Kate Wallace founder of Emmett’s ABCs
This week on âHow I Got Here,â we are featuring Kate Wallace, founder of Emmettâs ABCs, a Canadian family-focused lifestyle blog. Sheâs a mom to two-year-old Emmett, baby Charlotte, dog-mom to Finnegan, wife, blogger, tea-drinker, and general life-lover! Check out Emmettâs ABCs to follow along with her own unique brand of chaos â and laugh along with the mayhem!
What is your current role?
Iâm a full-time mom (but then again, what mom isnât?!), Founder and Editor of Emmettâs ABCs and Co-founder of Collective Influence Co.
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey leading up to today?
My life B.K. (before kids) was a corporate one. I lived in a world of brand management and strategy and fully embraced the challenging, fast-paced environment.
After I had Emmett, though, my world shifted. I quickly realized that while I still craved strategic thinking and the idea of tackling a challenge, the structure of the corporate environment wasnât going to work for our family. Sooooo⌠after a few months of research and behind the scenes work, Emmettâs ABCs was born â a place where we can learn, share and connect with other mamas while offering a laugh and a smile!
What has inspired you over the years?
What I find most inspirational, and what I think is the most effective in the influencer space, is a content creator that embraces authenticity. That word means something different to everyone, Iâll admit. But to me, authenticity is about finding what strengths make you unique and staying true to that in order to bring value to your audience. The content creators that continue to inspire me bring themselves into everything they do.
Have you had any mentors?
Absolutely. Iâm the girl who was asking every fabulous influencer I met to go for coffee. I truly believe it takes a village and learning from those you admire and those whoâve gone before you will only make you stronger. And can I say, I also want to BE a mentor. Be willing to give that energy and passion back to someone else!
What are your top 3 favourite career/business moments?
Honestly? I hope they havenât happened yet.
The past couple of years have been a whirlwind, and Iâve had some amazing opportunities that Iâm so very grateful for. But Iâm an eternal optimist and a dreamer⌠so Iâm going to bet that my favourite moments are still to come!
What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
Finding balance between work and family as a Work at Home mom is no joke. In fact, most weeks I feel like something is falling behind, and my to-do list is getting longer instead of shorter.
But hereâs the thing⌠I also feel like if youâre not a bit uncomfortable, then you probably arenât really pushing yourself! We are capable of SO MUCH. And Iâve come to realize that as long as Iâm prioritizing my family first, and then doing my best to strategically tackle the work end of things, I can get it done.
Do you think personal development has played an important part in your story?
100%
I mentioned before about the importance of finding your village, but I truly believe that continuous learning drives success. Thoughtful conferences like the Atelier, and professional development groups focused on building influencer skill sets like Collective Influence Co, are both things that have played a critical role in my journey. Youâll always be better for learning something new!
If you could pass along any words of wisdom to fellow ambitious women in business, what would they be?
Done is better than perfect. Taking that first step when you donât feel 100% prepared can feel terrifying. You may feel like you need âjust one more thingâ before youâre ready to go.
But donât wait. Take the plunge. Commit to yourself and your idea, and commit to learning continually as you go. Youâll feel uncomfortable, and you may feel like the rookie in the room. But remember, donât compare your beginning to someone elseâs end. Your journey is going to be amazing!
What’s your next stop on your bucket list?
Weâve just launched a fun new video series called âTackle It In 20â all about using the 20-minute chunks of time we get as moms (before a toddler cries, a baby needs food, or general chaos ensues) to efficiently tackle our day to day challenges. Need help styling a shelf in 20 mins? Looking for tips on organizing those hot-spots in your home in 20 mins? Weâve got you.
Weâve got some brilliant experts coming on board to share their tips and help make your life easier⌠because really, who doesnât need a little help?!