Transcript
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Kwame
Hello, everybody. Welcome to today's episode of Beyond Influence. I'm your host, Kwame Appiah, and today with us, we have a creator all the way from Canada. I say home like, it's like a whole different continent, Australia or something. But I'm excited. You know, we haven't had too many creators outside of the US, so we're excited to have with us today Kate O'Brien. Kate, how are you?
Kate
I'm so good. Thanks so much for having me on the podcast. I actually am a listener. And so when you reached out, I'm like, yes, I will absolutely be there. So I'm very excited.
Kwame
That is awesome. So, Kate O'Brien made most of—you may know her as “Care with Kate.” You know, so, Kate, tell us a little bit about how your day’s been going, how your week's been going. We just want to. Yeah. Kind of get to know a bit more about you.
Kate
Yeah, absolutely. So I've been a full time creator for a year and a half now, which is wild to say. Time flies when you're having fun. And so each day is different. Like when you say, how's your week going? How's your day going? When I worked in corporate, it was always the same. It just all blended together.
But as you know, each week is so different as a creator and I love it. And so every day is a good day when you're working for yourself. That's what I always say. So now that's.
Kwame
Awesome. Yeah, that is so awesome. And what would you say is your niche?
Kate
Oh, so I started in skincare. It's all I talked to. You talk about skincare for a year. And I had a lot of fun with it. But then I kind of got tired of talking about moisturizer every day. I like I burned it to the ground and so I took a risk and I said, you know what? When I joined TikTok, I'm just going to post about anything and everything.
I still post about skincare, and I still do mainly to this day, but I also want to talk about what I had for dinner, and I want to talk about what I'm doing on the weekend and people are happily—they can opt out. That's fine. And some of them did. I'm so glad that I didn't stick to a niche.
I think that we went through this whole thing of like, kill your niche, people will follow you for you and I'm so glad I did that.
Kwame
That is so awesome. So it seems like you've been at it for a little bit. You've tested some ideas, and you've really kind of started finding the best footing for yourself. How long have you been in this creator game?
Kate
Just over five years now. Which again, wild. I started while I was doing my corporate job. I worked as a head of HR at a tech company, and I enjoyed it for a long time until the company kept growing and more traditional HR problems started arising. Before we were just a small team, everyone got along. And then when you're a 700-person company, things change.
And so it just got to a point where I wasn't having fun. And so I started posting silly little videos and photos online, and I was shameless about it. I just said, everyone I—work is what I'm doing. If you find me, I don't care. And then I got to a point where I was like, wait a second, I think I can actually do this full time. And that was a year. And a half ago. Wow.
Kwame
Yeah, I think I think—were we just meeting around when you decided to go full time?
Kate
I think so, yeah. That was my first kind of event where I could go during work hours, because that was my work and it felt so good. And it was just like, I'm used to going to human resources conventions. So the Later Leaders Event was just a bit cooler. So I had a lot of fun.
Kwame
Yeah. Gotta love that. Yeah, I can't imagine. No, no offense to the HR departments out there, but I can't imagine that HR conferences are the most exciting. But shout out to our team. Thank you all so much for everything that you did.
Kate
We need that. We need that.
Kwame
Yeah that's great. We went out and was that needed. So. Yeah. So okay, I mean, tell us a little bit, you said like things are, you know, things are growing. Things are, you know, changing every single day, right? I'd love to know a little bit about what you are working on now.
Kate
Oh, yeah. Yeah. I think because I was able to expand and not niche down, I am working with an array of companies, whether it's a one off or long term, and it's a lot of fun. So as an example, some of my long term deals that are this the entire year are Nivea, which is skincare. So that makes sense.
And then I go into haircare. So yeah, I love nifty. It's actually my second year working with them, so they obviously enjoy minis, which is a great thing. But yeah Nivea Aveda which does hair. So that's really been fun to dabble into hair. And then here the car company, they just, it was a good fit. I don't own a car.
I'm car shopping right now. So they're like, try our cars. Let us know what you think. And it's been fun. It's just cool to work with an array of companies that you like.
