I absolutely loved getting to chat with Katie Saffert, the creator of Hatched Collective about anything and everything. We met up in real life and I found myself forgetting to take notes because I was so fascinated by her story! She is an inspiring entrepreneur and I’m excited to share her interview with you today! Enjoy ❤️
1) What is your background?
I worked out of college for Quicksilver for 6 years and moved my way up from intern to merchandiser to events. Finally I got my dream job doing visual design for their events. After awhile doing that, I realized that I was traveling all the time, didn’t make that much money and was just super depressed for a year. Everyone said “you have your dream job,” but I knew it wasn’t for me. I had a fear of leaving the corporate position, but knew there was something bigger out there. I walked in on my 28th birthday and quit. My boss at the time said “what do you think you’re ever going to do after this?” I said without thinking twice that I started my own event production company and didn’t let him make me feel “less than.” Soon after, I delivered my new business cards to all of the Quicksilver executives I previously worked with. That week I booked a wedding for one of the executives and then was hired on by the Quicksilver marketing department soon after to do big events like the Perl Jam concert and a Jack Johnson charity event. That’s how I sustained for 3 years, which eventually turned into me trying to find other vendors to figure out how to make these events really pretty. That turned into also starting a catering company and flower company for events.
Then I realized I needed to have a part time job to be comfortable financially because catering is so seasonal. I took a part time job with a yacht management company in Newport and first helped them throw their events on their boats and then followed a cute boy and left for 4 1/2 years to became a yacht chef.
If I never left my corporate job, I would have never pushed myself. There’s down time of course, but I’m much happier and feel more powerful in this position than I did when I was “comfortable.”
2) How did Hatched Collective come to be?
When my boyfriend and I were traveling the world on the yacht, I got pregnant and found out it was twins. I knew then that traveling was not going to be in the books anymore. I moved from Newport Beach to San Diego to be with my boyfriend full time and felt like my power was completely taken away. I lost my complete identity and felt that I had to let go of all my business to be a better mom. I felt like I was sacrificing and after 2 years of home with the kids and running catering company in Newport, I knew I didn’t want to bring catering company to San Diego to start over. I wanted to start something new and wanted to be surrounded by other people.
I needed to find my identity again, so once the kids were old enough, I put the kids in school and started looking at buildings. I thought maybe I could have a bunch of other women who work there as a “co-working” space. I signed the lease when I found the right space and went from there.
In the 6 months we’ve been around, it’s taken so many turns. First it was going to be a place for other moms to co-work together and then once I started that I realized I didn’t want to run that type of business because I didn’t want to be there 5 days a week from 9:00 to 5:00. I could tell I said yes to something that wasn’t working. All of the anxiety went away the moment I made the decision to pivot away from the co-working studio. It opened up more space for me to come face to face with what women and moms are really missing.
Now, the studio is dedicated to female entrepreneurs. I teach workshops, speaker events and coaching to help propel female-owned businesses in San Diego. The women who have come inside the doors actually show up and support and are the ones who aren’t looking in the direction to be cool; they are looking to connect.
3) What has been the best thing that’s happened because of Hatched Collective?
The women I’ve met and the support. I was not expecting it and I didn’t even know that kind of support was out there.
4) What does a typical Tuesday look like for you?
I’m up by 5:00am with kiddos and am with them until about 9:00am. I drop them off at school between 9 and 9:30 and head over to Hatched. By 9:30, I start a coaching client or a workshop. Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to coaching. I’m at Hatched until about 4:00 when I pick my kids up at school. I don’t plan anything after that so I can dedicate my time to the family.
5) What is your favorite affirmation/quote?
You are enough. You have all of the tools that you need right now.
Another one of my favorites is:
Just start. Take one step. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t have to be big dramatic moves. If you were driving from California to NY. It’s a straight shot all the way across. If you made one degree different of a turn you wouldn’t end up in NY. All it takes is one small change to make a difference.
6) What book have you suggested the most to friends and why do you love it?
“Refuse to Choose.” It’s all for creatives and is about the mental state of having so many things you want to do. It was the first book that made me not feel crazy.
Two more of my favorites are “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie and “The Highly Sensitive Person.”
9) Do you have any exciting workshops or events coming up?
I host mornings called “Coffee and Conversations” where women come into the studio, sit in a circle and talk about who they are and what their business is. Then they give their best piece of advice and finally, they all have to ask for help with something. It’s pretty much an entrepreneur support group. Most of the time people end up crying because they aren’t used to asking for help.
I’m also hosting a Holiday Party for ladies. December 8th. You can find the details here.
You can find Hatched Collective at https://www.hatchedcollective.co/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hatchedcollective/.
happsters.com 