Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Work-Life Balance taken from Kate Foster of
“Workin’ Moms
We’re big fans of the hit Netflix television show “Workin’ Moms” and thought it would be fun to look at Kate Foster’s journey starting her own public relations (PR) agency, which ultimately becomes a great success. While Kate’s story is fictional, there are many valuable lessons in entrepreneurship and work-life balance we can learn from her journey as an entrepreneur.
Passion
First and foremost, Kate’s success in starting her own PR agency came from her passion and dedication to her work. She was motivated by her love for public relations and her desire to make a difference in the industry. This level of passion and dedication is essential for any entrepreneur who wants to take the leap from being an employee to starting their own business. Without this drive to succeed, the road to success can be long and arduous.
Vision
Secondly, Kate had a clear vision for her PR agency. She knew what she wanted to achieve and was willing to put in the work to make it happen. She focused on building relationships with her clients, and then her team as it grew, and delivering exceptional results. Her approach is often gutsy and she regularly goes above and beyond to get the right results (her PR work for Sloane Mitchell springs to mind). This clarity of vision and focus on delivering value to clients is critical for any business to succeed.
Networking
Another key lesson we can learn from Kate’s journey is the importance of networking. When she started out, Kate leveraged her existing relationships and made new connections to help grow her business. She attended industry events and conferences and made a concerted effort to maintain her connections and also connect with other PR professionals. Down the line, as her business developed, she hired two PR execs whom she had previously worked with: Mo Daniels and Richard Greenwood. This level of networking is crucial for any entrepreneur looking to grow their business and establish themselves in their industry.
Perseverance
Kate’s journey also highlights the importance of perseverance and resilience. She faced many professional and personal challenges and setbacks along the way, but she never gave up. She continued to push through, even when things got tough, and was ultimately rewarded with a successful business.
Work-Life Balance
Kate Foster’s story also provides insight into the importance of work-life balance, especially for working parents. Throughout the show, we see Kate struggle to balance her demanding career with her responsibilities as a mother – and even deal with the surprise of becoming a stepmother! Even though we could argue that she is a workaholic, running her own business does enable Kate to have some flexibility and she does eventually find a way to make it all work by prioritising her time and setting boundaries.
She makes a conscious effort to try to be present for her family whenever she can – and to make time for the important moments in their lives, even if it means sacrificing some work opportunities – we often see her racing from one appointment to another!
Kate begins to delegate more, which she initially finds hard – for example in season 6 she initially rejects Rosie’s closing speech for the PR event for the book about multi-level marketing scam companies, but eventually allows her to give her own speech. It can be hard to relinquish control but it is an essential part of business growth.
Support
Kate also recognises the value of support systems and enlists the help of her husband, other family members and sometimes her best friend, Anne Carlson, to manage her responsibilities at home. By delegating tasks and sharing the workload, she is able to create a more manageable work-life balance. The childcare is not always to Kate’s liking, with issues with a nanny giving her son the wrong milk and then her own mother not liking the dog… but somehow she muddles through! This serves as a reminder to all entrepreneurs and working parents that finding a balance between work and family is essential for overall wellbeing and success. It requires intentional effort and prioritisation, but with the right support and mindset, it is possible to achieve a healthy work-life balance (albeit not always perfect…).
In conclusion, Kate Foster’s journey in starting her own PR agency on “Workin’ Moms” provides valuable lessons for anyone who wants to start their own business and we can’t wait to see how this evolves for her during season 7. So far, we can see that by being passionate and dedicated to your work, having a clear vision and focus on delivering value to clients, networking, persevering through challenges, achieving work-life balance and being willing to learn and adapt, you too can achieve success as an entrepreneur.
Are you a fan of the hit series Workin’ Moms? What are your main takeaways? Does Kate’s business journey inspire you?