Kwame
Yeah, that's really cool. You know, I think, throughout this conversation, I think we've kind of sparked some things that I would love to touch on. Right? I think, firstly, you know, you've kind of progressed to this point in your journey where now you're getting some really cool, it feels like dream brands for a lot of people, you know what I'm saying?
You've navigated throughout this, this, you know, journey and got to this point. So I'd love to know kind of like how you arrived at this point and how you present yourself to brands like that. You know, how they end up, you know, connecting with you, so on and so forth. And then, you know, it looks like you've also been really good at spreading yourself around through social media.
Right. You just got, I mean, maybe not just, but you recently got a plaque from YouTube, right? Which is really cool as well, because you hit a certain subscriber count. And so, like, you're doing really well to, like, spread yourself out, do this. I'd love to start a little bit from that beginning point when you first decide, hey, I'm going to start doing this.
And then, you know, you transition all the way to like, hey, I think I'm going to be quitting my job for this at some point, right? That little part of that journey, when you start going, what kind of encourages you throughout that part? Because, I mean, I don't know if at that point it was like a big thing to be a creator yet, but you were I mean, I guess Covid might have been a bit of a catalyst because you're indoors and you got a little spare time. But tell me how that all started and what kind of propelled you to keep going.
Kate
Yeah, yeah, that's a great question. So it was very much that I was home. I was doing a little bit too much online shopping as I think. And so I was receiving these products and I would sit down at the dinner table with my fiancé and be like, I just put on a really good moisturizer and it has niacinamide, 3%, blah, blah, blah.
And he's like, that's great. Maybe you should create a blog or something so people can like also I can politely like, I don't know if I care so much, but I'm sure someone else does. And it was such a good idea because I just kind of needed that piece. And so I think a lot of people traditionally start on Instagram.
They kind of play around with their personal pages and see if it's something they would want to do. But I was a bit of the opposite, where I was scared to do it on Instagram because I knew people on there. I didn't know anyone on YouTube. No one was going to find me on YouTube. So that's actually where I started.
And you know, my first post was all about skincare and I got like 100 views. I loved it, and I didn't expect anything. I thought maybe someone would send me a free moisturizer one day. Now that would be cool. And that's—that's like, I like, that would be amazing. So those are my expectations. And so as you can imagine, every single week up until today, like it's just new experiences, gratitude.
And I'm like, I can't believe this is happening. And so yeah, it started on YouTube and I was like, okay, there's a bit of lag here. So I just shamelessly started a fresh Instagram account. I promoted it on my personal line. And so I'm doing this. I learned what a skin influencer was and like, this is Whilst it's kind of like yelling as I went along and then I was a bit late to the TikTok game, I joined in 2022 because I thought it was just not for dancing.
That's all it was. And so I joined late and I'm like, oh no, you can actually just post about whatever you want. And so I'm so glad I did that. That's my largest platform to date. And yeah, just having a lot of fun.
Kwame
That's awesome. I love that when you started out, you were like, hey, hopefully one day I will get free skincare. Yeah, one bottle.
Kwame
I love. I think one thing that can be really helpful for goal setting and just moving forward and consistently keeping positive about situations is setting small goals as you go along. Right? And I think that's really important. I think some people start a dream with the idea that, like, I'm starting this because I want to be a millionaire, right?
And it can be really tough because like, you're so far from that goal that it can feel like you're consistently fighting against the tide. And you're like, when, when can I see, like some possibility of a result? It takes like it takes creators like a long time to build that foundation, you know? And so in order for, I feel, in order for, you know, people to actually start seeing results, they gotta set a goal that's really achievable and attainable.
And then from there, keep building on that goal. So I really love the way that she looked at that. And it's interesting. I don't know a lot of people in this day and age of creation who started on YouTube. Yeah, that is really interesting. I mean, I feel like back in the day when YouTube was a thing, I mean, those were the original influencers, if, you know, like, yeah, to level set, like YouTube creators were the original influencers.
I remember having favorite YouTube creators who and most of them were like, they were like either reviewing films or music or whatever, right? But like, they were the original YouTube creators or, content creators and transitioning from that and then broadening out, it is really interesting. How did you go about, I guess, like strategizing through that? Was it like, hey, I'm gonna put this YouTube video up and then I'm going to take clips of it and put it on my Instagram. Like, how did you go about it?
