Creating Waves with Marketing Queen, Kaylyn Fudge, Founder + CEO of Blk Book Studio

I'm back with the first guest of the summer, and this is a HOT one, y'all! I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with the dynamic Kaylyn Fudge, founder and CEO of Blk Book Studio. 

Kaylyn shares her journey from betting on herself to founding a renown creative marketing agency. We discuss navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of self-belief, and the excitement around Kaylyn's HUGE upcoming  event, Heat Wave, here in Atlanta on July 12th. You'll be treated to insights on confidence and self-love (our favorite here at The In-Between), building an agency and developing a team, balancing corporate roles with entrepreneurial ambitions, and so much more. This episode is for everyone, no matter where you are in your professional journey!

Buy tickets NOW for Heat Wave here -https://posh.vip/e/heat-wave-8

Follow Kaylyn at https://www.instagram.com/realbossladyk 

Connect with me:
https://in-between.co
@in.betweenpod on Instagram
@elizabethcheney_ on Instagram
@theinbetweenpodcast on TikTok
The In-Between Podcast on YouTube

Episode Transcript

Elizabeth (00:07):
Hey, hey, hey.
Welcome back to another episodeof the InBetween.
I'm your host, Elizabeth Cheney,and I have a very, very exciting
guest with me here today.
This is Kaylyn, and for thosewho don't know Kaylyn, she's
kind of a very big deal here inAtlanta.
She's been named one of Jezebelmagazines 40 under 40 for this
year.
And if you're not familiar withJezebel Magazine, you're living
under a rock, but it's a verybig deal here in Atlanta and

(00:29):
also across the country.
But the big thing that Kailynnis known for and what is, I
guess your bread and butter, soto speak mm-hmm.
Is she is the CEO founder of theCreative Marketing Agency Black
Book Studio.
She does real estate marketing,all different types of
marketing, but I'm gonna let hertalk about that and how it's
evolved and grown and how shegot to where she is today, but

(00:51):
also tease a very special eventthat's coming up here in July
that we're really excited to.
Well, I'm excited to attend.
I'm sure it's your baby, so Ofcourse you are.
But you are part of lots ofdifferent networking, women
professional organizations herein Atlanta with high profile
roles and I don't know, gonnaMarie Claire events, she's a big
deal and I'm honored to have herhere on the podcast and to get

(01:15):
to know you and I don't know,have you be a guest.
So Kaylyn, welcome to the

Kaylyn (01:19):
Thank you for having me.
I'm so happy to be

Elizabeth (01:21):
here.
Um, this is your first podcast,right?
It is.

Kaylyn (01:25):
I've always been slow to talk.

Elizabeth (01:29):
Do you feel any nervous energy or.

Kaylyn (01:31):
I mean a smidge, but I feel like it'll disappear within
like the first minute.

Elizabeth (01:35):
Yeah, I'm sure.
Yeah.
Your eyes are like blowing.
Her makeup is like on point.
Well I think like the firstquestion is, I would love for
you to kind of tell theaudience, the listeners, the
audience, you know, the bigaudience that's in front of us.
Um, a little bit about yourselfand kind of your background and
how you got into marketing,specifically real estate.

(01:55):
'cause you're kind of a big dealin the real estate world.

Kaylyn (01:59):
That's a loaded question.

Elizabeth (02:01):
Okay.

Kaylyn (02:02):
So how did I get here?

Elizabeth (02:03):
Mm-hmm.

Kaylyn (02:05):
Are we starting back like

Elizabeth (02:07):
you were like I was born this day.
Yeah.
And this year.

Kaylyn (02:09):
Yeah.
Like where don't we start?
How about it?
Just as it pertains tomarketing.

Elizabeth (02:13):
Yeah.
Have you always wanted to getinto marketing or was it kind of
something that fell into yourlap because you went to school
abroad, right?

Kaylyn (02:19):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (02:19):
Yeah,

Kaylyn (02:20):
yeah, yeah.
So honestly, I feel like it's.
Always been my thing and Ididn't realize it was my thing
until I got older.
But like, I've always beencreative.
I come from an entrepreneurshipfamily.
Okay.
So I was always starting littlebusinesses here and there.
Oh my God.
And like the fun part for me wasthe marketing.

(02:41):
Okay.
I didn't enjoy the operations, Ididn't enjoy anything else, but
I enjoyed creating campaigns andI enjoyed like that first launch
photo shoot and what does thatlook like?
So I really enjoyed that.
So I always did campaigns.
Okay.
and when I was getting ready togo to college, I think my
mindset wasn't on what did Ienjoy doing, but rather what's

(03:03):
gonna make a lot of money.
Okay.
Respect.
So initially when I went toschool, I didn't go for
marketing, I went for optometry.
I don't know why I chose that.
I've never been to eye doctor.
Like I was just like lookingthrough the positions that made
a lot of money and I'm like,okay, I can do this one.
That sounds cool.

(03:24):
But quickly found out thatwasn't my thing.
You know, I'm trying to imagineyou as an eye doctor.
Yeah, no.
Imagine me just doing chemistry.
Like it is just, it doesn'twork.
Like it doesn't work.
I felt twice and then I waslike, okay, pivot.
Pivot.
So, um, that's what I did, but Iend up still kind of doing, so I

(03:45):
did.
Sports management.
Okay, I can see that.
Yeah.
I really liked sports, but alsolike my freshman year we won the
national championship.
Okay.
So I was just like, yeah, I wanta hide from us winning.
And it was just like a bigexperience.
So I was like, okay, I likesports, but I also always wanted

(04:06):
to do business.
Okay.
So it was like a play on that.
'cause I still learned businessmanagement, but it was a focus
on sports.
Okay., So yeah.

Elizabeth (04:14):
It's been a long journey.
So, sports management, well,first optometry, I can't even
say that word.
Opto.
Optometrist, optometry.
Yes.
I, I can't get over that.
I was like jaw drop, curve ball.
Okay, girl.
Okay.
Yeah.
I mean, you'd be a really cuteeye doctor, but Yeah.
Yeah.
So sports management, That'swhat you graduated with?

Kaylyn (04:31):
Yes.

Elizabeth (04:32):
Okay.
That's what I

Kaylyn (04:32):
graduated my, bachelor's with.
Okay.
So in between while I was inschool, I studied abroad my last
summer in London.
Okay.
Um, and this is through theSports Global Sports Management
program.
Got it.
Okay.
And I was in London.
Um, it was an amazingexperience, like so much to, I
wanted to come back.

(04:53):
So I had a friend, me and herwere like, research how we can
go back to school in London.
But like through that I'velearned like the US they have
loans that you can get a USbacked loan in London.
So it made the process supereasy.
It was just like I was applyingfor a loan at my undergrad, like
it was Okay.
Similar process.
Dang.
So there's a list ofuniversities abroad that support

(05:15):
that program.
So we started there and thentoured a few and then that's how
I ended up.
Choosing was in London, southBay University.

Elizabeth (05:22):
Oh, okay.

Kaylyn (05:23):
So there is, when I started to get into my real,
okay.
Like I know I enjoyed marketing,so I did international
marketing, a master's ininternational marketing, and it
was just an amazing experience.
Yeah.
I think attendance schoolabroad, it was so different than
the US it felt like to me.
Yeah.
But it could be also differentprograms, like coming from

(05:44):
bachelor's, it is test, test,exam, exam, exam study, study,
study versus um, the programabroad.
It was more experience, it wasmore so project based.
Here we give you a project, getcreative like, but it was also
collaborative'cause it wasteamwork, it was team projects.
Like, you know, it was, it wasreally nice and it wasn't so
much of a exam every day, youknow?

(06:06):
Okay.
Or just feeling the need.
I was able to truly like.
Live through it.
You're gonna inspire me

Elizabeth (06:13):
to go back to grad school now?

Kaylyn (06:14):
Yeah.
I mean, I don't dunno if I can,I don't remember,

Elizabeth (06:16):
but I'm like over 30.
I think that ship has sailed.
That's okay.

Kaylyn (06:19):
Yeah.
So graduated from there.
Then I came back home toFlorida.
Okay.
And I was not in a marketingdegree.
It was like that fresh out ofcollege field trying to find a
job.
Yeah.
So it was always my plan to getinto the marketing field with
whatever company.
Like, it just, I just had to getmy foot in the door.

(06:40):
Yeah.
And I was gonna make my way tomarketing.
Right?

Elizabeth (06:42):
Yes.
I believe that.

Kaylyn (06:43):
Um, so that was my thought.

