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

Kathryn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

When I first became a full-time entrepreneur in 2019, I was not fully prepared for entrepreneurship. Even though I have a Master’s degree in business, my focus during my MBA program was on skills that would advance my career in corporate America. I didn’t take any courses specifically focused on entrepreneurship. When I founded Walton Birch I was also still “detoxing” from corporate America, and getting used to a new schedule, new goals and new career objectives, and working alone instead of in an office full of people. When the pandemic began six months after starting my new business I seriously considered giving up, and began applying for traditional jobs while trying to grow my business. The problem was that both building a business and applying for jobs take a lot of time and effort. Trying to do both meant I wasn’t doing either very well. After struggling for nearly two years I focused exclusively on building Walton Birch and it paid off. In 2022 my business took off and the time and energy I put into it began paying off in big ways. Today, I am still open to opportunities similar to my previous jobs but my focus is on growing my business. I may not apply for full-time, salaried positions, but I still work as an interim or fractional leader, or as a consultant, which gives me an opportunity to enjoy some of the perks of traditional jobs, like a steady paycheck and being part of a large team.

Kathryn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kathryn Smith. I am a full-time entrepreneur, small business owner and founder of Walton Birch, a web development and digital marketing firm based in Marietta, GA. Walton Birch helps small businesses show up credibly and professionally online, with expertly-built websites, online stores and marketing campaigns. In 2021 I co-founded the Black Lady Business School, a membership organization focused on lowering barriers and creating success for women and underestimated founders in Atlanta. I am an advocate and cheerleader for women and underestimated founders. I was recently named to the Georgia Tech Alumni “40 Under 40” class of 2023, and the Leadership Cobb Class of 2024 for my work supporting women and minority entrepreneurs.

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

In 2019 I took what I thought would be a temporary break from a career in corporate America due to health issues and founded Walton Birch. My idea was that Walton Birch would be a marketing research consulting firm to align both with my MBA in Business Analytics, and with my previous jobs in Marketing Research and Business Intelligence. When the Covid-19 pandemic began six months into starting my business I found it impossible to get in front of people who could give me referrals or contracts. So in early 2020 I pivoted Walton Birch from marketing research into web development and marketing, skills I picked up early in my career. As luck would have it, during economic downturns a lot of people start new businesses, and need websites. The pandemic also drove many brick and mortar businesses to adopt online business models. I never thought I would become a permanent full-time entrepreneur. However, pivoting from marketing research to web development not only kept Walton Birch operating throughout the pandemic, it has enabled it to continue growing for five years and counting!

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

The best source of new clients has always been word of mouth referrals. There are so many consultants and freelancers operating in different fields within web development and marketing. It can be confusing and difficult for small businesses and agencies to find the right talent for their needs and budget. Word of mouth referrals carry a lot of weight and Walton Birch has been incredibly fortunate to have enthusiastic and vocal supporters. People that refer Walton Birch do so because we are experts at what we do. We don’t just sell websites, or marketing campaigns, or training; we partner with small businesses to provide solutions to their business challenges and help them grow their marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://waltonbirch.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/krs_consulting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waltonbirch
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/waltonbirch