Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathy Buccio. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kathy, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents taught me the meaning of hard work and sacrifice. I saw firsthand how hard they worked to not just provide for me, but to give me a better life. I cannot even begin to imagine what it feels like to leave your country behind, only to be thrust in a whole new world to navigate new customs, new culture, and a new language. It is a testament to their strength and resilience, something that I carry with me today.

It might seem basic, but I learned to persevere, to go after what I want and deserve, and to never give up. I learned that challenges and obstacles aren’t dead end, they are reasons to keep going and try harder, even when it feels difficult. I learned to hustle, to find solutions, to get myself out there without losing focus of who I am and what I have to offer; never compromising my beliefs or integrity.

I saw firsthand how hard my mother worked to support me so she could send me to the best schools and surround myself with positive experiences to enhance my knowledge and education. I would see the negative bank account balances and feel hurt and upset because I knew that would only make my mom work harder.

I owe my work ethic to her.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I knew I always wanted to work in television. My grandfather was a journalist and sports broadcaster and I used to love watching him work in his office while he was meeting deadlines, broadcast baseball games, and get so immersed in his work, that he once tried to retire but went straight back because his career was his passion.

For me, it was all about entertainment news. Give me anything about celebrities, fashion, movies, music, and I’ll eat it up! I wanted to be in the. heart of it all, so I packed up my bags and moved to NYC in 2001. I studied broadcast journalism at Fordham University and held internships at Good Morning America and Access Hollywood, and I knew this was EXACTLY what I wanted to do.

My old boss at Access Hollywood took a chance on me and hired me after graduation and I worked my way up from a receptionist to a producer, taking on the night shoots no one wanted to take, and me, being a very hungry 22 year old, I said yes to all of it. I’ve covered countless red carpets, junkets, and celebrity events. I have interviewed everyone from Oprah to President Bill Clinton to Taylor Swift. Not many people get to say that they work doing exactly what they love to do.

When I got laid off, I felt lost. Even though I was still freelancing and working for the entertainment shows, I had to learn to navigate freelancing, new motherhood, and how to parlay some of my other skills. Soon after, we moved back to Miami, and that’s where I really had an opportunity to grow, thought if you would have asked me that initially, I would have told you that I was miserable and upset. Was it challenging? Absolutely. Difficult? Without a doubt. Through that challenge and uncomfortableness, I blossomed and worked really hard to take advantage of opportunities and if they weren’t there, to create them for myself.

I started pitching myself as a style contributor and lifestyle expert to local tv, started writing for local publications, and still traveled to NYC to cover fashion week for entertainment shows like Access, Extra and E! Little by little, I was booking more gigs and getting the opportunity to partner up with wonderful brands and companies not just as a producer and expert, but also as a host.

Now, I’m back in NYC and appearing as an expert on the Today Show, Pix 11, NBC 6 in the Mix Miami, Telemundo Un Nuevo Dia, People TV and so many more outlets. I love what I do, and I hope that I continue to be given the chance to show my skills and get to do something I love to do- because that makes all the sacrifices and hard work worth it.

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

I think early on, rejection can deter us from our journey, especially when you’re a creative or you’re on your own. Not everyone might like what you do, or like your style, or agree with what you have to say, and that’s OK. You can’t let it upset you or keep you stuck. Rejection can be a gift. It can be a learning opportunity to keep moving forward, honing in on a craft or a skill, and it is also an opportunity to learn about yourself and how you overcome adversity. Rejection might just be preparing you for the next big thing. It can be a tricky lesson to learn because you feel defeated, of course. But what if you take that and use it as fuel to launch yourself even harder and better to the next challenge?!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I love connecting with people. I love helping others and I get excited when I partner up with brands and companies that really share the same goals, vision, and message that I do because it’s organic and it’s not a hard sell. If it’s a product, then I have to ask myself, “would I use this?” If I’m working with a hospitality brand or service, I imagine myself and say, “Would I bring my family here? Would I want them to experience this with me?” It’s all about keeping true to yourself and what you’re trying to put out through your work. My mission is to continue to collaborate and work with brands and companies that will elevate me and that are aligned with my own beliefs, that way it’s seamless. My mission and goal is to always do what is going to keep me fulfilled and happy, once it doesn’t serve me, it’s time to move on.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kathybuccio.com
• Instagram: @kathybucciotv
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-buccio-b69ab065/

Image Credits
Lauren Listor @laurelcreative