Elizabeth (06:45):
You seem like someone who's like, this is what I want.
It's gonna happen.
I'm gonna make it happen.

Kaylyn (06:48):
Yeah.
I mean, in hindsight it didn'thappen how I wanted it to
happen.
It didn't.
Okay.
But it happened how it needed tohappen.
Okay.
Explain as I look back, youknow, what.
So I had been applying topositions in the marketing
department, was not getting, it.
Had a few interviews, but itjust, I wasn't getting the

(07:10):
roles.
Okay.
So this was around COVID.
Ooh.
You know, so we were remote.
I was talking to my fiance andI'm like, I just wanna go like,
I want somewhere different.
First of all, I wasn't feeling,I was feeling like a hard stop.
Mm-hmm.
I wasn't feeling motivated.
Yeah.
I wasn't feeling, I don't know,it was just a different

(07:34):
environment.
Yeah.
And it, it was just like, Ididn't, I seen a ceiling, like
Yeah.
Ooh.
Yeah.
But I wanted to move somewherewhere it was like, no ceiling, I
can't explain it,

Elizabeth (07:46):
but No, I know what you mean.
Like more opportunity, morelike, yeah.
And I feel like Atlanta has alittle bit more of that energy
versus Florida.

Kaylyn (07:53):
Yeah, for sure.
Because you lived on the beach,right?
Well, now, so St.
Pete.
Yeah.
Okay.
St.
Pete Tampa.
But now I feel like it's, it'sreverting, like it is really,
it's starting to be up andcoming now.
Okay., But yeah, I probablywon't move back until I retire,
but it's definitely on an up andup now.
Okay.
But I still feel like Atlanta isbetter and it was better for me.

Elizabeth (08:13):
Yeah.
Maybe, maybe even like startingout, I guess.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (08:16):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (08:17):
Okay.
So then you're like, well, Ineed more opportunities, so I'm
gonna go to Atlanta.

Kaylyn (08:20):
Yeah.
So I came to Atlanta At thattime I was in my,
entrepreneurship bag.
You know, I had a, I had aathletic brand.
Okay.
So I, in, in Atlanta workingremote with the company I was
at, I still had my clothingbusiness on the side.
Okay.
And it was active wear.
Okay.
I was doing a campaign for a newcollection we had coming out,

(08:43):
and I invited like some of.
The people I knew, um, fromcollege.
But like I had a few girls andone of the young ladies, I knew
her from college and we justkind of reconnected through that
shoot, her being a model andjust through talking, I was
like, yeah, I'm here now.
I'm excited.
I'm like looking for a job.
I'm like, probably.

(09:04):
And she's like, oh, my job ishiring.
And that's how it happens.
That's how it happens.
And honestly, that's how Elenais.
Yes, it is.
It's very much like that.
And it just be random and it'salways just, oh, let's connect.
Oh, let's do this or, but yeah.
So needless to say, she sent meinformation.
I apply, I got the job.

(09:25):
And that was at Compass.
Oh, okay.
So that's my journey at Compass,how that started.

Elizabeth (09:29):
Oh, wow.
Okay.
So a reason I like that youshared all of this is your end
goal was marketing.
Right?
Kind of a broad umbrella, broadtrampoline, so to speak.
And.
Your end goal being that likeall your decisions kind of led
you to that.
I guess what I'm trying to sayis I talk about this sometimes
on the podcast, like when youhave a dream or you have a goal,

(09:51):
the universe conspires to giveit to you as long as you're
focused on it.
So even though you couldn't havepredicted this chick to be like,
Hey, I got a job for you.
Yeah.
But pursuing it, going to abetter, a place that had better
opportunities.
Not sure what's gonna work out,but I'm gonna do it this and
this and boom.
Like the way, the connection andthe invisible strings at pool.
I just, I appreciate yousharing, and I think it's
relevant because it's, it'ssomeone betting on themselves

(10:13):
and not quite having the 1, 2, 3step guide to get there.
Yeah.
And then boom, here you go.

Kaylyn (10:18):
And I think it is, it's truly the definition of a
continuously pivoting.
Mm-hmm.
I think you have to have thatmindset so you, you're not like
just stuck in a funk.
Yes.
Like I wasn't getting the rolesthat I wanted and like, okay,
what I gotta do different Yeah.
Like.
Something needs to change.
Mm-hmm.
I can't just like, okay, I'lljust stay in this position and

(10:39):
maybe one day they'll give me aposition like, you know, a
different role.
I don't know.
I think that was the, the silverline in there too.

Elizabeth (10:47):
but yeah, you sound like an entrepreneur with that
whole pivoting, like, gotta justgotta pivot to get to where
you're trying to go.
So you get this job at Compass,which I can already start to see
how the real estate marketingstarted to be born, but how did
you get from working at Compassto marketing to, your goals
here?

Kaylyn (11:04):
Yeah, so when I joined Compass, I worked with the
agent, so agent experience, andI sort of did it on dabble and
my marketing on the side.
So the agency has always.
Been a thing before it was athing before it was official,
right?
Oh.
So I was always working onprojects and doing site things

(11:26):
for my main compass job.
Um, but when I started workingat Compass, I started working
with some of the agent teams andhelping them in assist them with
marketing.
Oh, okay.
So my role again wasn'tnecessarily a marketing title.
Yeah.
But it heavily involved a lot ofmarketing.

(11:47):
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, you know, curating events,graphic design, sending out,
preparing emails, like it was,oh my gosh, loves you.
It was the whole shebang.
Right.
So like, we got this

Elizabeth (11:57):
like wizard over here.
Jeez.

Kaylyn (11:59):
No, actually, I mean, yeah.
I'm gonna be humble.
I'm gonna be humble.
But yeah.
So no brag.
This is your, this is yourspotlight.
Brag.
No, I mean, but the workdefinitely taught for itself,
right?
Yeah.
So I think just in that, I wasworking with some agents on the
side helping them, Throughdifferent creative marketing,
services.
And, I think the year was 21.

(12:21):
I feel like time is just likemoving maybe 22.
But needless to say, I end upgetting laid off.
They had massive layoffs.
Um, my role was affectedimmediately it, transitioned me
into my agency full time.
Okay.
I still had clients and agentteams from Compass, so now I
just wasn't working from a,corporate level.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

(12:41):
And you know, honestly, when Igraduated college, I think I
always seen my life morecorporate.
Interesting

Elizabeth (12:50):
versus entrepreneurial.

Kaylyn (12:51):
Yeah.
Okay.
Like, I think I always knew Iwas creative.
I always gonna do something.
Yeah.
But I said, when I thought abouthow I would advance in the
marketing field, I always seenit corporate.
Okay.
And not so much of theentrepreneurial, but.
That, that was somethinginteresting.
I say that to say, I took a lotfrom my corporate experience.

Elizabeth (13:12):
Yeah.
I'm sure.

Kaylyn (13:13):
Like it taught me a lot of things just behind the scenes
how to run a business.
Absolutely.
You know?
Yeah.
And I've tooken a lot of thingsthat I can implement into my
structure, my systems, and how Ioperate my business, and I try
to emulate that.
Like I, I Oh, sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm like, I need to beorganized.
Like, we're not hating

Elizabeth (13:31):
on corporate.

Kaylyn (13:32):
We're not, I, I can learn a lot from corporate.
Corporate is amazing.
And I think, you know, it is allabout the experience at the end
of the day.
Yeah.
If you only see it one way, itis just like,

Elizabeth (13:42):
especially you for someone who, your role wasn't
necessarily defined as what itturned into for you.
So not only did you get thiscorporate experience, but you
also kind of got to see how youcan.
Bet on yourself, and you can bethis multifaceted employee in
person and what you bring to thetable.
Yeah.
So was Black Book Studio, likeeven just the name, was that
always a part?
Did you always have that or whenwas that born?

(14:04):
The name?
Yeah.

Kaylyn (14:06):
I'm gonna be honest.
So before I started the agency,the activewear I told you about
mm-hmm.
It was called Black Ath Lure.
Oh, okay.
And, um, I don't know, B Okay.
Just kind of always stuck withme.
It is like, don't know, like, Imean, my Instagram is Boss Lady
Kate, like the Be Okay.

(14:27):
Like, you know, it's just, ohmy, I just put that together.
Yes.
I feel like an idiot.
Yes, yes.
So it's just like, it's just,it's something near heart.
I love that though.
Oh my God.
Yeah.
That is so g, great

Elizabeth (14:40):
branding.
Look at you.
So.

