[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Womeneur Spotlight” google_fonts=”font_family:Open%20Sans%3A300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C600%2C600italic%2C700%2C700italic%2C800%2C800italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Take a walk down the path of these entrepreneurs, business owners and progressive women.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”vc_default” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_new=”id^2728|url^https://www.womeneur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/kae-whitaker_650_650_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1.png|caption^null|alt^null|title^kae-whitaker_650_650_ffffffgrayopac-7_s_c1|description^null” css=”.vc_custom_1461291553153{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1460930755065{margin-bottom: -2px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”]
KAE WHITAKER
CEO & LEAD COACH[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” border_width=”5″ accent_color=”#e3672b” css=”.vc_custom_1460496937176{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Website:
Social Media: [dt_social_icons animation=”none” alignment=”default”][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”facebook” link=”http://facebook.com/kaewhitaker” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”twitter” link=”http://twitter.com/kaewhitaker” /][dt_social_icon target_blank=”true” icon=”instagram” link=”http://instagram.com/kaewhitaker” /][/dt_social_icons][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2727″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Kae Whitaker is the founder of the Katy, Texas-based small business development coaching agency, . Whitaker launched her company in September 2013 after helping several of her friends with their marketing needs. It was only a matter of time that she realized that she needed to step out of the corporate world and create her own path as a Womeneur.
I was willing to make mistakes, and I reached out to others that were strong in areas where I was weak. I took risks in doing things that I had never done before and I invested in professional training and coaching.
What inspired your journey into business?
For over 10 years I worked in sales and marketing management, where I developed strategic plans for large retailers. In October 2013, I was helping a friend of mine get her business off of the ground using the principles that I practiced in my corporate career. Once I realized that she was getting results, and she started to spread the word, I found myself helping several other women do the same.
What steps did you take to start your business?
I planned as if I was working on a project for work. I did a lot of market research, and I worked my full time job until I could financially afford to leave work all together. I was willing to make mistakes, and I reached out to others who were strong in areas where I was weak. I took risks in doing things that I had never done before and I invested in professional training and coaching.
What are your biggest entrepreneurship/business ownership fears?
My biggest fear in entrepreneurship is that I won’t accomplish my goals and be able to provide for my family like I desire.
What do you do to stay motivated when you feel like giving up?
I read a lot of books, and I look back over my progress. I also have people in place who are there to help keep me motivated and hold me accountable for my actions. I’m a runner and I know it, so I surround myself with people that will notice when I’m about to check out and bring me back in.
What are your weaknesses in business and how have you worked pass them?
One of my greatest weaknesses in business is that I don’t do real well with balance. Because I’m an entrepreneur I’m always working and I don’t turn it off. To work past it I’ve gotten very meticulous about my schedule. I plan for my free time so I can make sure I dedicate some time to myself and my loved ones. I also have people in place that make me turn off by intentionally requesting my presence in a way that will pull me away from work when they noticed it’s been “x” amount of time since we’ve talked or hung out, etc…
What’s been the most rewarding?
The most rewarding part of my journey are my children, who are proud of me for being an entrepreneur. My kids have always held me in high regard, but something happens when my eleven year old daughter tells people that her mom has her own business. She mimics my behavior and she aspires to own her own business one day. To see the hope that I’ve given her and to know that she sees my efforts has been the most rewarding part of my journey.
Who were you before your business?
I was a wife, mother and regional retail sales manager. I was fulfilled personally but I longed for something much more rewarding professionally.
If you had to do it again, what would you do differently?
If I had the opportunity to do it all over again I would’ve stepped out and started the work sooner. I spent a lot of time, trying to perfect everything before hand, and sometimes you just have to do it. So, I would’ve just done it and continued to learn along the way.
What’s one software or application you cannot live without?
I can not live without Hootsuite. Social marketing is a big part of my business and this little tool saves me so much time.
What’s your secret to cultivating a relationship between you and your customers?
I keep an open line of communication between me and my customers and I’m extremely honest with them. I don’t base my coaching on what I think my customers want to hear, I center it around what’s going to be in their best interest, even when it’s not always what they want to hear. My clients love me for it, and it has created loyalty on both ends.
Where do you see Kae Whitaker Solutions in five years?
I see Kae Whitaker Solutions as a full service marketing agency that employs marketing professionals from graphic designers to consultants. We’ll have an office in Houston and one in Dallas, and we’ll work on expanding into Atlanta.
What are three tips you can share with budding and current entrepreneurs/business owners?
- Don’t allow fear to hold you back, eliminate fear by doing your research to seek answers for the questions that are holding you in fear.
- Set goals that are realistic and create an actionable plan to get there. Goals without a plan are just a dream. Put something in place that will help you accomplish what you set out to do.
- Keep people around you that will be honest with you when it’s hard to be honest, and support you. Your dream isn’t for everyone to know, so keep it close to you, only share it with those who are truly on your team and will hold you to the fire when necessary.
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