Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Purcell

Katrina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

Growing up in rural Virginia, I knew I wanted a career where every day was different. I wanted to find my passion, but I wasn’t always certain what that looked like. I knew I didn’t want to sit at a desk doing mundane work, but in my mind there were only three worthwhile professions: Doctor, lawyer, or business person – whatever that meant.

At first, I thought I’d be a lawyer. My dad, who was a computer engineer, thought I’d make a good engineer, but that didn’t speak to me. Then due to a scheduling issue in high school, I took a video production class. It wasn’t anything I’d have chosen for myself, but I fell in love with media. It was that first flicker of passion which led me to James Madison University where I majored in media.

I began my career at the Discovery Channel. There, I watched television programming for eight hours a day and determined if the quality of the audio and video were appropriate for airing on the channel. While I did find enjoyment in the technical aspects of the job and in becoming a resource for the vendors requiring assistance with fixing their programming, it was very much the sit-at-a-desk-for-hours kind of career I never wanted as a child.

When I determined it was time to move on, the city was calling me. I’d always felt drawn to live in New York City. I wanted to move into live TV, so I applied for jobs in the city. After seven months of interviewing, I got a job at Bloomberg. I moved to the city without a safety net. The leap was terrifying but invigorating. I left my support system in Virginia and went after my dream. For the first three weeks, I bounced between couches in friends’ apartments and hotels with friends who were on business trips in the city. I made new friends at work, creating a new network of support, and eventually found a little apartment of my own to begin building my life.

Live news was adrenaline inducing, but it became exhausting to be constantly in flux as news stories came in 24/7. I sought more stability and a mentor in my life at the time asked me if I’d ever considered project management. I had excellent organizational skills, and they felt strongly that it would be a satisfying career move for me.

As I was working in project management, I began working more on change management, balancing technology with people, and the process of working on organizational design, which led me to Columbia for their executive MBA program. I was working full time during the week and going to school full time on the weekends for two years. It was a challenging but rewarding time. I built lasting connections and explored new ideas of what my career could become.

I was always open to new ideas. I was listening when people complimented my skills and asked if I’d be willing to do other things. I was hungry to learn as much as I could about as many facets of business as possible. I made the transition to pure play technology companies. I was a liaison layer working between engineering, product teams, and the business. I was chief of staff during an IPO when I realized I wanted to launch my own business. Which led me to creating my own firm doing fractional COO and consulting work to bring my skill set to companies that are going through a transformation and need the right type of leadership.

My particular brand of skills could feed a fire in my soul through service to minority-led organizations, non-profits, and those who may not have access to such services at a reasonable cost. Katrina Purcell, LLC, works with seed to series C tech startups and non profits on creating efficient growth. Whether it’s strategic planning, operational excellence, product roadmaps, agile tech transformation or fundraising support, my mission is to deliver tailored solutions that drive tangible results and unlock their full potential.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Bumpy roads create stronger drivers. My path has not always been smooth, but that has allowed me to learn how to adapt more efficiently. When the road is perfectly smooth, you never have to learn how to maneuver. I have found that embracing the bumps helps you to grow.

Growing up, I was a perfectionist. I was deeply impacted by my own high standards and created a narrative in my mind of what success had to be. I allowed society to tell me what success looks like, then lamented when I didn’t achieve it. Back then, failure was my worst fear. Then I worked to change my relationship with failure. I began to recognize that my version of success might be different from what the masses believed it should be.

Failure shouldn’t be feared. It isn’t the end of the journey unless you let it be. Instead of viewing it as a roadblock, consider that each failure adds a layer to the ramp as you learn. Eventually, you’ve built up enough of a foundation that you can reach what you’d always hoped to achieve.

Changing my relationship with failure allowed me to almost gamify the experience which allowed me to get excited each time I was rejected. It let me determine what I learned from the experience instead of wallowing in that awful feeling. Progress not perfection. Nothing will ever be perfect. Moving toward your goals, no matter how rocky the path, allows you to recognize that missteps are a chance to learn.

I have struggled with imposter syndrome. I think we all do in some ways. But examining my version of success and reimagining how I reacted to failure has changed how I do business. It’s okay to figure out what brings you fulfillment in life. It’s equally okay if that isn’t what society tells you should bring you fulfillment. You have to be brave enough to find your own version of success and strive for it no matter how many rocks are in the way. Failure is an opportunity, not an ending.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

I specialize in early stage tech companies. My background is mostly in B2B SaaS, but I make the most impact in companies that are at a pivotal growth moment or looking to scale. I also work with non-profits who are working to grow and scale their impact. I have years of experience in many facets of the business. Likening myself to the queen on a chess board, I leverage my skills to ensure I’m able to provide my clients with the full spectrum of services they’ll need to be successful in their business. I can move in whatever direction they require, and I bring with me the full force of experience.

Much like the queen in chess, I’m on the board with all the other pieces. This sets me apart from others. I get into the business with my clients, immersing myself in their day-to-day life. That way, when we build their three-year strategy, I’m in the flow of the business. This immersion allows me to both have an outside perspective but truly understand the players, providing both actionable mentorship and strategic guidance. Once the strategy is built, I’m able to remain in the trenches with the executive team to execute on the plan, continuing to provide both high-level guidance and hands-on support to ensure success.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?

There’s a reason so many songs are sung about New York City. It’s like no other place in the world. It’s vibrant and inspiring. Its energy is unique. “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” Never has a lyric been more true. This city makes me constantly strive to be my best. There are opportunities everywhere. You can take advantage of so much to do, but you definitely have to learn to manage your expectations and time. I love that I have friends and colleagues who have come from all over the world and each bring their unique perspective. I love to walk in the park to experience little moments of nature in the hustle and bustle of the city.

The hustle mentality in this city can make you feel like you’re not achieving enough or that you’re not allowed to have any downtime. After living here for seventeen years, I’ve learned to manage that aspect of city life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katrinapurcell.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCstHWwgqeRbJxN-OydmJTaw
• Other: https://www.themanagedchaospodcast.com/