Kaylyn (14:43):
Yeah.
So that's how as I transitionedinto thinking of a name for my
brand.
Yeah.
I just kind of took off.
Oh, I love that book studio.
It was just like a little blackbook.
Yep.
I mean, essentially that is my,my, my process.
And as I grow like that is whatI'm emulate, like a little black
book.
So I wanna be a space forcollaboration, connection and
you can come to me and I canhelp you get it done type of

(15:06):
situation.
I love that.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (15:07):
Now, when you say that, would you say that's even
outside of real estate?
Oh, for sure.
Okay.
So real

Kaylyn (15:12):
estate is just like a pillar.
Honestly.
what I enjoy about marketing isworking with, I'm not a niche
company.
Mm-hmm.
So we, we tailor our campaignsand our creative ideation to the
actual client.
More so their target audience,who's their target.
And we, we focus solely on that.
And then we can just develop, wecan talk to anybody.

(15:34):
You know, you just have to knowwho you're talking to first.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (15:36):
So you've created a blend of marketing, creative and
lifestyle.
Mm-hmm.
Right?
Yes.
So my question really was howdid that all come together?
But I feel like it was just anatural progression.

Kaylyn (15:45):
Yeah.
Yeah.
It was a natural progression.
before I joined Compass, Ididn't about real estate, like,
you know, like Yeah, yeah.
I didn't think of it from thataspect of working in it.
Um Right.
Just obviously, especially fromlike a marketing standpoint.

Elizabeth (15:59):
Yeah.
'cause you think real estate,you think of agents selling
homes and things like that.

Kaylyn (16:02):
Yeah.
I never gave any thought tothat.
I mean.
My childhood home was the samehome.
Like, you know, I've neverreally dealt with the real
estate industry.
I didn't have the money to buy ahouse.
Yeah.
I wasn't really looking intothat.
So it was really me justaccepting the opportunity.
Yeah, that makes sense.
It was like, uh, you know, Inever thought about real estate,
but it's also a pivot into megetting something here in

(16:25):
Atlanta versus working remoteand Right.
You know, we don't know if we'regonna be going back to office
and I just needed to have, I'mon different security I needed
to ion No, I get it.
Girl.
So that was, was more so me justlike, okay, let's give it a try.
Like, yeah.
What can, like I didn't try tocontrol it too much.
Yeah.
And you know, like, no, I am notgonna get a role until it's
specifically marketing.
Like no, I just kind of wentwith the flow in the sense.

(16:49):
Yeah.
Because sometimes when it comeseasy like that, like you just
have to trust God.
Yeah.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (16:55):
No, seriously.
Yeah.
So you just have a feeling like,I don't know how this is, you
didn't have a feeling.
You not such a feeling of thisis gonna lead to marketing, but
this is, you had a feeling thisis the right opportunity.

Kaylyn (17:05):
Yeah.
And I was same mindset.
Okay.
I'm just gonna work until I getto top of the marketing chain.
Yeah.
You know, whatever company Ijoined, it was always the goal.
Like, okay, I'm gonna come inhere and I'm gonna work myself
up to like the top of themarketing chain.
So that was always my thoughtprocess.

Elizabeth (17:21):
Yeah.

Kaylyn (17:21):
And then layoffs happen.
And that's just, so that waslike my first experience of
like, bless your, your heart.
I've never been fired.
Like, it was just like my firstsense of like, I felt lost, like
I lost something.
Like, oh, I feel that.
But it pivoted me into such anamazing way.
Like, so here I am leavingcorporate.

(17:43):
Not even a few months later, Istarted working for an agent
team, a big agent team inMidtown.
Okay.
They deal with Atlanta Modernhomes.
Oh yeah.
Um, Doyle Goodrow.
Um, but shout out.
Yes.
So I started working with themas a marketing operations
manager.
So the broker at the time atCompass referred me to that
team.
They were looking for, um,someone to join it, and the

(18:06):
broker referred me, and that's,that's amazing.
So that's really like, I wouldsay the true, start, like, I
mean, I was doing marketing.
I, I say start, but like it, ittook me to a different level
once I joined with them.

Elizabeth (18:19):
Okay.
Yeah.
It was very rigorous.
And that was through theconnections and relationships.
Well, agency life seems like awhole different world.
Like Yeah, it is.
We don't have to go into it, butI, for my friends that work in
agency, like what?
Creative or communications,whatever the, the faucet, they
have no life.
I'll, I'll go ahead and say it.

(18:40):
Yeah, you have to have very goodboundaries.
You have

Kaylyn (18:42):
to have very good

Elizabeth (18:42):
boundaries.
You do.

Kaylyn (18:44):
You can get lost in it.

Elizabeth (18:45):
Yeah.

Kaylyn (18:46):
And I think it's amazing thing, but it's a balance.
Like when you are actually doingsomething you enjoy doing
mm-hmm.
You would do it like much, like,

Elizabeth (18:53):
I think they would say the same thing.
No, that makes sense.

Kaylyn (18:55):
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Elizabeth (18:57):
So when did you start to really work on your own
business?
Was it through, did you likereach a point working with this
agency that you're like, youknow what, I could do this on my
own and be the top dog, okay.
So I was still always doing iton the side.
Okay.
I've

Kaylyn (19:10):
never stopped taking outside clients.
Like even with me working as amanaging and operations manager
for the team, I still was doingmy agency work on the side.
Okay.
So she's always

Elizabeth (19:22):
been an entrepreneur.
I love

Kaylyn (19:23):
it.
Yeah.
No, I never.
Push that to the side boss lady.
K.
Okay.
Yeah.
So I can go back a little.
My agency started once I gotlaid off, I was like, okay, got
it.
I'm full force in this agencywork.
But I did take the role whenoffered because I'm like, yeah,
it's security.
Yeah, it's security.
I still had my agency work onthe side.
I was just, when I got off work,I was doing my client's work or

(19:46):
if I had, I can say this nowbecause I'm not, I can't wait
what you say'cause I'm notworking there.
But, you know, and you know, Ilove you Matt, but yeah, so like
in my downtime, I did my agencywork on the clock.
I don't recommend that.
Don't get fired.
You know, you should definitely,do your job.
I did my job too.

(20:06):
Right, right.
I did my job.
But you should definitely notsteal the company's time.
You shouldn't.
I

Elizabeth (20:12):
shouldn't, I love it.
But I mean, you were doing yourwork just because you can do
something more efficiently thansomeone's normal two hours.
I mean, yeah,

Kaylyn (20:20):
yeah.
The sounds

Elizabeth (20:21):
resourceful.

Kaylyn (20:22):
Yeah.
But I learned a lot under Matt.
And just naturally over time.
Eventually it just got too muchright to handle both.
So I was at a place where I wasready to bet on myself honestly.
It was a scary process.
Yeah.
Like to leave that security.

Elizabeth (20:40):
No, I am sure.
You know, I have a, I dunno if acatch phrase is the right word,
but it's, a phrase nonetheless Ilike to live by.
I have a lot of those lately.
Uh, but one of them mostimportant that I always talk
about is, I'm always gonna beton me.
'cause if you can't bet onyourself, then who's going to.
Mm-hmm.
So I love that you mentallylike, took that verbatim already
on your journey and that I had aquestion that was, what did it

(21:02):
look like to bet on yourselfwhen the outcome wasn't
guaranteed?
And I feel like this is theperfect plate to answer that.
So you're about to take a leap,but it's because it's a like not
manageable to Yeah.
Juggle the corporate agency jobversus your own bread and
butter, so to speak.
So how did it feel to make thatdecision?
Was there imposter syndrome?

(21:23):
Were you freaking out?
Were you like Probably a littlebit of both.
I would think.
Like confident, but also, whatam I doing?

Kaylyn (21:28):
I don't think I freaked out.
I took a life a little bit moreserious.
I will say that.
and it was scary.
Yeah, I'm sure.
So I didn't leave until I madeenough in my agency.
I matched what I made.
Makes sense.
Working.
Working.
So it wouldn't feel like a, aloss.
Right.
That makes sense.
I just have to budget.

(21:49):
Same.
She's so smart.
So I was kind of okay there.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and then I've had retainerclients, so that makes it a
little less stressful.
Mm-hmm.
But it still was feeling theneed to hustle.

Elizabeth (22:03):
Yeah.
I have a quick question.
How long did you navigate bothlike the agency and doing the
side agency your own?
I don't wanna call it a side gig'cause it seems like it was
holding equal weight, at leastat some point, but pursuing your
own agency, own marketingclients and the corporate, how
long do you think you navigatedthat?

Kaylyn (22:22):
I feel like it was like two years.

