Kate Bartlett: The Secrets to Working with Luxury Brands and How Her MBA 3x Her Multi-Million Dollar Empire

Kate Bartlett went from minimum wage to a luxury fashion empire, partnering with Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, and Ralph Lauren while establishing herself in the top 1% of fashion creators. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on working with high-end powerhouses and reveals the counterintuitive reason you should never try to monetize directly off luxury brands. She breaks down her signature high-low style philosophy, why 90% of her wardrobe is pre-owned, and the exact spots she hunts for hidden gems. Kate also addresses the contrarian move that puzzled the creator economy: why she went back to school for an MBA after already making millions, and how that single credential tripled her business income while securing her a real seat at the table. Known for some of her viral videos, Kate al shares the behind-the-scenes reality of her biggest videos, including capturing Timothée Chalamet’s reaction during the Kylie Jenner reveal at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Get unselfish access to insights that will help you own the room. Sign up now https://linkly.link/2jPXJ ⸻ Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:04) Who Is Kate Bartlett? (03:15) Kate’s Childhood Dream (05:05) Learning the Value of Money (05:54) Budgeting to Fashion (07:14) Evolving Her Content (08:50) How to Get a Louis Vuitton Bag (09:10) Why You Shouldn’t Monetize Luxury (10:46) Brand Deals: Image vs. Money (11:09) Building Kate’s Empire (12:42) Building a Team (13:42) Why Reputation Matters (16:52) How to Own the Room (19:07) Stan Ad (20:11) Bilt Ad (21:12) Why Kate Went Back to School (24:56) How an MBA Builds Her Business (28:36) Is an MBA Worth It? (32:55) Staying Authentic Online (34:57) Brands Worth the Splurge (36:51) Secrets to Luxury Brand Deals (40:57) Will Kate Launch a Brand? (41:55) LMNT Ad (42:53) SoFi Ad (44:11) Building an Iconic Brand (45:40) Inside the Creative Process (46:44) Kate’s Fashion Formula (47:27) Her Viral Victoria’s Secret Video (47:51) Turning Fashion Into Business (48:58) How Brands Stay Relevant (49:51) The Secret to Viral Hooks (50:49) How to Stand Out in Fashion (54:20) Finding Purpose in Fashion (56:43) What’s Next for Kate? (57:21) The Future of Fashion (57:33) How Money Changed Her Mindset (58:40) Kate’s Best Money Tips (59:20) Rapid Fire (1:02:23) TheRealReal Ad ⸻ Sponsors: Stan - https://ig.getstanley.ai/?ref=hotsmartrich&utm_source=podcast Bilt - Sign up at http://Joinbilt.com/HSR LMNT - Get a free Sample Pack of LMNT's eight most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinkLMNT.com/HotSmartRich SoFi - Visit https://SoFi.com/HSRCrypto and get up to $1000 in cryptocurrency when you open and fund a Crypto account The RealReal - https://therealreal.com/hsr for $25 off ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Your Business & Culture Gossip For ambitious women wanting to own the room, gain power, and build wealth. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Maggie Sellers Reum?

  If you're starting a business, there are certain things that are so fun to think about. Y'all know I love a mood board, so everything that relates to the creative, the name, the brand, the website, the vision board. But then there are the things that make you pause and ask, am I even doing this correctly? Or do I even want to be doing this? Like forming your business, getting the right documents, keeping your personal information private. This is where our sponsor Northwest Registered Agent is so helpful. They're a one-stop shop for founders who want to launch and legitimize their business without turning it into a giant admin spiral. They help you form an LLC or a corporation, act as your registered agent, and give you tools like a business address, operating agreement, website, phone number, professional email, and free guides.

• 0:43Maggie Sellers Reum?

  They also have real corporate guides who know your local laws. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/hsrfree and start using free resources to build something amazing. Get more with Northwest Registered Agent at northwestregisteredagent.com/hsrfree.

• 1:04Speaker 01

  This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required. Compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

• 1:29Speaker 02

  I will wear a Walmart cashmere sweater and my Birkin. I will always do high-low. I don't care. If I love it and it's a great product, I'm wearing it. So when I got an email from Louis Vuitton, I thought I was being pranked. But in less than a year, I went from making $15 an hour to then running a multimillion-dollar business.

