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

Katrina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Let me impart an extraordinarily difficult lesson I learned in life. You have to redefine what success means to you. The predetermined definition from society is often not what will actually light our souls on fire. We rarely take the time to determine the scale for ourselves. Maybe success is about the amount of money you have. Maybe it’s about where you live. Maybe it’s about the family you build. Maybe it’s about the impact you make on the world. The need for external validation will never allow you to feel successful. Success is something that is deeply personal, and only you can determine what it looks like. If you waste your time and energy striving for someone else’s version of success, you will never find fulfillment.

I worked hard, got the titles, moved up the ranks, got married … then realized I was stuck. I wasn’t happy. I needed something else. I’d worked my fingers to the bone chasing what others told me was success, but when I scaled that mountain, all I saw were more mountains. It wasn’t until I allowed myself an introspective moment that I realized my priorities were rooted in expectations, not in what fed my soul. That thought set me on a path of self-discovery.

I moved on from relationships that weren’t fulfilling me. I trained my body and mind to conquer an Ironman. I began to explore the parts of business which brought me joy. I reveled in the opportunities to change direction and explore new avenues I’d never considered before. One such trail led me to Columbia University where I completed my MBA and met incredible people. Then, one crossroad popped up which I had never expected. In my wildest dreams, I’d never imagined the day where I launched my own business. But success found me in the quiet moments of reflection.

For me, even though making money is important, success isn’t about revenue. My success is in the footprints I leave on the world. It’s the legacy I’m building. It’s the influence I have and the relationships I build with people and businesses. It’s the ripple effects of my effort seen having a lasting impact on the businesses I help. Revenue is a necessity, but the joy in my heart when I see someone who came to me for help succeed is invaluable.

Success is what you make it. Make it what brings you joy and fulfillment. Your worth is determined by you. You’re worth far more than society will ever admit, so don’t let the notions of others drag you down.

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’ve held many titles in my career: technical advisor, project manager, head of global PMO, director of product operations, chief of staff to the CEO for two separate businesses, and now founder.
I’m a graduate of Columbia Business School and jumped at opportunities as they came, but I started to realize I wasn’t feeling fulfilled in my roles. My expertise was in high-demand in the business world, but making capital for major corporations wasn’t my passion. I began to hone my brand of skills to feed the fire in my soul for more, then founded Katrina Purcell, LLC.
Major corporations have teams to mitigate chaos, but there’s little relief for smaller businesses. I love to manage chaos. When entrepreneurs, founders, or organizations are overwhelmed by the chaos of growing rapidly or just standard business chaos, I step in to help them learn how to properly mitigate it. I’m an outside observer which allows me to see the things someone within the storm would miss.
I’m with them every step of the way. We’re in the cockpit together as I teach them to fly. I offer peace of mind by helping them understand how to run things more effectively and efficiently. I mentor and grow their team to give them the skills they need to improve their own performance or the company’s performance.
This is not traditional consulting. I’m invested in their business because I’m working alongside them. I’m not telling them what to do, I’m showing them. I connect with their mission and vision and help them create a roadmap to success in order to execute that mission. I don’t just offer up a pretty consulting deck. I’m ensuring they get the outcome they want because I’m right there with them through the process. Helping them achieve their goals is rewarding because I fought for it alongside them. It’s especially fulfilling when those goals are aligned with making the world a better place or offering a hand to people who need it.
I brought my project management skills into a new arena and have used them to help empower people to accomplish their goals. Handing over an atlas to someone who has only ever used Google won’t teach them how to chart a route. But being there through the process to teach the skills and help them hone them, allows me to leave the business in capable hands.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

As in all things for me, the first step is being respectful. Treat everyone with respect regardless of their position. The janitor receives the same greeting as the CEO. When you value people, they will notice. The most important advice I have for managing a team is to build a strong team you can trust. Hire the people with the skills you need, then trust them to do their job. Define what communication looks like and ensure you stick to it. Be loyal. You cannot expect your team to be loyal to you if you don’t have their back at all times. That doesn’t mean you never address flaws or mistakes, it just means you address them with the person directly in a respectful manner.
Create an environment that welcomes feedback. Be willing to discuss opposing opinions and encourage discourse. Recognize wins no matter how small. Ensure your team and all of its members have a clearly defined set of values which are a collaboration. Team values lead to a team culture and bonding. If you force your personal values on your team, they won’t have the same connection. This is especially important in the culture of remote work.
As a company, how do you approach tough conversations? How do you handle conflict? Are there proper channels to provide feedback?
Be aware of the ebb and flow in business. During busy seasons, your team may need more from you. Conversely, there will be times when you can sit back and watch them perform. You can influence a positive headspace by showing your appreciation openly and often. Maybe that comes in the form of treats for your team. Maybe it’s praise. As you build your team, you can match their energy to determine what they need.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Everyone gets treated with the same respect no matter their position. The intern you’re teaching the basics to today could be your boss in a few years. That person you bumped into in the lobby could be a prospective client. There’s never a time when showing someone respect will be detrimental.
I believe in being upfront and honest. If there’s a problem, I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’m going to address it head on and sort it out. Honesty is the best policy in my experience. It’s something that has helped me build a reputation of trust within my market. My clients can rely on my transparency.
Finally, I’m a worker. I will never ask someone to do something I’m unwilling to do. I’m in the trenches with those around me, rolling up my sleeves, and preparing to do the work. If I don’t know the answer, I’m going to find it. If I’m struggling with something and there’s someone who knows how to do it, I’m going to listen and learn. I can recognize when someone possesses a skill I don’t, and I’m happy to take the backseat where necessary. To top it off, I have a positive attitude whenever I can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katrinapurcell.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-purcell/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ManagedChaosPodcast

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