Elizabeth (22:24):
Ooh.

Kaylyn (22:24):
A year and a half.
That's

Elizabeth (22:25):
a long time.
Wow.
Okay.

Kaylyn (22:27):
Yeah.
20, yeah, about two years.
Okay.
and even that was, that'simpressive a long

Elizabeth (22:32):
time, right?
Yeah.
That's impressive.
But,

Kaylyn (22:34):
while I was working for Compass Corporate, I ended up
taking my real estate license.
Okay.
And I just took it because theypaid for it, like, you know,
like take advantage of theopportunity.
So I just took it.
so I had a license and I waslike, okay.
In a means of me leaving the cothe company as a marketing
operations man, lemme just stickaround, lemme be on your team.

(22:55):
Like, lemme just be an agent onyour team.
And that's, that is my role now.
So I'm just an agent on theteam.
Okay.
I'm just an agent.
but I will say even there, myinterest is way bigger than an
agent.
Yeah.
It is bigger.
It is more so I enjoy thebeautiful homes.
I love the stories.
I love the architecture.
I love the design, I love thestorytelling component of it.

(23:19):
More so than sold.
Right.
Sold sold.

Elizabeth (23:22):
Like how much can we get this for?
Yeah.
How can we negotiate, counteroffer,

Kaylyn (23:26):
I just wanna style it.
I wanna do the creatives.
I wanna have a nice propertysite, like I wanna do the cool
videos and campaigns.
Like that's what I enjoy aboutit and that's what I enjoy
within my role as the marketingoperations.
I've enjoyed that the most.
Oh wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
So that's to say I have a realestate license because it, it
makes sense.
Yeah.

(23:46):
Just, just do it.
But my passion is on themarketing side.
Okay.
Makes sense.
So yeah.

Elizabeth (23:52):
What a full circle, like little journey there.
Yeah.
I love that.
And it all started with sportsmanagement.
No, optometry.
Oh, that's right.
The eye doctor.
I still can't get over that.
Yeah.
But it is such a curve ball.

Kaylyn (24:06):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, my family would've lovedthe doctors too, but, but yeah,
so then left that, I'm nowfull-time in my agency.
Okay.
And then I did on dab, dabble inreal estate.

Elizabeth (24:19):
Oh.
Dibble and double.
So as you wear many, many hats.
I love that.
Yeah., So I'm sure there are alot of highs and lows.
Um, and lows don't mean likenecessarily losses, but just
being a business owner andmanaging a high profile,
functioning creative agency.
Can you share a time when thingsweren't linear?
Were there any in-betweens withjobs, roles or even identities?

(24:42):
Maybe even along this process oflike, once you full send your
agency and this is your mainincome, main driver and you
obviously did the right things.
Like you waited till you werebringing enough money so it
didn't feel like a loss to letgo of the other one.
But how was that transition?
It's amazing'cause you'rebetting on yourself.
But that's still scary.
'cause like you alreadymentioned earlier, you like to

(25:04):
have your backup plan, you liketo have your security.
Yeah.
And, um, there's gotta be alittle bit of,

Kaylyn (25:08):
whew, I'm leaving the nest.
Yeah.
It it, it did, it was like thattransition of being liable.

Elizabeth (25:15):
Mm ooh.
Okay.

Kaylyn (25:17):
Yeah.
Like.
Yeah, it's fun.
And I mean, depending on how youtake your role as a CEO or
founder, like you have freedom,but you kind of don't.
Yeah.
Like, you know, like that makessense.
So I mean, honestly, thattransition, it wasn't bad.
I, I really feel like my biggesttransition or hurdle in between

(25:39):
is like that in-between phase ofgoing from a solopreneur to
building a team.

Elizabeth (25:44):
Ooh, I've never talked about that.
Okay.
Ooh,

Kaylyn (25:47):
that one there is like, oh,

Elizabeth (25:48):
share, share some growing pains or maybe even
things that you learned in that

Kaylyn (25:52):
process.
I mean, communication, you haveto learn how to communicate.
You have to, be considerate.
And it's also like You have tomake it so they can make it type
thing.
Okay.
You have to make it so you canprovide opportunity.
You have to make it so

Elizabeth (26:07):
it'll be a benefit to them.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (26:09):
So I said communication, but understanding different
personalities.
Mm-hmm.
And just how to effectivelymanage it.
And then also I'm a very, open.
Mm-hmm.
Like,
ooh, tell me you're not gonna hurt my feelings.
Or I don't want it to feel likeyou don't have a voice.
if you have a concern orsomething.
Come talk to me.
Yeah.
Let's be real.
Like, let's just be real.

(26:30):
Like, come talk to me and ifanything, I'm going to try to be
understanding and let's justkind of handle, I don't hold
grudges.
I just kind of, yeah.

Elizabeth (26:37):
Was that hard at first?
I'm curious.
No, I don't think I ever reallyheld, yeah.
Grudges, well, not even justgrudges, but like letting, if
someone came to you with aconcern or like, Hey, the way we
handled this client or thisproject, I think it could have
gone differently.
Like, not that you have an ego,but did you ever have any of
those moments where you're like,okay, maybe you wanna be
defensive'cause it's your babykind of thing.

(26:58):
But then it's like, oh wait,this person kind of has the, the
right approach, right.
Idea.

Kaylyn (27:01):
No, actually I wasn't.
Okay.
I think I'm, as a businessowner, I'm a learner.
Like, ooh, I'm open to, I lovethat learning.
I, I wanna know about people,I'm open minded.
Okay.
I think I felt more of thosethings when I were working under
people.
I love that.
I love that.
Yeah.
Like I think I would be moreoffended if I did something,

(27:24):
man, if I did something.
'cause I'm just like, I lookmyself in

Elizabeth (27:27):
the mirror.
I'm like, you're right.
I'm like, don't tell me I'mwrong, even though you're above
me.
Yeah,

Kaylyn (27:30):
yeah,

Elizabeth (27:31):
yeah.
But

Kaylyn (27:32):
no, I listen, I listen to the clients.
so even I tell my clients like,this is your baby and I wanna
help you get to your vision.
So if you don't like something,tell me I don't care.
It's not gonna hurt my feelings.
Like I can come up withsomething different.
Like it's not that big of adeal.

Elizabeth (27:48):
Well it's important too'cause you want them to also
trust.
And I mean, not that this isanywhere the same, but I can be
guilty of that, of like notwanting to like upset the person
that I've hired and paid moneyto do the thing for me.
Mm-hmm.
No.
But I mean, or not

Kaylyn (28:01):
to wanna seem overbearing.
Right, right, right.
And I mean, I'm like, keepcoming to me, but I also try to
set boundaries so I understandup upfront, like right.
So it's not a constant, back andforth.
But yeah, I'm open toconstructive feedback.
I love that.
Anyway, I may have had like onemoment where it kind of bothered
me, but needless to say, I'mpretty open.

Elizabeth (28:22):
Well, I bet you built a great rapport with your team.
But did you have any like painstruggle points of just being
the boss and it's okay if yousay no'cause I kind of feel like
you've been a boss leading up tothis.
Yeah,

Kaylyn (28:31):
so another process was

Elizabeth (28:33):
delegating

Kaylyn (28:34):
Ooh, oh, relentless and control.
Yes.
I want to control the outcome sobad that it's just like I should
just do it myself.

Elizabeth (28:42):
Oh my gosh, yes.

Kaylyn (28:44):
That's a problem a lot of people have.
Actually.
I have that

Elizabeth (28:46):
problem and it's just me, myself, and I.

Kaylyn (28:47):
Yeah.
There's a problem with, is itgonna take me more time to
explain to you how I want it andmm-hmm.

Elizabeth (28:54):
Yeah.
But you can't grow, you know?
Exactly.
Yeah.
You have

Kaylyn (28:57):
to trust that skill.
But that's also too, you have tohire within those Oh yeah.
It's like

Elizabeth (29:03):
psychology.
Yeah.
People, and also on trend, youwant people who are like, on the
nose trend and things like that.
'cause you have a brand uphold.

Kaylyn (29:11):
Yeah, for sure.
So like, when I did startaccepting people on my team, it
kind of started by like, I knewyou are, I like your
personality.
Mm-hmm.
And I feel like our energies canmesh well.
Yeah.
And then it was like, okay, whatdo you like to do?
And then I can find some,because I'm a startup.
Okay, what do you like to do?
And let's place you where youcan grow the most.

