Kate Wallace founder of Emmett’s ABCs
This week on “How I Got Here,” we are featuring Kate Wallace, founder of Emmett’s ABCs, a Canadian family-focused lifestyle blog. She’s a mom to two-year-old Emmett, baby Charlotte, dog-mom to Finnegan, wife, blogger, tea-drinker, and general life-lover! Check out Emmett’s ABCs to follow along with her own unique brand of chaos – and laugh along with the mayhem!
What is your current role?
I’m a full-time mom (but then again, what mom isn’t?!), Founder and Editor of Emmett’s 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 wasn’t going to work for our family. Sooooo… after a few months of research and behind the scenes work, Emmett’s ABCs was born – 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, I’ll 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. I’m 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 who’ve 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 haven’t happened yet.
The past couple of years have been a whirlwind, and I’ve had some amazing opportunities that I’m so very grateful for. But I’m an eternal optimist and a dreamer… so I’m 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 here’s the thing… I also feel like if you’re not a bit uncomfortable, then you probably aren’t really pushing yourself! We are capable of SO MUCH. And I’ve come to realize that as long as I’m 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. You’ll 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 don’t feel 100% prepared can feel terrifying. You may feel like you need ‘just one more thing’ before you’re ready to go.
But don’t wait. Take the plunge. Commit to yourself and your idea, and commit to learning continually as you go. You’ll feel uncomfortable, and you may feel like the rookie in the room. But remember, don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s end. Your journey is going to be amazing!
What’s your next stop on your bucket list?
We’ve just launched a fun new video series called ‘Tackle It In 20’ 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? We’ve got you.
We’ve got some brilliant experts coming on board to share their tips and help make your life easier… because really, who doesn’t need a little help?!