Discussions with creatives, leaders and thinkers

Interviews SEASON 25

Kady O Connell, Founder and Director, Kady Creative

Kady Creative was founded with a fiery passion for showcasing entrepreneurs in their best light. Sick of seeing promising businesses stunted by lacklustre branding, we set about changing that. Our vision is to turn businesses into iconic brands. Through our tried and tested Iconic brand methodology, we've built over one hundred brands from the ground up.

What is your favourite social media platform, and why?

I love the LinkedIn platform. I think it's a space you can read genuinely interesting articles and posts, and it's without a lot of the spammy ads you see on other platforms. It's a great space to build your network and share valuable content with your own connections.

Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.

Kady O Connell.png

“Small habits

don't add up,

they compound. Small changes, remarkable results.” - James Clear.

Kady O Connell

Kady O Connell, LinkedIn and Website

My current focus is building and growing my agency Kady Creative. We went through a massive growth spurt the past two years, and so it's been a challenge to increase our workload, hire a team and upgrade our systems all at once. But we are really finding our groove now, and our team culture is second to none. We essentially partner with business owners to help them grow their business and build a thriving brand online. And this keeps things really interesting, challenging and fun for us, so I feel really lucky this is what we get to do every day!

What do you like about your career or area of focus?

I love the team we have created and how we feed off one another's creativity and ideas. I also love getting to deep dive and look under the hood of our clients business to help problem solve and build a better brand. I love a challenge and am a natural problem solver. I also love that we can choose who we work with, and we are in a position to do pro bono work for mental health charities which is really important to me. I think small business has the power to change the world!

What is the best advice you have ever received?

The concept of recency and frequency to stay engaged with your consumers. People remember things better than they saw most frequently or most recently. So, therefore your brand needs constant attention and to stay present online. This has 100% been my experience. There is no magic overnight pill that's going to grow your brand. It's being consistent, and reliable, and showing up over time that makes all the difference.

What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?

Being around other inspiring people and learning. Pre-Covid, my friends would joke that I'd go to the opening of an envelope. But, I love being around other people with big ideas that are chasing their dreams. I also love being in nature and, I think having some solitude and reflection time in nature is key to being able to move forward gracefully, learn from mistakes and stay grounded.

What are you proud of in your life so far?

I'm proud that I've never given up so matter how hard and challenging things have gotten. I moved to Sydney eight years ago from Ireland so, I had to build my life here from scratch, knowing nobody. It wasn't easy, and starting a business has been full of learning curves. But I've faced them all head-on and what started as a one-woman band at her kitchen table is now an award-winning agency with the most amazing team. When I think back to the humble beginnings, it does make me feel proud, and when we get amazing feedback from our clients, it's always a pinch-me moment.

What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?

Typically networking events and learning groups. I love being part of entrepreneurial organisations. These days it's a little trickier, but I make sure to stay connected online, and I've even set up a digital mastermind with a friend and fellow business owner where we meet once a month. However, in general, I've met the best business connections when I haven't even been trying. I find that when I go to events and meetups that I am genuinely passionate about and with no agenda, I naturally meet friends, and we end up working together in some way, shape or form!

What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?

I think curiosity and willingness to learn have been the most important skills. Having an open mind has allowed me to learn so much from others. Running a business, you need to have skills in a plethora of different areas, and they are all equally important. I like to take one part of the business at a time, such as finance or marketing and do a deep dive on how we can improve and optimise this within our business. And I always seek out the help of mentors.

What do you wish you had known when you started out?

That it takes a lot longer and costs a lot more than you expect to build a business! But, also, there is no universal 'right answer'. You need to experiment and see what works for you. But one thing that I wish I had committed to from the start was showing up online daily. As previously mentioned, this has a compounding effect on building your brand. It's so hard when you're going through growth periods and are so hands-on in the business to make time for this. But I wish I had done this better consistently from the start. Now it's a non-negotiable.

Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?

I really admire Ed Catmull, the co-founder of Pixar. His book 'Creativity Inc' is one of my all-time favourites. He is a lifelong learner and optimises everything, and I love his passion and commitment to be and do better.

Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?

I am passionate about health and wellness and truly believe this is the foundation of your business. If you are not at your peak, how can your business be effective? I love yoga, breathwork, swimming in the ocean and being in nature. I also love to cook and even co-authored a cookbook a few years ago called 'Behind the Half Door - Stories of Food and Folk'.

Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?

It had a positive effect on our business as everyone realised they needed a strong online presence, and so we were so busy working with business owners getting an online brand and website built. It also became apparent how much noise there is online and how important it is to differentiate your brand in the market. However, the challenge was that we got so busy so quickly, we had to manage that really fast growth and keeping the team from burning out.

Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?

Yes, I work with a coach twice a month and find this so useful to have someone to bounce ideas off of. It is usually a lot of mindset things we work on. I also work with a mentor every couple of months that also owns a digital agency but is more advanced than me, and there is nothing better than learning from someone that is in the exact position you want to be in!

What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?

I would say that it is quite a challenge to start a business, and you would need to be 100% committed. I love Elon Musks quote, which describes entrepreneurship as like "eating glass and staring into the abyss", as I do think it can be glamorised too much these days! However, if, like me, you love a challenge, then there is no better feeling than being your own boss, making your own decisions and seeing your dreams come to life right before your eyes, and I would not change it for the world. But just know it does take time and a lot of hard work, so don't put too much pressure on yourself to have it all 'figured out' right away.

What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?

I think it's typically because they didn't realise how challenging it would be and how much work goes into it. Also, the lack of stability can be scary for a lot of people. You need to have a pretty high tolerance for risk. It can often also be that they have not proven their concept first meaning; they spend months perfecting their product before seeing if anyone even wants it in the first place. It's so important to do your research and make sure there's a market for what you are planning to build.

Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?

"Small habits don't add up, they compound. Small changes, remarkable results." - James Clear.

What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?

I love to follow Ray Dalio on LinkedIn, and his book Principles is so useful. I also think that Tim Ferris has done an incredible job building his personal brand and reaching such a huge audience.

How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?

I define success as having the freedom to make choices you want to make, whether that's to buy a new house, spend extra time with family, start a side hustle or donate to charity. Not held back by finances, fear, health, etc. I think it's important to define what success is to you as it's different to everyone. Otherwise, you spend your life striving for something that, once achieved, you realise didn't actually fulfil you.

The Global Interview