(29:31):
Right.
Yeah.
Like, so it's a, it's a mutualbenefit.
I want you to be in the space ina role that you enjoy.
So that's kind of how I started.
It wasn't just like, Hey, I havethis rollout, someone apply it
was a little bit more like, Ineed help.
Mm-hmm.
What do you like to do?
Yeah.
And can you help me do that?
I love that.
Okay.
Yeah.
And that's kind how I grew it.

(29:52):
So the transition of Relic andControl.
Yeah.
Even so like I would have theseteam members, but it was just
like, okay, Kaylyn, what youwant us to do?
Like, you know, and it was justlike.
I, I had to get organized.
I feel like I had to have all mysystems and processes in place.
So it's just like very clearwhat I want.
Instead of just like, huh.

Elizabeth (30:11):
Right.
Yeah.
Because you can't expect'em tojust go do what you do.
Yeah.
That makes sense.

Kaylyn (30:15):
So that was, I feel like the biggest struggle for me.

Elizabeth (30:18):
Do you feel like you had to evolve to like a
different version of yourself toallow this, I guess, natural
growth and development tohappen.
Was that a struggle?
'Cause I'm, I'm a control freak,so, you know, if when the in
between brand grows, I know I'mgonna struggle with this.
And like you said, I think a lotof people can identify with
that, especially coming from anagency, and granted this is just
me as talking from experience offriends, but they have all

(30:41):
struggled, even working in anagency.
Like they're not the top dog,they're not the boss.
And it's like, well, these aremy clients and it's weird
bringing their team member onbecause I know how to run this
show, but like, I'm drowning inmy work.
Mm-hmm.
I guess maybe the question ishow would you say you felt
yourself change?
It's like honestly mature in away.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (30:58):
I say I fall back a lot.
Okay.
I trust them.
Okay, now I've talked to you,what do you enjoy doing?
Mm-hmm.
It's almost like an exploration.
Like Yeah.
You know,, treat this as if itwas your baby.
How would you do this?
Even today I just came from acampaign shoot.
So my creative director, hername is Kay Little k.
Bk, but yeah, I love that.

(31:19):
Yes.
So she was in her groove and Ijust stepped back.
Like, I just stepped back, like,you Okay.
She, she knows, she talkingabout, I let her have it.
Like I wasn't so going home onmy vision, like ultimately it is
like what exactly.
I envisioned.
Right.
But not so much every step ofthe way.
Okay.
So it was just like, if the endgoal is the same.

(31:42):
I kind of just stepped back.
I mean also too, she, she does agood job, but I feel like giving
them the freedom to feel likethey can trust their judgment.
So like, my videographer, hername's Nyla, we were shooting a
campaign video for the event,and I'm like, it's always, so
what do you think?
Like, here's my ideas, here'swhat I want.

(32:02):
But like, what

Elizabeth (32:02):
do you think that's so good as a boss too, to
empower others on your team?
At least for me speaking whenthe higher up the person,
especially the person I reportto, or the CEO whomever values
my opinion, there is so muchgrowth just in that interaction.

Kaylyn (32:16):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (32:16):
I love that.
Yeah.
Good for you.
So I think I'm doing better.
No, I, I'm doing good.
You know?
Do you ever feel like you'reflying down the rabbit hole?
Like just, or not flying somuch, but falling down the
rabbit hole sometimes with it?
What do you mean by that?
Like, maybe, maybe not so muchnow.
'cause now you have yourprocesses and procedures in
place, you have your team, andof course that can grow and
that's the goal.

(32:37):
But maybe in the early days,maybe when you were, do I hire
someone?
Do I not?
Like, how did you navigate?
Those are so many in-between, Ithink about it.
But how did you continue to beton yourself even if you didn't
quite know what you were doing?

Kaylyn (32:50):
So another thing I did when initially growing my team
is I shared revenue.
Mm-hmm.
So like, it was more so you makemoney if you put in the effort,
for example, Almost, you canconsider it like a freelance.
But like also too, I createdservices and programs around a
shared benefit.

(33:11):
So I had a photographer I workedwith, so there is a service
where I'm doing a campaign shootand you're getting paid through
every campaign.
Shoot, I book.
Got it.
I love that.
it was more so the people ispeople who I could grow with and
it is like it, we don'tnecessarily walk over each
other's toes.
So like, here, I handle themarket, I handle the creative
direction, I handle this, andyou come in as a freelancer and

(33:33):
you help me get the job done.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, that's kind of how I wasable to build it in that way.

Elizabeth (33:41):
You're so smart.
I love it.
And to think you wanted to be aneye doctor.
I know.
so we've been talking a littlebit online, about navigating our
own personal in-betweens, thestruggles.
And we didn't even like go intotoo much detail.
It was just like, it is astruggle.
I'm feeling it,, tears, thingslike that.

(34:01):
So what are you currentlystruggling with or navigating?

Kaylyn (34:05):
it's like that in-between phase of like, you
know exactly where you're going.
Like you can see it vividly.
You're just not there yet.
Mm-hmm.
And the struggles of the now.
Just dealing with life as itcomes to you and you see
yourself, but it's just like,patience is key.
Patience is key.

Elizabeth (34:27):
I feel like that is literally been the past 10
months of my life.
And there's like one phase toit.
I'm like, okay, get to thatpoint.
And it's just so much patienceand just trusting and just
breathing and being in thestillness yeah, I, I could not
identify with that more.
I know different ways, but yes.,I know this is gonna work out or
I know this guess is gonna workout, or I know this next

(34:48):
milestone's gonna work out, butwhether it's, how am I gonna get
there?
Not quite sure, but I'll figureit out.
Or it's waiting for that thingto play out.
Yeah.
But I don't think there's enoughtalk about how difficult that
can be.

Kaylyn (35:00):
Yeah.
It's extremely difficult.
but it keeps me getting up everyday.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Exactly.
It's like, ooh, like I feel it,I see it.
I'm in my groove.
Like I just gotta keep doing it.
But life is happening and it isjust like, I.
Gotta keep pushing.
You have no, yeah.
You gotta keep pushing.
You have another way just tokeep going.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You just have to keep going.
But I think you have to alsodevelop a mindset to understand

(35:24):
that.
So I'm getting better day byday, but I literally, every time
I catch myself, I talk myselfout of it.
Like intentionally, I don'tsettle in it for long.
Like I can feel down about amoment, but like, okay, pivot,
keep going.
Like, I'm, I'm about to keepgoing.
Yeah.
And that's honestly, I like itis a pivot.
Like Yeah.
down to the smallest thing, Idon't care.

(35:44):
I don't care.
I don't wanna talk about theproblem.
Okay.
So like, if we're in the middleof a photo shoot and something
goes wrong, I'm like, okay, I'mnot down about it.
Okay, well let's do thisinstead.
Like, right.
So I, I think I'm alwaysthinking about the, the pivot,
it's okay, like if this goeswrong, it doesn't matter.
It's not the end of the world.
And that's how I treat a lot ofthings.
Mm-hmm.
So, to go back to that, yeah.

(36:05):
Yeah.
It was just like having thatmindset of

Elizabeth (36:08):
just pivoting.
Yeah.
Is that how you ground yourselfin these inbetweens?
And it kind of goes back to likebetting on yourself too, I mean,
that's literally what that is.
Like, I'm gonna figure it, I'mgonna pivot

Kaylyn (36:17):
I mean, yeah.
It is not so much a pivoting,it's just like, keep going.

Elizabeth (36:21):
Yeah.

Kaylyn (36:22):
I give myself five minutes to cry about it you
know, just cry about it, butOkay.
Get up.
Right.
Yeah.
And I think I'm also have theenergy and the motivation
because I'm seeing it day in andday out, right?
Like, I see myself gettingcloser to the goal, and I mean,
that goal's gonna move too, butlike I see myself, so I see it
very vividly I just have to keep

Elizabeth (36:41):
doing it.
Do you, and maybe not so muchanymore, but on this topic, have
you ever struggled withrecognizing the milestones
you've already reached or likewhere you're at because I
personally struggled with that.
Yeah.
And I get really stuck in myhead that I'm like, wait a
second, look at what I'vegained.
Look at what I'm doing.
Look at how many downloads I getper episode versus when I first
started and it was like eight.

(37:03):
Yeah.

Kaylyn (37:04):
I can't say the actual moment, but there is like a
click.
Ooh, okay.
There is like a, energy shift.
I don't know.
All right.

Elizabeth (37:12):
A false, I guess really, truly.
Yeah.
Like

Kaylyn (37:14):
there, there was just a shift in me and I can't really,
pinpoint the moment, but, it wasjust like.
I know what I'm doing.
I trust what I'm doing.
I enjoy what I'm doing.
I'm doing it.