Kate
Yeah. I started to think about how I can ease up on those efforts and really repurpose content. And I think that's really the key these days, especially with the volatility of some of these platforms. I was scared to have all of my eggs in one basket, and it was very much like that at one point with TikTok. And so I thought, okay, I need to really focus on my Instagram and my YouTube.
But I think the beautiful thing is we have these different platforms because they opt for different content demands. And so you can't just simply repost everything all the time. But I do get away with a lot of that between TikTok and YouTube. So I got to a point where YouTube shorts switched from 60s to three minutes, and that was a game changer for me.
So I love storytelling. I love, like a little bit longer than a minute. And so any TikTok that I posted goes right over to YouTube shorts, and that got me from, I think I was sitting at, it was 3,000 subscribers for a few years, and then within a year I went from 3,000 to 200,000.
Kwame
Whoa.
Kate
I didn't notice the short form YouTube thing was like that. And that is the only platform in Canada that actually pays per view. We don't get the TikTok fund or anything like that. So look, I, I should probably focus on this a little bit. And so, yeah, it's been really helpful to branch out. And I would welcome another platform if anyone wants to make it. And I love it.
Kwame
Yeah. That's so and yeah. So Instagram YouTube and TikTok are your three main. Do you have anything else? Do you have an email list?
Kate
I was thinking about doing some sort of newsletter or something like that. I'm always searching for new things and just trying to figure out where to spend my time. Best I do is the Pinterest. Pinterest is fun for those, like static photos. But again, like, is my community on there? Is there any sort of monetary benefit?
So you kind of have to be careful how you spend your time, but be very open to other things soon. So maybe a newsletter that—
Kwame
Yeah, okay. That is cool. So that is huge growth going from what you said, 3,000 followers to a hundred thousand followers.
Kate
200.
Kwame
200,000 followers. That is insane, right? Like seeing that growth has got to be astonishing. Like it's such a big reward. Once again, you started from like, I hope I get some free skincare to 200,000 followers. And it is interesting. I always think about the contrast between creators around the world, and that is a good, cool, fun fact about talking to a creator from Canada, right?
Because the creator funds within apps aren't typically available. And so like you said, you've kind of focusing on YouTube because it is the pay per view option out in Canada. And so when you think about your different revenue streams, where would you say, like where do you focus most of your time in order to maximize your revenue?
Kate
So Canadian creators really focus their time on partnerships. That's where we make our money. And so that's fantastic. I know that happens in a lot of countries too. Even in the US, the Creator Fund sounds amazing, but it is really those brand deals that give you that good chunk. So, we're very similar in Canada. So I would say personally, 95% of my income comes from me partnering with the brand and promoting them.
And then that 5% comes from the YouTube revenue. And I'm trying to think if there's really anything else, I guess a few percent in affiliate programs. So if you like my sweater, I'll link it—the whole shebang. So yeah, we really depend on brands liking us enough to partner with us.
Kwame
Wow, that is super cool. And I'm going to assume the process is pretty similar. You see your brand, you connect with them. You, you know, decide to work together. They send you a brief, you do that stuff, you send it back, and then, you know, you get paid out, right? Do you all use any specific, like, are there any, you know, payment sites that you use, or is it just like a direct deposit of this money into like, you know, what's that process like for you?
Kate
Yeah, it can be quite complicated across the border. And it's funny, a lot of us talk about how we want to work with a certain brand, and we're kind of pushing to work with the US team because there's a bit more money in the currency exchange thing. So it's always like, I want to work with, let's say La Roche-Posay.
It's like, the US might have a bit more of a budget. It's just a funny game. It rarely happens, but sometimes you'll see some deals in USD in your next and so it's just a little bump. But yeah, we just get silly little things where we don't have, all we have is PayPal, so we don't have those standard transfers.
So it's a lot of bank wire transfers, fees and things like that. So that's where I find a manager can really help you, because if you're not really adapting to that and legal and all of that, that's where they can just take the wheel and you don't have to worry about it.
Kwame
Yeah. Okay. Very cool. So you are someone who does have a manager or a talent agency. Is that how you typically operate? Do they find deals out for you or what's that look like in terms of you going out and actually finding brands?
