Katie Brenn

Give her a follow and say hello!

1. Tell me a little bit about you, who is Katie outside of work?

Hi! I’m Katie. I spend most of my days making colorful things and telling my cat “get down from there." I love lettering and crafts and DIYs and really any sort of project. When I’m not making things, you can find me snacking, scrolling Zillow, or bingeing Love Island.

2. What do you do for work?

By day, I’m a brand designer on the Prime brand team at Amazon. By night, I’m making one-of-kind custom goods for one-of-kind, good customers. (I just came up with that line right in this moment – do we love it or hate it?)

3. How have you been staying creative/inspired during a pandemic?

At the beginning of quarantine I bought a new sketchbook and had big plans to draw and journal every day. That excitement lasted about 2 hours and I then I was over it. (Turns out new sketchbooks are even more daunting during a global pandemic.) In an attempt to get out of my head, I dove hard into DIY videos. And it's truly been SO fun trying new mediums and getting creative with what I have around the house. (Grab an old vase and try mixing baking soda with paint for a faux ceramic finish!) Basically I’m trying new things and it's been really nice.

4. As a female, what are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced within your industry / the workplace?

I suppose I've always thought that my actions could speak for me; that if I worked hard and did my job well then I‘d get noticed and good things would happen. It took me too long to understand that if I want more, I absolutely have to be my own best advocate. Imposter syndrome still hits me every now and then but the more I vocalize what I know and what I need, the more empowered I feel.

5. What women in your life inspire you and why?

So many women in my life inspire me in so many ways (hey, mom!) but my friends really are the most talented, dedicated, smart, funny, supportive and just plain best people. We’re all over the place and doing different things but I can honestly say that I’m consistently in awe of risks they take and passions they follow.

6. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a new life direction -- whether that be moving to a new city, pursuing a new career path, starting a side hustle or choosing a new major in school?

Do the thing!! But to be slightly more rational, if something is knocking around in your brain it deserves to be considered. I would say, determine what happiness or success (or whatever is most important to you) looks like and move toward that. Talk to your people and remind yourself that no decision you make has to be permanent.

7. How do you balance a job, personal life and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

If anyone knows this answer please share! I put a lot of energy toward my work and for awhile, it held a lot of my worth. I’m still consciously working on finding my best routine but even recognizing that I want more balance has been a huge step and it’s forced me to set necessary boundaries for myself. Yay for change!

8. What are some ways you implement self-care?

My self-care has consisted of taking back a lot of time for myself and setting boundaries that work for me. I remind myself a lot that I don’t always have to be productive and that it’s necessary to listen to what I need in specific moments. Sometimes it’s rest and sometimes it’s veggies and sometimes it's just to watch Love Island while simultaneously scrolling TikTok. Whatever it is, I always feel best when I give myself a break.

9. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders, movers and shakers?

Your ideas are important. You can (and should) ask for help – you don’t have to have all the answers and people really do like to share their knowledge. Make rest a priority. And a big one for over thinkers like me, remember you can start fresh every day.

10. What advice would you give to women trying to break into a male-dominated field or an industry where there aren’t as many female leaders?

It sounds somewhat cliché but take up space! Make yourself heard! Your big ideas or small comments are so valid and people want to hear what you have to say. I've spent a lot of time just thinking things and not enough sharing and it truly feels so much better getting thoughts out. I have this RuPaul quote placed in three(!) different spots around my house and it’s so simple but it always reminds me to put myself out there: “Your fear of looking stupid is holding you back.”

11. How can women advocate for each other?

We can advocate for each other by vocalizing our support for one another, bringing up each other’s names and work in rooms we might not share and by embracing collaboration over competition.

12. What is your female anthem – the song that hypes you up and makes you feel like a girl boss and that you can take on anything in the world?

'Let 'em say' by Lizzo and Caroline Smith — empowering lyrics and certified bop. I think it was in an opening sequence of a Broad City episode back in like 2016? And I’ve loved it ever since.

Portrait illustrations are by Hailey Coral.

WOMEN ARE MAGIC | Katie Brenn