Elizabeth (37:25):
Yeah, I don't know.
You've reached the point oflike, of course I'm gonna figure
it out.

Kaylyn (37:29):
Yeah,

Elizabeth (37:30):
yeah,

Kaylyn (37:30):
I'm a problem solver.
I mean, it's some stuff I can'tsolve.
I'm not

Elizabeth (37:34):
gonna lie.
I would never know the wayyou're talking.
I'm like, you could tell me thesky's green.
I'm like, you're right, it'sgreen.

Kaylyn (37:40):
No, no, no, no.
I still have some stuff I feltin my personal life, you know,
like she's humble.
Uh, yeah.
But when it comes to like, thework Yeah, I can do that.
Yeah, I can do that.
I feel like Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah.
But, I just, just, I'm solution

Elizabeth (37:57):
driven.
Solution driven.
Gonna figure it out, gonna keepgoing.
Bet on yourself, and that's howyou do it.
I like that.
So there was a mindset shift andyou couldn't pinpoint when, but
there was just a point where youreached I'm doing what I dreamed
about.

Kaylyn (38:08):
Yeah.
And I also think it's yourenvironment too, the people
you're around.
Oh, yeah.
Support system.
Yeah.
I mean, naturally people havealways seen it in me.
Mm-hmm.
You know, and that's a pressurethere too, oh, really?
Okay.
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
Expand on that.
When people just and I'm tryingto use my words lightly, when

(38:29):
people just see so muchgreatness in you or expect
mm-hmm.
So much greatness from you.
And I mean, that started downfor my mom.
She knew exactly who I was andshe wasn't gonna allow me to do
nothing less.
Right.
So I was a people pleaser.
Yeah.
And I'm slowly, not even slowly,I'm, I'm getting out of it.
Yeah.
And I've been outta it for aminute, it's still sometimes a

(38:50):
struggle and you're just overcautious of how somebody'll
perceive something or you careso much about controlling how
they'll feel about something.
Yeah.
But, being a people pleaser, soI think just growing up, my mom
had high expectations, but alsoto, I feel like my environment
had high thoughts of me.
Mm-hmm.
So I just always wanted touphold that.

(39:12):
Yeah.
Or like keep that.
Yeah.
I don't know how to explain itor just not fail or Yeah.
You know?
Yeah.
So, taking that on to today, Imean.
I still work to please myclients and the people I work
with.
But I'm also more vocal Yeah.
About how I feel and not so muchof suppressing it just because

Elizabeth (39:33):
Yeah.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (39:34):
Good for you.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (39:36):
What would you say to the version of you, like the
younger self, when you'retalking about this pressure, to
please and this and this, andnow you are, boss lady k, you
are the CEO of this creativemarketing agency.
You have been enlisted inJezebel magazines 40 under 40.
You are known in the communityand even bigger than just the

(39:57):
community of Atlanta.
What would you tell younger Kay,who was pivoting, figuring it
out, going to compass, gettinglaid off, figuring out the next
move, what advice would yougive?

Kaylyn (40:09):
You have to trust the process.
And that's so like, I don'twanna give that advice'cause I
didn't trust the process.
I didn't trust the process.
It sounds so simple, but it's sohard.
No,

Elizabeth (40:21):
I, I, I'm thinking about me.
It's like, trust the process.
Is it?
No, we're trusting it.

Kaylyn (40:25):
Yeah.
Like, how can you trust theprocess?
Right.
Like what, like what's somethings I feel like helped me
through it.
Obviously God, Having faith.
Having faith, but also keepingmyself creative.
So like, I took advantage ofevery downtime.
Okay.
So when I was laid off, okay.
I immediately went into buildingmy agency.
Like I didn't spend all thattime applying for another job.

(40:47):
So it's just like takingadvantage of the downtime.
And always been willing tolearn.
So like anything that I wannaoffer within my agency, I'm
learning it.
I enjoy learning.
Yeah.
Especially if it is a field thatI enjoy.
Yeah.
So like, yeah.
So, I mean, I would tell littleK just to keep going.
and it's really

Elizabeth (41:04):
that simple.
Just keep going.
Yeah.
I mean, it, it's simple, butit's also like hard'cause you're
not getting instantgratification.
I remember when I first startedthe podcast, the thing I read
over and over again was like,consistency is key.
'cause everyone gives up.
You're not getting the AlexCooper call her daddy Yeah.
Downloads in the beginning.
But it's, you have to keepgoing.
Yeah.
'cause eventually you have totrust yourself enough that it's
gonna pan out to something.

Kaylyn (41:25):
Yeah.
I think I'm also kind of realwith myself too.
Yeah.
And like real about the processof like life.
It's just kind of like.
You're gonna get it.
Like you're gonna get there.
It's a double edged sword.
Some days I'm rushing theprocess.
Some days I'm enjoying theprocess.
Right.
In our generation as we'regetting older, I think it's more

(41:46):
so a means of the security.
Mm-hmm.
That is a feel for it.
Like put the most pressure onyou.
Yeah.
But I think just always keepgoing.
Like even when I was working, Iwas doing myself on the side.
Just always keep going, keepgoing.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (42:02):
I like that.

Kaylyn (42:03):
Yeah.
And honestly, I think if youkeep going, the universe just
kind of works out.
Like I've benefited so much Ithat too from joining Compass.
Like, I've benefited so much,it's pivoted my life in
different directions, and I justdid it like,, you just have to
trust the process and thateverything's gonna work out for
it.
So, yeah.
And when I look back, that isthe biggest lesson.
So now that I'm like, okay, I'velived life a little bit, I can

(42:25):
take my next years easier.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Elizabeth (42:29):
Because you have that trust that's gonna work.
Yeah.
No, yeah.
I love that.
I'm glad you said that.
'cause that's something that Ibelieve in too, that I've talked
about is you, I don't know howto explain it.
It's like the magic of theuniverse, the magic of God.
You just gotta keep betting onyourself.
You gotta keep going, you gottakeep doing it.
And you meet the right people,you get the right opportunity,
even if it seems random at thetime, like you just said, look
at all the things andopportunities that were born

(42:49):
from this conversation.

Kaylyn (42:51):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (42:52):
You know?
Yeah.
I love that we're gonna

Kaylyn (42:54):
say that about this podcast.
Like when we're looking back atit, like years from now, we're
just getting started.
Remember

Elizabeth (43:00):
we were in my, my, my house, or not even my house,
about soon to sell house.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (43:04):
Yeah.
So I just love that.

Elizabeth (43:06):
I think about that too.
I really do.

Kaylyn (43:08):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (43:09):
last question I wanna ask you before we get into your
event, I'm trying not to say thename, I wanna say it so bad, but
I wanna wait for like the grandfinale kind of thing.
Yeah, yeah.
Um, but I feel like this is agood closer on your story and I
also appreciate you sharing yourstory.
Yeah.
I love these kind of stories.
I love people who bet onthemselves.
'cause we don't hear enoughabout that.
We hear the bad, we hear thenegative, or we see the super

(43:29):
success.
You don't get the come up.
And that's the hardest part.
And it's, I'm lonely and it'sjust, I really appreciate you
sharing with that.
Yeah.
Hopefully everyone listeningyou, you may not have it figured
out, but just trust the idea.
As long as it's in your heartand something you care about and
you want to do, just don't giveup.
It's okay if there's moments ofself-doubt.
God knows I have those.

(43:50):
Yeah, I've had those a lottimes.
A many for sure.
But keep at it.
But on that note, have you everfelt underestimated?
And then what did you do withthat energy, with that smirk?
I'm like, Ooh, ooh.
Yeah.
Where is she going?

Kaylyn (44:06):
Oh yes, I definitely did.
And this, it's only a fewmoments.
'cause like I told you, mostpeople see greatness, right?
Yes.
Right.
You know, I don't experience toomuch, but I had a moment of time
in my life I had a hiccup andit's like you, when people are
waiting for your downfall, theyweren't waiting.

(44:27):
They were waiting.
So like, I think that was like.
A moment, and I don't even wannago into people.
No, we don't have to go intodetails.
But you had a moment you endedup, but I had a moment and that
filled me, like, it didn't makeme sad at all.
It was like, okay,

Elizabeth (44:40):
I'm not gonna prove them right.
I'm gonna freaking keep going.

Kaylyn (44:43):
Okay.
We'll see.
Catch you.

Elizabeth (44:45):
I love that.
Yeah.