Kate
Yeah. So I was very active in management for a long time and I was very vocal about it, but I think it's really up to the individual. I've just heard horror stories of some agencies and I just feel for creators. But I did get to a point where I was so busy with corporate that I did hold some interviews with agencies, and there was this one girl that we just clicked right away, and I was like, this is someone I would hire on my team in corporate.
So yeah, there's something here. And so two and a half years later, we're still buddies, still together, and we're a great duo. So she's a fantastic manager. Her name's Sally and she—yeah, she just takes the wheel for me. Anything that I want to still manage, she's comfortable with that. And I think that's really the key. You shouldn't sign with an agency that's going to take over where you're not comfortable, but yeah.
Yeah, she helps manage my inbox. She goes out and pitches for me. Any brands that are coming into my inbox, she takes right away. She helps negotiate. And that was a big thing. I didn't know my worth before an agency. I was, well, undervaluing myself, which I think a lot of creators do.
Kwame
Yeah, yeah. 100%, I think. I think salary transparency is really important across the board for many things. Right. You know, you talk about it in corporate America so much where like two people could be working the exact same job. And due to whatever the reasons may be, first, maybe making significantly more than the other. And so it's similar in the creator world, right, to where there could be so many circumstances where obviously with creators, it's, it is interesting.
There's a lot more specifics, right? Like there's like a follower count in a demographic and like your target audience and so on and so forth. But ultimately, I feel like there has to be some consistency when there's a lot of similarities within creators and the type of campaigns that you are running. And I do agree, I think managers are a big part of really understanding value.
You know, there are so many times that I'll get an email that has a rate on it and I'll send it over to my management team, and then they'll negotiate a better rate, you know. And so I think that that is really important. I think management teams and I, I agree with you. For the longest time, you know, I've had some interesting management experiences.
Right. And I know some other creators who have as well. And so it can deter a lot of creators from going that route. So I would encourage any creator who is thinking about management to be really thorough and vet them in a way where you're not just talking to them, you're talking to their creators as well. Creators who have worked with them and then also talking to other management as well to figure out how they compare.
Right. Because two management teams can give you a completely different experience, even if they're both bringing you in a decent bit of money, the experience can be so different. And I've had that before where I have, you know, 2 or 3 management teams and it's literally almost like they're in multiple occupations. So because of the way they handle things right, it honestly feels so different.
So no, I think it's important. I think it's something that, you know, we should talk about more often. And now we'll get to a part where it's like, I think this part is important for creators, right? Me as a creator, I've had my lows in my highs in terms of what I've made. What is the lowest amount of money that you have ever taken for a brand deal?
And if you are open to it, would you tell us the highest amount that you've ever taken for a brand deal? And you don't have to tell us which brands.
Kate
Okay. Deal. Okay. So the lowest was my first deal. And it was I think it was $150 for an in feed Instagram post and three stories. And so looking back, that's not worth my time for how much effort I put into it. But of course, the issue is, these brands are in the business of making money. So why would they say, well, we are way too low, take more. They’re never going to say that!
And, so of course that. And then I think the deals that bring in the most are long term deals. So we're talking six months, a year long. And those are thousands and thousands of dollars. And the thing is, it's beneficial for both the brand and the creator. If you have that relationship and they really trust you to sign you on for that long because they actually get a better bang for their buck, it's a bulk discount.
Not always, but that's how I do it. And so it's a win-win there. And as far as rates go, they should always be dynamic. Like I'm changing mine quarterly or each deal is different. So I don't like to say the year of my rates because I don't want brands to be like, okay, those are her rates, she's too expensive or we're getting a good deal on her.
It changes over time, I will say. Any aspiring creators watching, feel free to DM me. I would love to help. I think you should never be left in the dark on how to price yourself, so I'm always there for that.
Kwame
That's really cool. And does your management team kind of help you out with figuring out the dynamics of that as well? Do sit down and strategize and I guess, like, yeah, leaning in on the management conversation. Do you have strategy meetings with them or and do they like, you know, how does that relationship go beyond just like go get me a deal.
