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

Catrina, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Taking risks in my work is something I’ve grown to embrace, though it hasn’t always been easy. A personal example comes from my fitness journey, particularly with yoga. I’ve often found myself hesitant to attempt challenging poses like crow or handstand. The fear of failure or not being able to perform the pose correctly would hold me back. However, I realized that this mindset was limiting my growth, not just in yoga, but in many areas of my life, including my professional endeavors.

I decided to confront these fears head-on. In my fitness routine, I began to challenge the thoughts that told me I couldn’t do certain poses. What I discovered was transformative; even if I didn’t nail the pose perfectly, the mere act of trying built my confidence and resilience. This lesson spilled over into my professional life.

For instance, I had always wanted to start my own marketing consultancy but hesitated because of the uncertainties involved. I worried about whether I’d find clients, manage the business aspects, and succeed in a competitive field. Despite these doubts, I took the leap. To my surprise and delight, within hours of announcing my business on LinkedIn, I had several potential clients reaching out for assistance. This experience reinforced the idea that taking risks, despite the fear of unknown outcomes, can lead to rewarding opportunities and growth.

In my day-to-day work, I apply this principle by reminding myself that it’s okay to take calculated risks. Whether it’s proposing a bold strategy in a marketing campaign, suggesting innovative ideas during meetings, or exploring new markets, I focus on the potential benefits rather than the fear of failure. I also encourage those around me to adopt this mindset, fostering an environment where trying new approaches is supported and learning from mistakes is valued.

Ultimately, I believe that taking risks is essential for personal and professional development. It pushes boundaries, fosters creativity, and leads to unexpected successes. My approach is to evaluate the risks, prepare as much as possible, and then take the plunge, knowing that the experience will be valuable regardless of the outcome.

Catrina, 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’ve taken a nonconventional journey to get to where I am today, and it’s been a path filled with diverse experiences and valuable lessons. After college, I was unsure about my career direction, so I spent a year working in a restaurant. That year was incredibly fun and educational, teaching me a lot about the service industry and, more importantly, about myself. It was during this time that I developed a strong work ethic and learned the importance of customer satisfaction and teamwork.

After that enriching year, I decided to take a risk and pursue my passion for art by moving across the country to attend graduate school. I earned an MFA in painting, which was a tough yet transformative two years. It clarified my aspirations, the kind of people I wanted to surround myself with, and how I wanted to approach my career.

Post-graduation, I moved back to California and began working at a branding agency. This role sparked my interest in marketing as I enjoyed applying my creative skills within a corporate framework. Following this, I joined a small protein bar company as part of the social community team. This position allowed me to build and nurture an online community, and I discovered my love for community management and content creation.

My journey then led me to a Social Community Manager role at a CPG startup, where a significant funding boost allowed us to experiment and innovate freely. Engaging with and growing the community in this role was exhilarating and highly educational. However, the intense startup environment and long commute eventually led me to seek a more balanced position.

I then joined a small business closer to home, where my career as a marketer truly flourished. Initially hired as a Digital Marketing Director, I was soon promoted to Marketing Director. In this role, I managed all aspects of marketing, from strategy to execution. I loved the hands-on experience and the small company vibe, which allowed me to see the direct impact of my work. This role taught me that every failure is a learning opportunity and that taking risks is essential for growth and innovation.

Today, I offer a range of marketing services, including community management, content creation, digital marketing strategy, and branding. I help clients build and engage their online communities, create compelling content, and develop effective marketing strategies. What sets me apart is my creative background combined with practical marketing experience, allowing me to approach problems with a unique and innovative perspective.

I am most proud of my ability to adapt and grow through various challenges and my dedication to helping businesses build strong, engaged communities. The main thing I want potential clients and followers to know is that I am committed to delivering personalized, creative, and effective marketing solutions. My journey has equipped me with a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of both the creative and strategic aspects of marketing, enabling me to provide exceptional value to my clients.

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

In my last corporate role, I was laid off at 5 months pregnant. I had a really tumultuous pregnancy and it was really scary learning not only was I no longer employed but I would also be losing my health insurance. (My husband has always been self employed so we always relied on my employment benefits for coverage).
It took some time and advocating for myself to realize that what had initially felt like a total disaster, was actually a huge blessing. After reflection (and lots of crying), it became clear to me that the company culture I had been immersed in was actually quite toxic and was not a safe environment for me – especially as a very sick pregnant person.
Once I was able to get some rest and the care I needed, I was able to look back at this scary time with gratitude. Had that not happened, I would have continued to push myself more than I should have, and not been able to focus on the safety of mine and my baby’s health. I have such a strong work ethic that I didn’t even realize how toxic the situation had become. I needed this kick in the butt to take a step back and re-evaluate what was right for me and my growing family.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Networking! Being friendly to everyone and always taking the call or meeting. You never know who your next client will be – and all it takes is one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://morbidellimarketing.com
• Instagram: @heyyycatrina
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/catrinamorbidelli