Kaylyn (44:46):
Yeah, I mean, that was a moment, but you know, no, not
really.
I don't think if, if it is, noone really says it to me or you

Elizabeth (44:53):
know, you know, I love that you have such a clear,
like compass of you and yourpath and what you bring
mm-hmm.
But no negativity penetrate that wall of who is
Kay and what she's all about.

Kaylyn (45:05):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (45:06):
That is the ultimate form of self

Kaylyn (45:07):
love.
It is.
And I, yeah, it is.
It is.
And sometimes I think even myfamily and my, my partner knows,
like, you can tell me all dayyour opinion.
Mm-hmm.
But if I feel it and I know it,like I just understand you, you
don't have, my vision, I don'tnecessarily expect you to
either.
'cause I don't like Right.
We don't share the same.
Right.
I can't see what God has placedon your heart.

(45:29):
Right.
So it may not make sense to me,but hey, do do what you do.
So I think even like in thoserelationships, like I, I take on
opinions, but I'm also veryconfident in what I've been
shown.
I love that.
So, yeah..
So I don't really focus onnaysayer.
I think, I think naturallyyou'll probably feel the

(45:49):
pressure of failing, but Right.
For your personal self, more so.
Anybody else, like, just when

Elizabeth (45:55):
you reach your level, you have a team behind you.
You have clients that you,people who depend on you and
what you're gonna produce.
So that's natural.

Kaylyn (46:01):
Yeah.
And then I understand real life,like those people are dealing
with.
The same stuff I'm dealing with.

Elizabeth (46:06):
Right, right.
It's just who can hide itbetter?

Kaylyn (46:09):
Like Yeah.
Yeah.

Elizabeth (46:10):
I don't, I'm like, this is how I feel.
Yeah.
I mean,

Kaylyn (46:13):
honestly, that's how I feel too, because I, I know like
we all go through similar stuff.
Right.
And you, you catch more honeythat way actually too, by just
being real.
I'm, thank you.

Elizabeth (46:22):
Authenticity is what is, is what sells.
It's what people are drawn to.
It is what will drive you in anycreative, entrepreneurial,
whatever pursuit.
Yeah.
You don't have to be anybodyelse, just be you.

Kaylyn (46:33):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (46:33):
Because out of billions of people, there's only
one.
Okay.
Yeah.
There's only one Elizabeth.
Yep.
wow.
Yeah.
I love that man.
Self-love queen over here.
I love talking about self-love.
Like whenever I talk about inbetween, like, what is it?
I was like, well, it's one partentertainment, one part
empowerment, but like.
The biggest pillar is self-love.
Yeah.
And your whole story is anexpression of self-love.
It's an expression of betting onyourself, believing in yourself

(46:56):
enough, even when you got laidoff and I don't wanna say life
was against you.
That's dramatic.
'cause it's not the vibe you'vegiven, but the curve balls, the
hiccups, the speed bumps,whatever.
You still had a vision.
You still were true to yourself.
And I think that's incredible.
And that definitely goes to showthe success that you have had.

Kaylyn (47:13):
Yeah.
And

Elizabeth (47:13):
you'll continue to have, and even more so.

Kaylyn (47:15):
Yeah.
And, and just by you sayingthat, that coined me as
important, like it's a blessingto have an environment that
believes in you or you know,that stuff Yes.
That sees the greatness responsein you.
Yeah.
Like, and I think even from likea young kid, it's important to
have that around your child.
Yes.
Like, yes.
Instill in that, believing youseeing and looking at them in

(47:37):
the highlight.
Not from a pressure way though,like, not from like a
overbearing controlling way.
Right, right, right.
But just speaking life rightinto people and your children.
I think it's so important.
Yeah.
Because yeah, I'm confident, butwhen I think about why am I
confident

Elizabeth (47:52):
came from your family.
Yeah, they taught you to believein yourself.

Kaylyn (47:54):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (47:55):
I always say, my mom taught me the foundations of
self-love.
'cause she would be like, you'rewonderful.
You can do that.
Yeah.
All right.
Okay.
Let's figure this out.
Okay.
That maybe not that angle.
Let's try

Kaylyn (48:03):
this again.

Elizabeth (48:04):
Yes, yes.

Kaylyn (48:05):
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
And that's so important.
Yeah.
It is.
Oh my gosh.
Like my, my fiance does awonderful job of that with my
son Just naturally is evolvedhow I am.
Aw.
Like, it's a wonderful feeling.
Yeah.
And and your kids reallyappreciate that.
Yeah.
Like, yeah.
So talk life into your kids.

Elizabeth (48:23):
Yeah.
I think that's beautiful.
Speak life into your kids.
Yeah.
Because they'll benefit from itand it will make the journey a
little bit easier.
'cause you always have that tofall back on.
Yeah.
Mm.
That's beautiful.
Well, thank you.
So before we close, we have veryimportant things to talk about.
So.
I want you to do the full redcarpet, but Black Book Studio,

(48:45):
uh, I don't even know how longyou've been planning this event,
but there's a very big event.
Yes.
I've already bought my ticket.
Yes.
Next month.

Kaylyn (48:53):
Yes.

Elizabeth (48:53):
And it's actually my mom's birthday, so I know it's
gonna be a hit because Ah, yes.

Kaylyn (48:56):
Cancer.
Yes.
You guys, Cindy Cheney's energy

Elizabeth (48:59):
behind it.
Trust me, it's gonna be huge.

Kaylyn (49:01):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (49:01):
So give the audience the spiel.
Tell them what's coming up.
Okay.
So

Kaylyn (49:06):
only the hottest night of Atlanta, right.
The hottest night of the summeris what we're coining it, but
it's called Heat Wave.
Okay.
And this is our first of, itskind of our event, so I'm very
excited.
But we are really honoring andcelebrating the people who are
making waves here in Atlanta.
So we're focusing on businessowners.
People in the creativecommunity, film, entertainment,

(49:29):
in culture and community.
Okay.
So we're honoring those in thecreative fields who are making
waves here in Atlanta.
I'm truly excited about itbecause we're debuted in our hot
list 15.
So this is like, I won't say thehottest.
Everyone is the hottest in theirown right.
But we are on honoring 15 ofthose people from this
community.
And it's really, I'm justexcited about connecting.

(49:50):
Yeah.
And like we did a smaller eventlast quarter and it was just so
needed.
Right.
Okay.
Like, it was so needed.
Was so many relationships builtfrom that room.
It was intentional, it was fun,it was lighthearted.
Yeah.
So I wanted to explore thatagain, but, you know, also honor
some of those who in thecommunity and have put in the
work because.

(50:10):
It feels good to be honored.
Yeah.
You know, and recognize for thework you do.
Absolutely.
Because people see, they'll seeit and they won't congratulate
you.
They won't tell you, but they'lllook and they'll stalk and
they'll just liketalk, stay onyou, is this person's gonna keep
winning.
So I just wanna be very vocalabout, I love that.
The people we see in ourcommunity.
So it's gonna be July 12th atV12 in Atlanta and you can learn

(50:33):
more about [e-mail].
Okay.
But, um, and I'll

Elizabeth (50:39):
link that in the show notes and everywhere too.

Kaylyn (50:41):
Yes.
It's gonna be an immersiveexperience.
I mean, I don't like to use theword networking.
'cause that's gonna naturallyhappen when you put the right
people in the room together.
Mm-hmm.
Yes.
Yeah.
It's not a networking event, butyou're gonna do some of that.
Um, yeah.
But it's gonna be a high vibe,high energy.
Like, just expect to come in,enjoy a good time.
We're gonna have some liveimmersive activations.

(51:02):
Ooh.
Yeah.
And then we're gonna have acelebratory moment for our 15,
but honestly, it's really acelebration for all of Atlanta.
Ooh.
I love that.
That like, I think everyone inin the room is gonna be
somebody.
Yeah.
And I mean, anybody.
Somebody, but you're gonna besomebody who's on your passion
on your role.
Yeah.
Your, your chase.
So you're gonna, Connect withthe right

Elizabeth (51:19):
people.
There's a certain magic too,when you have all those kind of
people in the same room.
Yeah.
I will have my business cards bythen.
1000%.

Kaylyn (51:26):
Yeah.
But yeah, just, um, so that'sgonna be on July 12th.
And leading up to that, we havea teaser.
So, you know, I like to roll outthe red carpet.
Okay.
I like to give the people anexperience.
I don't want your money.
Give the people, I love it.
I don't just want your money.
Like I want to create anexperience.
I want it to be worth it foryou.
Mm-hmm.
I want you to feel even feelinglike it was more than worth.