Kate
Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. So I think that's what, again, you should look for is that guidance. Because we're not experts from the outside. And so yeah, I like to keep my rates fresh. We talk about them all the time. We're looking at my metrics and being very formulaic about how we do it, not just vibes on, “I want more money,” to be like—so we're really good on that front.
And then, yeah, strategy is really important to me. And these people are experts. They see it all the time with hundreds of creators, thousands of brand deals. So I want to hear what I should be changing. And so yes, I think that's what you should be expecting out of your management team is a little bit of strategy sprinkled in there, too.
Kwame
Yeah. That's really awesome. And you've had a lot of really cool experience overall when it comes to just the content creation aspect of it, but also working with brands. Right? And so leaning in on that a little bit. Do you have a time with a brand that just really peaks for you and like, sticks out an experience that you were just like, wow, I would 100% work with them again, and this is why.
Kate
Yes, there's two and they both happened this year already, so I can't wait to see what next year brings. The first one is La Roche-Posay. I keep referencing them because they do not leave my side. You know.
Kwame
I literally—I have their little card right here as well.
Kate
Yay!
Kwame
Yeah, I have a box from them right here. I use them as well.
Kate
Amazing. Yeah. They're just super safe for the skin. I feel very confident recommending them to my audience, so I love them. I've talked about them for five years now, since day one, and they see that. And I just feel so good. Like I don't have to really fight to show that I am a super fan. And so I will never forget, I got an email in February saying, would you like to join us in Paris in March for our anniversary?
And I just, oh, I died, so I went to Paris for ten days. It showed me their innovation center. We celebrated, and I just, like, fell deeply in love with them. So it's a win-win when they can say, we know that you like us. And here's why, like, here's more that you can tell your audience about. So it was just so I died.
So that was my dream, dream goal. And I hit it and it was just incredible. And then a second one that happened a few months ago was I got to go to F1 in Montreal, which was crazy. That was like it came out of nowhere. That was last year. So I went with Mastercard and they are an official sponsor of McLaren.
So McLaren personally approved me to be one of their faces for the campaign. And I'm like, what? I thought for sure, because Mastercard said, okay, you're approved on our end, but team McLaren HQ has to review you. I'm like, I'm not a McClaren—like, they're not gonna see us. You know? Yeah they did. And I went and it was just unreal.
Kwame
That's so cool. I mean, I would flip out for that. I'm a big F1 nerd. Yeah. It's, you know what's really funny? What's really funny in this conversation is that if you go to both of our Instagram pages, you probably would not assume that the two brand activations that we talk about are two that are very similar and hit home for us, right?
You speak about LaRoche-Posay and I literally have a box right here. And then the next thing you talk about is F1 and that's like, I'm obsessed with F1. So that's actually it's so funny. I love finding some similarities and common ground. But yeah. I got sent to Vegas, for an F1 race, with a, with a tequila brand.
And yeah, that was a really, really, Casa Azul—I mean, the tequila was amazing, but also the experience was super cool. I mean, I remember we got to Vegas, we like, got driven in, like, kind of like, in a Bentley, like. Yeah, it was, it was super cool. That was. That was—the newer Bentleys, they're just ridiculous.
So we got driven in with those Bentleys we, like, went up this staircase to this really cool, kind of setup that was seated higher because obviously with F1 you have to be a little bit higher off the ground. And it was just like so much going on. And then you obviously had the race in the background and then you had screens everywhere in case you couldn't see it.
Like it was just such a cool experience. And I've become such an F1 nerd that when I remember when they first reached out, like, you know, Chelsea looked at me and was like, yeah, you definitely want to do this. You know? I was like, yes, I definitely want to do this. And it was really cool that we got to collaborate on it together.
And do something that, you know, I really enjoyed. And she didn't really know that she would enjoy it as much, but then she ended up absolutely loving. So that was a really cool experience. But yeah, I mean, I love it when brands go the extra mile, because I feel like for a lot of these things, when you think about the history of content creation, when we had like the influencer days, you had a very, very small collection of people who were allowed to go do these really cool things.
Right. And now you have Kate, who used to be an HR five years ago, or, you know, a year and a half ago, started content creation five years ago. And now she's able to go, you know, be part of a collection of people who are selected for the face of McLaren for, you know, and I think that's so cool.
