Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 024

Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 024

In this mini-episode of ‘Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,’ Kat and Ellen discuss how small-town dynamics can intensify business relationships and conflicts. Ellen shares a conflict in her business community and she and Kat conclude that Ellen should focus on showing up authentically rather than dwelling on the conflict. Kat also talks about launching her fabrication company Benchwork with two former coworkers and anticipating a difficult reaction from their previous boss, while the episode briefly touches on automation services and Ellen's email and domain forwarding issues.  Don't forget to⁠ submit your business questions⁠ [https://organized-country-4e6.notion.site/1ca50631201e81b19c0dc4cc2363d894] for future episodes!  Kat is the Founder of kat&co [https://www.katandco.org/], a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication [https://www.benchworkfab.com/]. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download [https://katandco-download.beehiiv.com/subscribe]. Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting [http://www.ellenhockley.com/] and SAGE Women [http://www.ellenhockley.com/joinsage]. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠ [https://substack.com/@ellenhockley].

S2E6: Using Human Design to Run a Business That Fits with Emily Bissen of Blue Heron Business Partners

In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Kat and Ellen talk to Emily Bissen, founder of Blue Heron Business Partners [https://www.blueheronbusinesspartners.com/about/], whose work sits at the intersection of business opportunity strategy and human design. Emily, a self-described 4/1 manifesting generator, explains how discovering her own human design gave language to skills she'd always had: reading people, spotting opportunities, and making the right connections at the right time. The conversation gets into the tension between prescribed entrepreneurial playbooks and trusting a more personalized approach, including the permission it takes to set boundaries, walk away from misaligned work, and build a business around what actually matters. Emily Bissen is a Business Opportunity Strategist and Super Connector who helps talented, driven business owners stop spinning their wheels and start moving. Using each client's unique Human Design, she creates strategies built for how they're wired rather than forcing someone else's playbook. Find Emily on LinkedIn  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybissen/]or visit her at blueheronbusinesspartners.com [http://blueheronbusinesspartners.com/]. Kat is the Founder of kat&co [https://www.katandco.org/], a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication [https://www.benchworkfab.com/]. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download [https://katandco-download.beehiiv.com/subscribe]. Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting [http://www.ellenhockley.com/] and SAGE Women [http://www.ellenhockley.com/joinsage]. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠ [https://substack.com/@ellenhockley]. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 01:22 Meet Emily Beeson 02:00 Human Design Basics 04:25 Retreat Spark Story 05:39 Using Design With Clients 08:37 Starting Her Business 11:05 Ditching Others Playbooks 14:25 Offers And Containers 18:04 Time Freedom With Kids 20:28 Teachers To Entrepreneurs 22:53 Ditching the Playbook 23:48 Permission to Choose 26:20 Boundaries and Availability 28:28 Permission to Quit 29:01 Human Design Deep Dive 30:29 Energy and Grounding 34:50 Decision Making Styles 40:35 Oldest Daughter Patterns 42:56 Building a Support Village 44:25 Get Curious Closing 46:00 Where to Find Emily 46:45 Podcast Sign Off

Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 024

In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' Kat and Ellen discuss a book, "This Story Might Save Your Life," that mirrors their own podcast experience, then debate whether audiobooks count as reading (spoiler: Kat and Ellen agree that they do). They also explore how to make networking feel less awkward through clear purpose, low barriers, casual formats, and community containers where members can genuinely support one another. Don't forget to⁠⁠ submit your business questions⁠⁠ [https://organized-country-4e6.notion.site/1ca50631201e81b19c0dc4cc2363d894] for future episodes!  Kat is the Founder of ⁠kat&co⁠ [https://www.katandco.org/], a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at ⁠Benchwork Fabrication⁠ [https://www.benchworkfab.com/]. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, ⁠The kat&co Download⁠ [https://katandco-download.beehiiv.com/subscribe]. Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of ⁠Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠ [http://www.ellenhockley.com/] and ⁠SAGE Women⁠ [http://www.ellenhockley.com/joinsage]. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter,⁠ ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠⁠ [https://substack.com/@ellenhockley].

S2 E6: Embracing Change, Marketing Operations, and Building Remote Connections with Emily Oberman

In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Kat and Ellen sit down with Emily Oberman, founder of The Content Atelier [http://www.thecontentatelier.com], a copywriter and content strategist who built a boutique agency around long-form content, newsletters (including Substack), and podcast support after recognizing a gap in the market for writers who actually understand the nuance of founder-led storytelling. The conversation spans remote work, packaging services as a generalist, navigating AI, a tough 2025 economy, and her advice to founders. Emily Oberman is a copywriter, content strategist, and founder of The Content Atelier [http://www.thecontentatelier.com], a boutique content marketing agency that focuses on long-form content. She has over 10 years of experience in content and systems strategy and has ghostwritten for over 150 individuals and brands. Her clients consider her their digital Mary Poppins. Kat is the Founder of kat&co [https://www.katandco.org/], a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication [https://www.benchworkfab.com/]. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download [https://katandco-download.beehiiv.com/subscribe]. Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting [http://www.ellenhockley.com/] and SAGE Women [http://www.ellenhockley.com/joinsage]. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠ [https://substack.com/@ellenhockley]. 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:47 Chaotic Catch Up 01:27 Meet Emily Oberman 03:11 Long Form Content Focus 04:24 Substack Versus Blogs 07:06 Podcast Strategy Work 07:42 From Corporate To Remote 08:27 Commuting And Childcare 11:02 Remote Agency To Solo 11:55 Imaginary Friends Origin 13:35 Digital Mary Poppins Brand 16:46 AI And Marketing Ops 19:40 Clients Using AI Drafts 22:27 Why And Who First 24:48 Values Driven Services 25:43 Pricing For Small Business 27:00 Choosing Tools By Values 28:59 Claude Versus ChatGPT 30:18 Generalist Boundaries 31:53 Intuition And Human Design 33:41 Remote Work Setup 37:19 Contractors And Volatility 41:34 Female Founder Stigma 43:50 Advice And Wrap Up

Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 023

In this mini-episode of ‘Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,’ Kat and Ellen discuss Kat’s first hypnosis session with Kelly Chessen of Hope Rd. Hypnosis [https://hoperd.com/]that focused on her relationship with money. Kat describes a guided visualization exercise involving inviting past influences on money to a mental table, confronting negative associations, inner-child emotions, and asking money what it needs. Kat feels empowered by her takeaway about using money for creativity, joy, and connection and notes new opportunities arising. They close by discussing how to talk with clients about money, pricing, and boundaries. Don't forget to⁠ submit your business questions⁠ [https://organized-country-4e6.notion.site/1ca50631201e81b19c0dc4cc2363d894] for future episodes!  Kat is the Founder of kat&co [https://www.katandco.org/], a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication [https://www.benchworkfab.com/]. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download [https://katandco-download.beehiiv.com/subscribe]. Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting [http://www.ellenhockley.com/] and SAGE Women [http://www.ellenhockley.com/joinsage]. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠ [https://substack.com/@ellenhockley].