We recently connected with Kristin Marquet and have shared our conversation below.

Kristin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’ve all been there before where things are tight financially and we start asking ourselves in the small/simple joys like a cup of coffee is worth it. Have you had an experience like this and if so how did you think about this sort of spending?

In the early days of building Marquet Media, FemFounder, and Brand Your Business, I had to be incredibly mindful of every dollar spent. I viewed every expense through the lens of whether it contributed directly to business growth or sustainability. It wasn’t about denying myself small comforts, but rather being strategic with where I placed my resources. I knew that in those lean periods, cash flow was everything, and even something as simple as a daily coffee habit could add up if I wasn’t intentional.

Instead of spending on coffee out every day, I’d brew my own at home and reframe it as a small act of discipline that gave me an edge. The same applied to self-care—if I knew that a certain practice, like working out, helped me stay productive and focused, I’d allow it, but I was careful to make sure it was worth the time and money invested. I learned early that burnout doesn’t serve growth, so self-care became part of the equation, but always with an intentional approach.

When money was tight, I focused on low-cost, high-value productivity tools and systems—things like free trials for software, online communities, or networking events. I also taught myself to automate or DIY as much as possible, whether it was branding work, early-stage website builds, or SEO, because every dollar saved gave me breathing room to invest in the business where it mattered most.

Ultimately, those lean periods taught me to think like an investor—every decision was about ROI, and sometimes the best investment was just rest or focus time, as long as it kept me in the right mindset to push forward.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m Kristin Marquet, the founder and CEO of Marquet Media, FemFounder.co, and BrandYourBusiness.co. My journey into the PR and branding world started with a deep passion for storytelling and helping businesses grow through strategic media exposure and brand identity. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, I’ve had the privilege of working with entrepreneurs, startups, and established brands, primarily in lifestyle, beauty, wellness, real estate, and fashion industries—spaces I’ve always felt connected to and excited about.

The Services We Provide Across Our Brands
At Marquet Media, we specialize in public relations, branding, and media strategy—focusing on visibility and growth for businesses that need to break into the market or amplify their presence. We provide clients with strategic PR services, brand development, and custom campaigns designed to elevate their profile through press features, influencer collaborations, and media placements. One of the key offerings that sets us apart is the PRISM PR Framework, a proprietary, data-driven approach we developed that combines relationships, insights, strategic messaging, and measurable results.

Through FemFounder.co, we serve female entrepreneurs, giving them access to media exposure, mentorship, and education—everything they need to scale their businesses in competitive markets. This platform offers resources, courses, and a thriving community, helping women-led businesses position themselves for success through affordable PR and media opportunities. FemFounder isn’t just about PR; it’s about empowering women to control their brand narratives and create meaningful impact in their industries.

On the other hand, BrandYourBusiness.co is more focused on templates, courses, and resources that make branding accessible to small business owners. We offer pre-designed media kits, pitch templates, brand strategy guides, and social media kits, giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to create a cohesive and professional brand identity on their own terms. For those in early growth stages or rebranding, these resources provide a do-it-yourself roadmap to build a brand without breaking the bank.

What Sets Us Apart
What makes my work across these brands unique is the combination of creativity and data-driven strategy. At Marquet Media, I’ve always focused on measurable results, helping clients not just get media coverage, but see tangible growth—whether that’s increased visibility, improved engagement, or conversions. Our PRISM PR Framework ensures that every campaign is built on insight and impact.

Another key differentiator is our personalized approach. While many PR agencies focus on volume or transactional services, we take the time to understand the brand, vision, and goals of every client. Whether it’s helping a beauty startup get featured in Vogue or launching a real estate brand’s website, we make sure the strategy is aligned with long-term growth, not just short-term media wins.

The Problems We Solve
Many startups and small businesses struggle with visibility—they have amazing products or services, but they aren’t sure how to connect with the right media outlets, engage with their audience, or stand out in a saturated market. That’s where we come in. We help clients craft their brand story, identify their unique value proposition, and build credibility through strategic media placements and PR campaigns.

On the branding side, BrandYourBusiness.co helps businesses who may not have the budget to hire a full-service agency. These entrepreneurs need high-quality tools and guidance, and our templates and resources allow them to build polished, professional brands without the heavy investment.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come—particularly with the success of FemFounder.co. It’s been amazing to see women-led businesses that started with us go on to secure national media coverage, grow their brands, and make meaningful impact in their communities. I’m also proud of the media features we’ve secured for our clients, including placements in top-tier publications like Oprah Magazine, Inc., Forbes, Healthline, SheKnows, and many more. Watching clients grow from struggling startups to recognized brands has been the most rewarding part of my journey.

Another achievement I’m proud of is the success of BrandYourBusiness.co. It’s a passion project that was born out of my desire to help entrepreneurs take control of their brand identity—and seeing how well the tools and templates have resonated with users is truly fulfilling.