I think looking at how far content creation has brought us, it's given every single person on this earth an opportunity to experience things that nobody would have thought were within our grasp. And so that's one thing that I respect so much about content creation. And there's obviously certain people or maybe a certain generation that don't necessarily look at this like a career. And I think it's interesting because, hey, that's okay. You're missing out.
Kate
Exactly. It's, I—
Kwame
Mean, more for the rest of us. But yeah, I love content creation. I love the gateways that it's provided for so many people and the opportunities. There are people around the world like, this is one of the craziest things that I think about. There are people around the world, and I look at people who are in impoverished areas of the world, right, who didn't have access to much, who can now take out a phone and create content and have hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of followers.
You think about, like Khaby Lame, who is— who lived in a completely impoverished lifestyle and now is a multimillionaire, right? The most followed person on TikTok, I believe, if not at least within the top ten. But like, think about the transition and what that opportunity can provide for someone like that and changing their lives completely and just being able to do that within the palm of their hand.
As long as they have consistency, right, they create a trend not just follow the trends, right. They make sure that there's discipline within it. They focus on it and they just keep pushing. They might have could Kirby might have his first goal might have been like, I don't know, I just want a brand to tag me on something or say something.
And now he's at the Met Gala, right? And so, yeah, I think that's really amazing. You know, and and, you know, as we come towards, you know, the end of this conversation, I want to just kind of like open up with some, some marquee questions that we usually ask creators. Right. We have a tactical quickfire. Okay.
And that tactical quickfire is going to be this or that. So you give me what your answer is, and then you give me just a sentence or so about why.
Kate
Yeah okay. Got it. Okay.
Kwame
So for you, do you prefer batch content or to create spontaneously.
Kate
Both. Got to do both some days and great. Get some videos done, other days I got to do it when I can.
Kwame
Okay. No, I love that answer. Do you prefer Instagram or TikTok?
Kate
TikTok. It scares me with the whole thing going on in the US. But I love my talk.
Kwame
Okay. That's awesome. And then, Reels or carousels?
Kate
Reels help me reach a new audience. Carousels is where I started. I didn't start on Instagram with Reels. They weren't, they didn't exist yet, which is kind of cool. Okay.
Kwame
Yeah. And then, stories or on grid content.
Kate
Stories there's okay. Yeah. They're fun. I feel like they, you can see who's reached them and the engagement tire. Some people are shy. They don't want to comment on it but they'll go crazy in DMs.
Kwame
Yes, that is true. That is true. I've seen that some times where like you'll post a story and my goodness, like the I think the most replies I've ever gotten for a story had to be like, had to be like 10,000. I was like, it was nuts. I remember every moment I would open my DMs, like the folder of the folder, it would just be like another 100.
Like it was just nuts. I was like, I could not stop. So it was just crazy. So yeah, I love that. And now this is a bit more of a question. Then, then this or that. But what would you say is the biggest time waster for new creators?
Kate
I'd say following trends instead of building your own. Like if a trend is trending, we've seen it like—start, carve your own path, start your own series. And it might not stick, but focus on authentic new stuff and oh my gosh, if you can hit it, well, you're going to be the face of it.
Kwame
So I like that. That's awesome. And then your dream brand collaboration.
Kate
Oh my gosh what category I actually— I work with my management to map that out every quarter. Like who are we targeting? Who do we want to work with? I think, if I had to pick one area I love Korean skincare. And so just to work with one of my many partners and actually go over, I've never been to Korea.
So to go over there, go to a factory and just learn why their formulations are about much better than North Americans, I think that would be.
Kwame
Yeah, cool. Wow. Okay, that's really cool. Well, I guess, what encouraged the focus towards Korean skincare?
Kate
I think when I started to get into skincare, I'd watch other creators and they just kept to Korea. And so I looked into it and their formulations are much more advanced than ours. So I started to buy and ship it to them from Korea and I'm like, oh yes, this stuff is next level.
Kwame
That's really cool. Do you like the cultures? Well, have you ever seen the show Singles Inferno?
Kate
Yes, yes I have— yeah, yeah, I love that. Yeah I love it.
