“If there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, light that b*tch yourself.” Those were the words Katrina told herself when she left her five-year career in localization project management (and her hometown!) to pursue her dream of working in marketing and events with the ultimate goal of building supportive communities through transformative experiences.

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Q: Tell us about your current work roles.

Currently, I work as an Events Coordinator and Customer Marketer at PeopleGrove, which is an EdTech start-up based in San Francisco. Our mission is to help universities and organizations provide students and professionals anywhere in the world access to community and connection. Interestingly, while tech is evolving, universities often face stagnation and bureaucracy when it comes to marketing strategies and how to spend internal budgets. I am in a unique position of figuring out the best ways to communicate the value of virtual services as a must-have for institutions.

Q: What led you to that career?

I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I could build supportive communities through transformative experiences and meaningful content. However, with my senior year of college coming to an end, my top priority was to find a full-time job before graduation. The goal was to attain a job where I could support myself and gain real-world experience in order to pursue my dream to work in marketing and events.

Two weeks after graduation, I started my first full-time job at a translation and localization company as a project manager, where I stayed for five years. With every passing year and hard-earned promotion, I became increasingly unhappy and resentful as I watched my ultimate dream move farther and farther out of reach.

I reached a point where I determined it was time to put myself first and find a company that aligned with my values. After doing some extensive research on some of my dream companies, along with a lot of informational interviews, In 2019, I made a career pivot and left the comfort of my home in Southern California to start a new chapter in San Francisco.

Q: What is your educational background?

I double-majored in Psychology and Anthropology. It took one statistics class to make me realize that I am not cut out to work in a lab or be a psychiatrist. Instead of switching majors, I picked up Anthropology which I absolutely loved. The combination of both majors opened up a new line of conceptual thinking for me, which I’ve applied to my own marketing strategies and creative work.

Q: Did you have any life-changing experiences that led you to what you’re doing today?

Interning at the Smithsonian Associates as an events and social media coordinator is what made me fall in love with what I call “edu-tainment.” I was in charge of marketing and coordinating their 21+ after-hour education series at different Smithsonian locations. As a social butterfly and nature networker who loves discovering the next best thing to do, I loved the challenge of getting people excited about science, art, and history through the medium of fun, party-inspired social gatherings.

Q: How has your family and upbringing influenced your career choices?

Growing up as a military brat, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to have lived and traveled all around the world. This explains my insatiable hunger for using marketing to bridge barriers and build communities. With that being said, I am also a first-generation college student. My parents didn’t have the knowledge to guide me on things such as “how to pick the best college to attend.” As I went through my undergraduate experience, I picked up valuable information a little too late which is why I am passionate about building supportive communities and providing resources for those who are lacking that kind of support.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing?

After blogging for five years, I have moved from writing short and long form posts to creating downloadable resources. I recently published my first 17-page eGuide on “How To Master the Informational Interview.” In this guide, I include tips, tricks, and the exact outreach templates I used to make a career switch in hopes others can benefit from someone who has been there and done it.

On Making a Career Shift

Q: How did you find the courage to leap from one field to another?

I told myself, “If there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, light that b*tch yourself.” When you’re at a job for five years, it’s either because you love it, you’re comfortable, or you feel you can’t do anything else. For the longest time, I thought I was not “good enough” to venture into unknown waters. The best opportunities in life are the ones you create for yourself. If I wanted change to happen, I needed to reposition my outlook on life so that I could make my own opportunities.

If there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, light that b*tch yourself.

Q: What has been the greatest challenge for you when it comes to switching careers?

The biggest challenge was getting over the fact I was “starting over.” The reality about switching careers is that you aren’t starting over—you’re coming in with the ability to offer a fresh and unique perspective, which makes you a valuable asset.

Q: What advice do you have for others who want to switch careers?

A prerequisite to finding your passion is understanding what you are committed to doing. Love writing? Could you write for hours on end, every day, and under pressure? Your passions can be revealed in interesting ways so it’s important to “try and repeat” the things that interest you in different capacities to get a better sense of what is your overall commitment level.

A prerequisite to finding your passion is understanding what you are committed to doing.

Q: What’s next for you, what are you looking forward to?

Professionally, I am looking to switch careers (yes, again!) into recruiting, where I can connect aspiring leaders to supportive communities and valuable resources, to help each and every person achieve the career and life of their dreams. In my personal life, I am collaborating with a couple of awesome women leaders on some branding strategy projects. And lastly, I will be releasing an e-course of how to revamp your resume.

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Learn more about and connect with Katrina at:

Website: https://alongcamekatrina.com/

Instagram: @alongcamekatrina

Twitter: @alongcamekatrina

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinahoner/

From Project Management to Events and Marketing: Katrina Honer