What I Want People to Know About My Work
First, everything we do is about empowering businesses to grow, scale, and succeed. Whether it’s through media exposure, strategic branding, or educational tools, the goal is always to elevate brands and position them for long-term growth. I’m committed to delivering results that matter—whether it’s a successful PR campaign or a polished brand identity that attracts customers.

At the core of it all, I believe in authenticity and connection. For me, it’s not just about making a brand look good on the outside; it’s about creating meaningful stories that reflect the heart of the business and resonate with its audience. I also want people to know that every entrepreneur deserves access to high-quality branding and media resources, no matter their budget. That’s why I’ve built different platforms to meet businesses where they are—whether they need full-service PR through Marquet Media, mentorship and exposure through FemFounder, or practical tools through BrandYourBusiness.co.

In the end, my mission is simple: To empower entrepreneurs to tell their stories, build their brands, and unlock their full potential.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A moment that truly tested my resilience was when Marquet Media experienced a phase of rapid growth early in its journey. At first, it felt incredible—after landing a few high-profile clients in the wellness and lifestyle space and securing media features for them in Forbes, Elle, and Healthline, word spread quickly, and the inquiries started flooding in. Suddenly, I was onboarding multiple clients at once, running PR campaigns on tight deadlines, and managing branding projects that came with complex needs.

It was exactly what I had hoped for, but it also became overwhelming very fast. I found myself working around the clock, juggling multiple campaigns, and struggling to keep up with the demands of growth. Systems that worked for a small client base no longer held up under the pressure. Projects started running over budget, I was stretched too thin, and I could feel the quality of service slipping. I knew if I didn’t act quickly, I’d risk damaging relationships with new clients, missing deadlines, and losing the reputation I had just started to build.

That was the moment I realized that success comes with its own set of challenges. Instead of powering through unsustainable growth, I had to pause and restructure the way I was running the business. I focused on building better systems and workflows and expanding the team, which led to creating the PRISM PR Framework—a structured approach that would scale with us. It allowed us to streamline everything from media outreach to measurement, ensuring we delivered consistent results without burnout.

I also brought on help, learning to delegate responsibilities so I could focus on strategy and client relationships rather than getting bogged down in daily operations. This experience inspired the creation of BrandYourBusiness.co, where we offer templates and systems that empower other entrepreneurs to manage growth smoothly. It also solidified the mission behind FemFounder.co—to help female entrepreneurs grow strategically without sacrificing their well-being or brand quality.

This period of fast growth and near-burnout was one of the toughest challenges I’ve faced, but it forced me to refine my processes, trust my team, and focus on long-term growth rather than just immediate wins. The lesson? Growing too fast can be just as risky as not growing at all—but with the right systems and support in place, you can scale without compromising the heart of your business.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that saying ‘yes’ to every opportunity is the path to success. Early in my career, especially when building Marquet Media, I thought that the more clients, projects, and collaborations I took on, the faster I would grow. At the time, I believed that turning down opportunities might make me seem ungrateful or unambitious, and I feared missing out on potential connections or future business.

For a while, that strategy worked—I landed multiple new clients and got Marquet Media featured alongside high-profile brands. But as more opportunities came in, I found myself overcommitted and spread far too thin. I was juggling branding projects, PR campaigns, media outreach, and client calls, trying to do everything myself. The growth was exhilarating, but I started to notice cracks—deadlines became tighter, creative quality began to slip, and I found myself constantly exhausted.

One particular situation stands out. A wellness startup approached me for a large branding and PR project—it was exciting, high-pressure, and could lead to some big media wins. At the same time, I had several other clients I was already working with. Instead of turning it down or renegotiating the timeline, I said yes. I told myself I’d figure it out, even though I knew my resources were already stretched. Sure enough, things fell behind, and I found myself struggling to deliver the level of service I’m known for. Although the project was ultimately completed, the experience was draining, and I knew I couldn’t keep running the business this way.

That was the moment I realized I had to unlearn the belief that every opportunity is worth pursuing. I needed to shift my mindset from quantity to quality and start saying no when an opportunity wasn’t aligned with my long-term goals or capacity. This experience taught me the value of setting boundaries and being selective about the work I take on. It also pushed me to develop stronger systems—like the PRISM PR Framework—so that I could scale the business without compromising creativity or quality.

The same philosophy now shapes everything I do, including the creation of FemFounder.co and BrandYourBusiness.co. I want the entrepreneurs I work with to understand that growth is about alignment and sustainability, not just chasing every opportunity that comes their way. Saying ‘no’ isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a strategic decision that allows you to protect your time, energy, and creativity for the opportunities that truly matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marquet.company
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kristin_k_marquet
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/femfounder
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristinmarquet
• Other: Femfounder.co
  Brandyourbusiness.com

Image Credits

Kristin Marquet