We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kellie Walton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kellie below.

Kellie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry? Any stories or anecdotes that illustrate why this matters?

Through every phase of my career, I’ve encountered those stereotypical corporate professionals… all using the same lingo, the same blueprint for communication and outreach, and the same distance from personal connection. In both PR and media roles, I’ve learned that breaking down the corporate standard in favor of personality wins out time and again. I’ve secured my biggest career wins by treating the person on the other end of an email as a real person instead of a transaction, and I’ll carry those learnings with me throughout my career.

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?

I started my career in public relations, representing an array of industries from healthcare to consumer products and, ultimately, hospitality. I fell in love with travel, and set my sights on a career focused on just that. I ended up quitting my job to become a freelance writer, covering food and destinations all around the world.

I wrote for major media outlets and local publications alike, all of which inspired me to launch my own media brand. Now, I’m the founder and editor-in-chief of Modern South, which places a fresh perspective on Southern food, travel, lifestyle, and culture.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I left my agency role, I had to have a corporate detox. Being glued to my phone, triggered by notifications, and working long hours contributed to burnout that ultimately made me not care about the work I was doing. Through lots of trial and error (and coaching and therapy) I’ve had to unlearn all of that behavior. When I unplug, take my time, or step away, the quality of my work and the relationships I build are both tremendously better.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Yes, writing was originally a side hustle for me. It started as a hobby, I’d peck away on my keyboard dreaming up short stories and creating my personal blog. When I was faced with a major life change, I took the leap into freelance writing. I started in my hometown, connecting with magazines and destinations that needed freelancers. I shook as many hands as I could, treated anyone willing to share insights with me to coffee, and worked very hard to foster as many relationships as I could.

This led me to a successful writing career, earning bylines in publications like National Geographic, AFAR, Veranda, and Cosmopolitan, and securing my spot as a trusted resource for Nashville dining and regional travel. All of this experience led to me launching my own brand, and all the relationships I made along the way are still showing up for me constantly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.modernsouthmag.com
• Instagram: @kellieewalton
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@modernsouthtv

Image Credits

Addison Colvin