surface, that would seem to be at odds with a creative profession like marketing, but I discovered that embracing that part of myself allowed me to create a niche and differentiate my services. And because I did, a lot of the time, work is fun.

Looking back, there have been a few skills and qualities that have been impactful in my journey. I mentioned data and analytics, but just as if not more important is the ability to communicate – verbally, visually and in writing. This might seem overly simplistic but being able to craft an effective email or create and deliver an engaging presentation are things that will really help you stand out among your peers.

It’s also important to learn to play well with others. I’m quite independent and an introvert, and I used to find admonishments to be a team player in the workplace so annoying. But I spent seven years as an internal auditor at a large company where I needed to foster productive relationships if I wanted to get anything done. During the course of that role, I evolved to a place where I learned to really listen and to show respect and empathy. I credit that with a nice part of the success I enjoy now.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

In terms of influential books, I always go back to Atomic Habits by James Clear. It is a great little book that dives into the mechanics of habit formation and how small changes can lead to remarkable results. I find it helpful for when I’m trying to establish a new routine. Two words: Habit Stacking.

Outside of that, I just adore Julia Child’s autobiography, My Life in France. Her curiosity and passion are so inspiring to me, as are her enthusiastic embrace of art, photography, literature, culture and of course food. She was a late bloomer who left the confines of her wealthy Pasadena, California upbringing to work for the Foreign Service in China during World War II, where she met and then married the man who introduced her to both Paris and French food. (And, well – you know the rest!)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://culinarykittenpdx.com
• Instagram: culinarykittenpdx
• Facebook: Culinary Kitten
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pekio-vergotis-9970a611/

Image Credits

Culinary Kitten, LLC