We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katy Foley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

The most innovative thing I’ve been a part of was the Run Like a Girl Campaign. It was an internet ad sponsored by Always that went from viral sensation to an Emmy Award Winning Super Bowl Campaign. The key concept was when adults are asked to run, hit, throw, or do anything athletic “Like a Girl” the adults do them like wimps. But when kids are asked to they do them full out. When I auditioned I had no clue what I was going in for outside of it being some kind of PSA for the internet. The whole thing was very top secret.

I had been a runner my whole life. But I had never ran a marathon until 2014 when I ran the LA Marathon. Two months later, I went in for my audition.

During the audition, they asked me to do a couple of stereotypes. And then they asked me about my running experience. I had shared I had just ran the marathon. I was cast a day or two later and shot the next week. When I auditioned, the commercial was nonunion and it went Union the night before. The whole experience changed my life.
The commercial aired a few months after the shoot and instantly went viral. The following year we were informed it was going to air during the Super Bowl which was a bucket list item dream for me. Katy Perry was not the only Katy in the Super Bowl that year. The ad went onto win Emmy’s and other awards. But the most gratifying part was to be a part of a campaign geared towards empowering young women.

Katy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an actor, writer, host and producer from Chicago’s Southside. I dreamt of making a living in my industry as an actor from a very young age. I trained for years to make that happen. As soon I arrived in Los Angeles, I realized I’m not only an actor. I’m a writer, a producer, a host, voiceover actor, and a model. I’m happy to have a hand in many facets of the industry. When I’m not acting, I produce content and immersive theater for a living. My main goal for all my clients is to provide fun content.
I’m most proud of how I’ve been allowed to be a chameleon in the industry. It’s allowed me to have longevity and get to do things I never thought imaginable. What sets me apart is you cannot take me for face value. For instance, I feel more comfortable playing a mad scientist than I do the girl next door. And I get to do both. My goal at the end of the day is to work on projects that allow audience members to escape their day to day and have fun.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve felt underestimated since I was a kid. Before I could even fathom the word “underestimate.” My parents sent me to a rigorous math and science school from K-12. In second grade, it was blatantly apparent I was struggling academically. I was diagnosed with a learning disability. It made me feel different from the other kids. Instead of getting to play after school, I had to see a tutor. I hated it. I continued to struggle through Middle School and was almost kicked out of school in 6th grade. This experience taught me to work harder than anyone else. I turned things around by 7th grade and became a straight A student by 8th grade. I have taken this experience and applied it to my career. Working in the industry, you have to work harder than anyone else. Smarter sure but harder also. I owe a lot of my success to my work ethic to this day because of my experience as a kid.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2017, I was going through a hard time in Los Angeles. I went through a breakup and a bunch of industry set backs. I decided to take a break from Los Angeles. I moved to my lake house in Michigan for the summer and worked at a local bar. I had so much trepidation about the road trip to Michigan from Los Angeles by myself. But it actually turned out to be the best part! Living in Michigan, while it is my favorite getaway was not my home. But the adventure out there really helped me as a story teller. Traversing state from state staying in casitas to coach houses to flats was fascinating. At one point, I met a group of bikers at a gas station on the top of a hill in Wyoming. We shot some whiskey. And then one tried to kiss me and I swiftly left to my shitty motel. It was experiences like this and exploring the Grand Canyon with my wiener dog that really affected me as a story teller. I feel much more rounded now when creating worlds and characters for my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.katyfoley.com
• Instagram: Www.instagram.com/Ktdidwhatnow
• Facebook: Www.Facebook.com/katyfoley
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-foley-53521339
• Youtube: Www.YouTube.com/Ktdidwhatnow