We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katie Jo Finai. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katie Jo below.

Katie Jo, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In 2020 my fifth and unexpected child was born. For reference, my other children are in their twenties. I had a thriving career in sales and management and had never intended to leave, but with lack of childcare and baby formula due to the worldwide pandemic, things shifted.
Having a decade of history doing freelance work in the field that I am, the only solution that seemed viable was to open my own wellness center and make my own hours.
Most businesses have challenges in the first year and it’s an anomaly for new businesses to survive regardless, we opened during social distancing and shutdown.
What I also found was that due to the circumstances, there was little to no support for me as a new mother, recovering from delivering a baby, being older, and starting a business. No one could stop by, relieve me of childcare for a moment, or visit. Even the medical care I needed was delayed because it wasn’t “life threatening.”
I couldn’t find resources online and therapists had waiting lists.
I felt utterly alone.
I began to learn the stats of media and representation and found that 85% of movies, shows, articles, stories, documentaries, etc. are written by males. It dawned on me that for all time, the projection onto society of what a mother and woman is- has been shared through the lenses of men. That would be as relevant as if every book on how to fly an airplane wasn’t written by pilots.
My passion project was to gather women’s stories and share them. Our book is the Untold Stories of Motherhood, and offers stories of postpartum, child loss, miscarriage, struggling with teens, adoption, special needs parenting, healing the wounds from our own mothering as children, and more. It is a collection of voices that are helping other women know their feelings are valid and they are not alone in their experience. I sketched all the art for the book and we hit Best Seller.

Katie Jo, 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 am an artist. Many years ago, one of my paintings was seen by a prospective client who asked if I could paint something similar on a leather drum she owned. That commission started a path I could have never foreseen. I became well known as a leather drum maker and began teaching drum making and as time went by- people asked if I hosted drum circles. “No, but I don’t see why we can’t get together and have one.” I responded.
For almost a decade I facilitated monthly drum circles averaging two hundred attendees. Our mission was to unite people who wouldn’t normally socialize together. My platform is “Live your rhythm. Leave an Echo.” I share the history of the drum and that all cultures across the world have drums in their heritage. No matter our “differences” now, when we come together to drum, just as our ancestors drummed, we can find a way to create a song together.
These drum circles became well known and I was invited to speak at the World Parliament of Religions alongside Marianne Williamson, the four Indigenous Grandmothers on the United Nations, and others. I shared about tolerance and unity. The next year I spoke at the Women’s Economic Forum in Delhi, India. I have since traveled the world sharing my message to over 106 nations and 10,000 live audiences.
When I opened my studio, we focus on Shamanic Training, Women’s Drum Circles, Sound Healing Training, and are continuing to gather women’s stories for our next book on motherhood.
As a business owner with twenty years experience in sales, I help other women launch their own business through brainstorm sessions.
I am invited to speak and share regularly and find it a true honor to connect with people worldwide and serve.
With speaking opportunities, I’ve been grateful to serve in humanitarian causes in Peru, Mexico, India, Kenya, and more. As a writer and Shaman, I visit sacred sites and share about the spirituality that is there and has shaped the land and cultures.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As an artist and creative, I am naturally inclined towards the social and personal aspects of business. I love to observe and learn and innovate. I am changeable and adaptable and free flowing. Starting a business and running a profit wasn’t intuitive to me, but I developed my skillset quickly and vitally through business mentors and coaches. Investing in a business coach is the most important investment I made in my career. I have been open five years now and “run in the black” without investors or debt.
Setting up structure on the backend of business like, automated schedulers, online resources, websites, payment systems is crucial. A business coach that’s a technician is the most beneficial advice I could offer. Many coaches out there teach mindset and journaling- but to make a profit, you need systems.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When it comes to client relationships, trust is the foundation. Trust comes in many ways and one that often isn’t considered is consistency in social media and branding. Trust goes beyond face to face interactions. If you are in a constant flow of communication through online resources, sharing about what you do, why you do it, and what your passion is; it builds a demographic that begins to align with you.
Using similar colors, fonts, subject content, lets people know who you are and what your business is. A mistake I see many of the event hosts make that rent my studio space, is just posting once or twice right before they do an event or class and then wonder why they weren’t able to fill the seats.
When there is continual connection and sharing about your passions and purpose through the channels you have access to, when it’s time to do that sales post or event post; your audience trusts you as the expert.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katiejodrum.com/
• Instagram: katiejosage or sagecanvs.ut
• Facebook: Katie Jo Sage or Sage Canvas
• Youtube: Katie Jo Sage
• Other: Online Classes here: https://katiejodrum.vipmembervault.com/

  My Studio is here: https://sagecanvas.com/

Image Credits

Akoma Photography
Aubree Della Photo
Keisha Finai Photo