(51:47):
Ooh.
More than worth it.
I love that.
Right.
So, um, we're doing a preludeevent.
Okay.
It's called Heat and Index.
Oh, cute.
I love that.
I love play.
We got heat index and we got theheat wave, but, um, so this is
open to ticket holders, peoplewho've already purchased the
tickets, almost like a.
Incentive.
Yeah.
But, you know, just somethingalso special in a moment to get
you preen energy.

(52:08):
Okay.
Preread.
Like pre what To expect A littleteaser.
Okay.
If you may.
So we're partnering with,antidote Midtown.
Okay.
We are also partnering up withSensational by Future Perfume.
So they're doing their officiallaunch.
Oh, nice.
Yeah.
So it's going to be, an amazingfloor.
It's gonna be powered by RedBull and like we're giving
people experience like, oh myGod.

(52:29):
You know, and then you also getto shop, our style book and like
what to wear to live inliterally I was just thinking,
what am I gonna wear to thisevent?
Everyone is asking me what am Igonna wear?
I'm like, girl, come to theevent.
Yeah.
We'll give you a look of likewhat to piece together.
You can shop from here.
Okay.
So we are doing a shoppingevent.

Elizabeth (52:45):
I love this.

Kaylyn (52:46):
Yeah.
This is so

Elizabeth (52:47):
interactive it's like a living event in a way.
Yeah, yeah,

Kaylyn (52:50):
yeah, yeah.
I mean, creating a moment likeat the core of the event is what
do I want people to be feeling?
What do I want them to beexperiencing doing?
So it's not just a party, but wegonna party.
Yes, we gonna party.
We're gonna Uber there.
For sure, we're gonna party.
It's not just like you leavingfeeling like, what did I that

(53:11):
for?
Oh, that was cool.
I just met, I just went to theclub.
Like, you know, it's like, oh,that was nice and I had a good
time.
Yeah.
And I made that connection.
That's the big thing.
And ooh, and, and then, oh mygosh, months later, we'll see
what that turns into.
Right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
But like, it's really just,putting like-minded.
I love it.

Elizabeth (53:29):
And I bet it is called the Hot 15.
Is that what you're dubbing?
The, the title for the honorees?
Yes.
Yeah.
So this is the inaugural Hot 15.
Yeah.
So I was, you know.
This'll be the next Jezebel's40, under 40.
It'll be heat waves Hot 15.
I love that.
I love that.
And I love

Kaylyn (53:44):
modern Luxury.
Shout out to Kendra.
yeah, but that's what we havecoming up and I would say Stay
tuned.
I mean, I would love for you toexperience it,

Elizabeth (53:53):
I'll definitely link the ticket link as well, like my
post clips and stories.
But if you're a creative, anentrepreneur or any of what she
just like hyped up makes you getexcited over you should come.
It's gonna be a great event.
I can't wait.
Yeah.
I really can't wait.
I mean, I bought my, I was like,when did tickets supply sales?
Yes.
No, Elizabeth

Kaylyn (54:09):
was the fir I think you were the first one.
No kidding.
Like, because of course it wassupposed to go out on Friday.
Right, right.
And then without Sunday.
And then you text me on Fridaylike, ready.
And I love that.
I appreciate that.

Elizabeth (54:22):
I'm a hype girl.

Kaylyn (54:23):
Yeah.
I support my people.
Support

Elizabeth (54:24):
your friends, seriously.
Seriously.
Yeah.
Uh, I have one quick question.
Where did the inspiration forthis come from?
So you said you did like a, likea smaller event last quarter
mm-hmm.
And then you're like, we needthis bigger, or did you already
have this vision?

Kaylyn (54:38):
Okay.
So this is where it started.
I'm always getting inspiration.
Yeah.
I got the theme first.
Okay.
But I didn't know to what extentwhat kind of event it would be.
Yeah.
I got the theme first and I justkind of put it in the back of my
Pinterest board.
Like, I just kind of startedcurating it.
And then I was thinking afterthat first event, I said, okay,

(55:01):
I wanna get into events from anagency perspective.
So like, I want Black BookStudio to grow into a community.
Mm-hmm.
And it really be a cloud ofeffort of, you know.
Me having the connections withwhat my clients may need, being
able to refer, build anecosystem.
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
I love that.
You know, so like I always tellpeople like, I am a marketing
agency, but I welcome people whodo the same thing as me.

Elizabeth (55:26):
Mm.
I love that.
There's there's room

Kaylyn (55:27):
at the table.
Yeah, there is, there is and Imean, there's more than enough
people.
Yeah.
There's more than enough people.
You can't even grasp it or thinkabout it.
Yeah.
So like it's, it is not that.
So.
I wanted to build that communityeffort, like, you know.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And eventually the agency isgonna be, yes, one for services,
but it's gonna be one forcommunity where you can learn
workshops.

(55:47):
We invest back into our futuremarketers.
And then also space forintentional events.
I love this.
Yeah.
So I didn't wanna, just a party.
It's very intentional.
Yeah.
No, it seems intentional.
Yeah.
And it took time for it todevelop.
Yeah.
Because I was supposed to havean event first quarter

Elizabeth (56:04):
and it's what, June?

Kaylyn (56:05):
Yeah.
I

Elizabeth (56:07):
mean, I'm excited.
No, it's gonna be great.
Yeah.
But I do need help on what towear.
I have no idea.
Got you.
I got you.
That's cool.
That's coming soon.
Good.
Yeah.
Good.
Yeah.
Well, I can't wait to go.
It's gonna be super exciting.
We will post all the picturesand we'll post clips leading up
to it.
And shout out to Brooke fromKafi pr.
Oh God.
Brooke literally had a wholeepisode about her.
Basically.

(56:27):
I was like, she's my hype queen.
If I ever have any self-doubt,speed dial, Brooke, I just need
you to lift me up for a sec.

Kaylyn (56:33):
Oh.
You know, I can get on atangent.
Let's stay focused.
'cause I can go into a whole No,this is Brooke's fan club over
here.
Thousand

Elizabeth (56:40):
percent.
Yes.
Yes.
I know.
She is such a, not even just agirl's girl, but she is.
I mean, she is that, but she issuch a hype queen I mean, you're
a happy She fought me anotherlevel of confidence too.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
The way she introduces me, I'mlike, I get bashful and I'm
like, okay, you know what?
But you're right.
I need to own that.
And it's, she says all thethings that you're thinking
about yourself.
Yeah.
You know, but she says it outloud and there's just something

(57:02):
magical about that person whowill go ahead and trudge forward
with the confidence for you.
Oh no.
Yeah, she's special.
Yeah.
Oh, oh.
I love our little community wehave going.
It's so sweet.
I love it.
Well, like I said, we'll linkheatwave, tickets, uh, Uur l in
the show notes and in all theclips.
But for everyone listening, theyshould follow you because not
only is your content fire, but Imean, it's you and you, your

(57:25):
brand, I mean, from this wholestory and this episode, it
started off as a little, littlelady who thought she'd be an eye
doctor.
Yes.
And now look

Kaylyn (57:31):
at her.

Elizabeth (57:32):
Yes.
But you should follow her.
So where can everyone followyou?

Kaylyn (57:35):
So, at re REAL, boss Lady, and just the letter.
K.

Elizabeth (57:41):
Mm-hmm.

Kaylyn (57:41):
Real boss lady.
K.

Elizabeth (57:43):
I'll make sure I link that.
The show notes too.
But yeah, thank you so much forcoming on the in-between.
Thank you.
Um, and just, uh, I know how,let's hug and then we toast.
Yeah.
Hug
too.
Toast are rose.
I know.
It's like kinda awkward with themic, like, cheers man.

(58:03):
God.
So good.
Yeah.
Well anyways.
Wow.
Here we go.
We made it.
We made it.
But thank you everyone and uh,we'll see you at heatwave.

Kaylyn (58:12):
Yes, we will.
July 12th.

Elizabeth (58:14):
July 12th.
It's gonna be amazing.

Kaylyn (58:16):
Yeah.

Elizabeth (58:17):
Thanks girl.
you can follow me on Instagramat In Between Pod and my
personal e bii underscore TikTokand YouTube at the in-Between
podcast.
And if you're enjoying the show,I would love for you to share it
with a friend, share it with acolleague, family member,
whomever, and leave me a fivestar rating.
Yes, I did say a five star.
'cause your girl knows whatshe's about.
But I appreciate you, I loveyou.
And I will see you on the nextin between.

(58:39):
I'm Elizabeth.
Bye.