Kwame
That's like one of my, that's, that's one of my biggest guilty pleasures. Like the minute Singles Inferno comes out I am, I'm staying up till 12 and I'm watching it.
Kate
You know, they actually have fantastic shows of all genres. I'm happy with the subtitles. I'm into it.
Kwame
Yeah, 100%. Okay, so that's, this or that. We really appreciate that as I think that you killed that part. You know, so to kind of, like, round us out here, as we kind of get to the end of this, where do you see your creative journey heading, you know, within the next six months or the next year?
Right. What's your focus? Where do you want to put your energy? How do you want to grow?
Kate
I think, you know, it would be cool to transcend traditional social media pages eventually. Like, I just want to be that face that is trusted for reviews and honesty. I like giving really unfiltered reviews on products, so I think it'd be amazing to eventually one day just be known for that. Where you open a magazine and I have like a little column on top ten Christmas gifts that I approve, you know, like Oprah's wish list or whatever gift list I choose to do.
I think that's so cool. So to be able to just be known for, like, if Kate likes it, then it's going to be good. I think that it is so cool to be able to do that. Anyway, just a little segment on a talk show in the morning that would just be so cool. So maybe like, oh.
Kwame
That's cool. That is really cool. I've never seen someone describe it that way, but it makes a ton of sense, right? I feel like we all have our go tos, you know, it's funny, there are people on Instagram. I just got really, really, really, really into golf. Yes. I've I've always liked it. I bought clubs about two years ago, but I have them kind of sitting.
I used to go to the driving range once every three months or so, and then I started getting invited to charity and celebrity invitations. Yeah. And so I was like, I would show up and I'd be one of the worst. And so, one day I told myself, I'm not going to let that happen anymore.
Right. And that was about, you know, it started about maybe like 8 or 9 months ago, but I really got serious about a month and a half, two months ago, because someone reached out to me that the Turkish Airlines Golf World Cup, interestingly enough, which is definitely beyond my skill level. But they reached out to me and they're having a, one of their, you know, tournaments or games are programs in Seattle.
And so they invited me and I'm like, all right, I'm probably going to be the worst person there. However, for the next month and a half, I'm going to make sure that I'm better than at least one person, that's literally my goal. And so I've been, you know, I've been at the driving range 3 or 4 times a week.
And now I hit a kind of pad in my backyard all the time. But when I think about golf, I have people who pop up on my Instagram that I don't even necessarily follow. But like, they have such a golf audience. And my entire algorithm is golf now that I see them all the time.
Yeah, right. And thinking about how you're thinking about it, you could want to be that person who, like, even if people don't follow you when they look up skin care, they look up. Most like you pop up and they're like, oh, I've seen her before. Yeah.
Kate
That'd be amazing. That's the dream, right?
Kwame
That is the dream. So that's super cool. So yeah, no, thank you for that answer. You know, where can people find you out there on the internet?
Kate
I think I've been able to get that “Care with Kate” on everything, which is exciting these days. Yeah, so, “Care with Kate.” And that started with the love of skincare. So now it's just everything I care about. And yeah, I'll just always build new profiles and be out there and we'll see what happens with TikTok this year.
And I'll, I'll make sure you guys find me no matter what.
Kwame
That is awesome. Well, Kate, do you have any last words for our audience before we bid them adieu?
Kate
I would say I don't get 10,000 messages like somebody so if you need any advice, I love mentorship. And that's what I miss about corporate is there's a lot of influencer mentorship programs. And so if you need help on anything, whether it's your rates or finding a brand deal, just general advice, I will be around and I'll be checking my messages because I don't get 10,000.
Kwame
Well, it's not an everyday thing for sure. Yeah. You know.
But, Kate, it has been such a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us. It was really cool talking to a Canadian creator and figuring out where you focus your energy, because of that fact. But also just somebody who's really grinded and gotten themselves, you know, from 3000 subscribers to 200,000. So that could honestly, that could honestly be the title of this podcast.
We'll call it “Care with Kate— From 3,000 to 200,000.” So thank you so much for being with us. Thank you everyone for tuning in today. Hopefully you enjoyed the conversation. I know I did, and we will see you next time. Bye bye.