Kay Allen-Carr: From Marketing VP to Mastering Agency Growth

Kay Allen-Carr is a seasoned marketer and agency owner, whose experiences provide valuable insights for any business owner aiming to turn their passion into profit. She owns KAC Marketing where she offers done-for-you marketing and consulting services for ethical multi-6 and 7-figure brands.

Having spent a decade climbing the corporate ladder to become the vice president of marketing and analytics, Kay developed invaluable skills in digital marketing. Initially hired to expand the digital arm of her previous agency, she demonstrated the tenacity and vision to build and lead a successful team.

In this episode of From Passion to Profit™️, we delve into her story, offering a closer look at the lessons learned, challenges faced, and strategies employed in her pursuit of success as a marketing agency owner.

Who do you serve and why?

I serve ambitious female entrepreneurs who have reached an amazing level of success flying be the seat of their pants, and are now looking for a marketing strategist to help them reach the next level.

How long have you been in business?

I started offering marketing coaching services in June 2021 and opened the agency side of my business in February of 2023.

What were you doing before you started this business?

I spent 10 years helping to grow a marketing agency and consultancy working my way up from marketing specialist to VP of Marketing and Analytics where I was the youngest department head.

How & why did you start this business?

I wanted to work with more female entrepreneurs, I wanted to work with smaller businesses where I could have a bigger impact, and I wanted to be in control of my own destiny as cheesy as that sounds.

The most pivotal moment in my business was…

I thought after 10 years I was over offering done for you marketing services and needed a change of pace. What I eventually realized is it was just the type of clients I was working with that frustrated me, and that working with my most dreamy ideal client allowed me to be in my zone of genius offering marketing services while still enjoying it!

For the last few months I had it in my mind that I needed to go into a contraction phase before I could expand. But very recently I realized that I don’t need to contract to expand. I can keep expanding and just delegate more work / give up more control and trust that others can contribute in ways where everything doesn’t have to fall on my shoulders.

If there’s anything you could change in your story, what would it be and why?

Waiting too long to start my own business. I know that’s cliche but because I knew I wanted to start my own business for so long, and was frustrated in the environment that I was in, it led to me building up a lot of resentment which really made me feel agitated all the time – it was really bad for my mental health.

What has been the most fulfilling part of your entrepreneurial journey?

Hearing clients say “I can’t imagine running my business without you,” and knowing I’m making a positive impact in their business growth journies. I wouldn’t want to do this if I didn’t feel like I was having a positive impact. I would find something else to do.

What has been the most challenging part of your entrepreneurial journey?

Learning emotional regulation! This is something I’m still very much actively working on.

As my client roster has grown I think a lot about my personal capacity to hold and support that many people… not with the marketing side of things. That’ easy. But with the emotional ups-and-downs that can come with running a business over time.

The economy has been so up and down the last couple of years. Normally new business owners wouldn’t be thrown into such a tumultuous economic climate in a short period of time.

As their strategist it’s on me to help them navigate these rapidly changing times, and taking on all their energy has meant learning how to regulate my own energy so that I am not reactionary and can instead guide them with a rational and strategic mind.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you say?

Know your zone of genius and stay in it.

Any final thoughts?

Being part of a mastermind with other agency owners has been a total game changer for me. I have a strong independent side and always feel like I can do everything on my own. What I’ve found is … yeah I can probably do this on my own but it’s so much nicer to do it alongside others! And also being surrounded by others making $20K, 30K, 50K months really helps my own money mindset.

I used to feel like “what goes up must come down” and that making 20K and 30K months was not sustainable because I didn’t know anyone else in my life who was actually doing that in a sustainable way.

Then I joined our mastermind and was suddenly surrounded by 10 other women doing what felt unthinkable and it made me see that it is possible. It’s not so strange. And that alone has helped me in my money mindset more than any book or coaching around mindset that I’ve invested in!

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How to find Kay Allen-Carr and support her:

Website: www.kayallencarr.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayallencarr
How to Work with Kay Allen-Carr: www.kacmarketing.co

Tune into the From Passion to Profit™️ Podcast: cheyamedia.com/podcast