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

Kate, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

In college, I interned at BC Clark Jewelers in Oklahoma City, and it was the first time I experienced a traditional 9–5 work structure. It was a wonderful business with kind people, but I quickly realized something important about myself: I felt boxed in. The routine, the hierarchy, and the limited room for creative influence made me feel like I was shrinking instead of expanding. I was eager to contribute ideas, try new approaches, and think outside the lines — but the nature of the corporate environment didn’t always allow for that.
I learned that when I’m not creating or leading, a part of me goes quiet. That experience was the catalyst for a major realization: I wasn’t meant to execute someone else’s vision — I was meant to build my own.
Now as a business owner, that lesson guides everything I do. I’ve built a career that allows me to be both strategic and wildly creative, where ideas aren’t just encouraged — they’re necessary. That internship taught me not who I wanted to be employed by, but who I wanted to become: a leader with the freedom to innovate, take risks, and shape my own path.

Kate, 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 a proud Texan, community connector, and multi-business owner passionate about storytelling through design, photography, and meaningful relationships.

My career began with Monarch Atelier, a creative studio I founded to bring brand identities to life through intentional visuals, strategic storytelling, and photography that *feels like someone’s legacy matters*. For years I worked behind the scenes helping businesses show the world who they are — and I fell in love with the impact that comes from giving entrepreneurs the confidence and clarity they deserve.

That passion for celebrating local makers eventually led me to The Scout Guide family. I became the Owner & Editor of *The Scout Guide Houston* and later expanded into *The Scout Guide Brazos Valley*. Both guidebooks are part of a national franchise, but locally owned — meaning I get to shape the unique story of each community with local discovery at the heart.

Through stunning print publications, curated digital features, and immersive member experiences, TSG gives small businesses something they don’t always have access to: high-end branding support, influential visibility, and a trusted cheerleader advocating for them year-round. Each business featured gets a custom photoshoot, a beautifully designed print ad, social media promotion, event opportunities, and a seat at a table they *belong* at.

One thing that truly sets my work apart is the layer of creativity — and care — that I pour into everything I publish. From symbolic color palettes, easter eggs, and theme-driven shoots to strategic placements and intentional distribution, no detail is ever random. I believe print is far from dead — in fact, in a world saturated by screens, a physical, luxurious guidebook feels like a keepsake of the place we call home.

What I’m most proud of is that all three of my businesses exist to uplift others. Monarch Atelier reveals identity. The Scout Guide celebrates it. Together they are my way of giving back — helping entrepreneurs feel seen, supported, and successful in the communities they love.

If people know anything about me and my brands, I hope it’s this:
I am here to build people up.
To champion their stories.
To make our cities feel more connected — one local business at a time.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I’ve built my reputation by showing up for my community — consistently, creatively, and with intention. Everything I create, whether through Monarch Atelier or The Scout Guide, is rooted in relationships and storytelling. I don’t believe in transactional marketing. I believe in making people feel something. I take the time to understand each business I work with — their history, their heart, and the audience they want to reach. That level of care shows in my work, and people notice. They know that when I commit to a project, I’m going to deliver something beautiful, strategic, and deeply aligned with their brand.
I’m also proactive and visible in the market — attending openings, partnering with local leaders, promoting businesses not because I have to, but because I genuinely want to see them succeed. Word spreads quickly when you become someone who champions others.
Ultimately, I think my reputation has grown because I treat my clients like collaborators, not accounts. I believe in them — loudly. And that has helped them believe in me.

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

Absolutely — my entire career started with a pivot. When I graduated college in 2020, I had a very clear plan: move to New York City and work for a crisis management firm. I had Monarch Atelier as a side hustle at the time and thought I’d build it quietly while working in the corporate world. But then…2020 happened.
The world shut down, and suddenly New York wasn’t an option. Like so many people, I had to regroup and ask myself, “What now?”
Instead of waiting for life to return to “normal,” I poured everything into Monarch Atelier — right here in Houston. I leaned into my creativity, my network, and the belief that local businesses still needed storytelling and visibility, maybe more than ever.
What started as a backup plan quickly became the plan. Work kept coming, relationships kept growing, and my brand truly took off. That momentum eventually gave me the confidence to take on even bigger roles — becoming the Editor/Owner of The Scout Guide Houston and launching The Scout Guide Brazos Valley.
Looking back, it’s clear now: what felt like a setback was actually a reroute toward the life and career that fit me far better than the one I thought I wanted. I didn’t lose a dream — I found a better one.
And I’ve never looked back.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://monarchatelier.org/
• Instagram: @tsgHouston @tsgBrazosValley @MonarchAtelier
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-hinnant-37016b12b/’

Image Credits
Lauren Holub Photography, Beth Symons Photography, Monarch Atelier Photography