269: Enter, Stage Right

Two theater kids walk into an AEC firm… Kathryn Ness visits Kayla McCause from Dragonfly AEC and Kate Robinette of GO Strategies about how they apply their performing arts training and experiences to their work in marketing and business development. These three get serious about play and the transferable skills of unusual backgrounds. Enter, stage right.

Kayla has a background in theater and worked in corporate marketing, giving her an appreciation of both the art and analytics behind effective marketing strategies. Energetic and inquisitive, she challenges herself to continually learn and improve in work and life, whether through asking powerful questions or experiencing different cultures. With her unique mix of skills and perspectives, Kayla gives AEC firms the tools to expand their influence and grow their revenue. From helping firms grow and diversify their market share to delivering engaging training sessions, she applies a combination of optimism and objectivity that creates connection and drives results.

Kate is a theater nerd who learned about AEC marketing when a board member of the arts council where she worked suggested she talk to his marketing director. She quickly realized her linear thinking, strategic analysis, writing, and logistics management were a killer combination for helping to win work. She spent 20 years honing her craft. Now she helps companies strengthen their marketing and BD teams, culture, and employee engagement with the same combination of talents and a (slightly less) deadline-driven rigor