• 1:47Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Oh, my God. Okay, so what are the secrets to working with luxury brands? Kate Bartlett, I have been fascinated by you. You work with Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef. The list goes on.

• 2:01Speaker 02

  My lifelong dream has always been, I want to work in fashion. But I grew up really understanding the value of a dollar. And the level of peace that I feel now because of money is really worth some sacrifice.

• 2:13Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So you start creating these budgeting videos. What happens from there to build the empire that you are now living today?

• 2:23Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So a lot of people are listening to this and thinking, how do I get a Louis Vuitton bag sent to me? What are the lessons that you would want them to know?

• 2:29Speaker 02

  I think if you do a few very, very simple things, you are already doing better than 90% of your competitors.

• 2:38Maggie Sellers Reum?

  First of all, my God. For someone who is good with money, who works in fashion, what are the things that are worth splurging on? And what are the things that aren't worth the splurge?

• 2:46Speaker 02

  Okay, so.

• 2:49Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Hi, angels. Did you know that subscribing to our channel is free? It doesn't cost you anything, and it is the simplest way for you to support Hot, Smart, Rich and help us grow so that we can bring you more of the conversations you love. Just hit the subscribe button below, and thank you.

• 3:10Maggie Sellers Reum?

  In case you missed it, you're allowed to be hot, smart, and rich. So let's get into it.

• 3:20Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Kate Bartlett, are you ready to get Hot, Smart, Rich?

• 3:22Speaker 02

  I have been so excited to hear you say those words to me. I'm so ready.

• 3:27Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, so I messaged my team this morning because I've obviously been a fan. But you know, sometimes you see people's online persona, and it's very different from what they're like in person. And I said to my team, what was Kate like on the research call? And they said, she is exactly the same way you see her online. She's so bubbly. She's so ready. She watches the show, and she's ready to bring it. So for people that aren't as familiar with you, how would you contextualize who Kate is and what you are doing in your career right now?

• 3:59Speaker 02

  I have been doing social media for 10 years now, and it's been a really interesting track. And today, I would love for people to learn how I went from posting budgeting tips, living in New York, to having contracts with some of the biggest luxury brands in the world.

• 4:16Maggie Sellers Reum?

  You work with Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Van Cleef. The list goes on. Has there been one pinch-me moment in your career? Or has it all just been like a blur? And you're just taking inventory coming onto the show today?

• 4:32Speaker 02

  I wouldn't say that it's been a blur, but I think there have been so many pinch-me moments over the past five or six years that I feel so much gratitude for. And I can't wait to get into all of it.

• 4:45Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I have been fascinated by you because you did something that I think a lot of creators and influencers want to do now, which is build their resume virtues. You decided to go back to school and get your MBA in a category that makes complete sense for where you want to grow your career, which we're going to get into once people better understand you. But I want to start with a little bit about you, Kate, because I feel like there are some people on the internet that we know so much about their past life and others that we don't know that much about. I would say you fall more into the latter. Would you agree?

• 5:21Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 5:22Maggie Sellers Reum?

  What was Kate like as a kid? And did you ever envision this career of what you're doing now back then?

• 5:30Speaker 02

  It's really interesting because my life dream has never been to be famous. It's never been to have a bunch of people watching me. My lifelong dream has always been, I want to work in fashion. And so the fact that I'm doing this now is kind of crazy to me. We were just talking about how we are both introverted extroverts. I would say that I get a lot of my energy from being alone. And I'm actually a very private person. So the fact that I put so much of my life out into the internet is, you know, I think it's not what my parents were expecting me to do. But my lifelong dream in doing all of this has always been to work in fashion.

• 6:09Maggie Sellers Reum?

  But is that different than wanting to be an entrepreneur? Because I feel like you are an entrepreneur. That happens to work in the fashion industry. But did you ever dream of being an entrepreneur?

• 6:20Speaker 02

  Always. I've always loved business. I've always wanted to make money. Like, that's been something that excites me. So I think, you know, so many women today have carved out this new path. And I would definitely say that.

• 6:34Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Talk to me a little bit about wanting to make money. Like, what was money like for you growing up?

• 6:39Speaker 02

  So I grew up in Orlando, Florida, and my family was always on a very tight budget. I mean, I had everything that I needed. I had a very wholesome, amazing childhood with parents who were still together and who were so supportive of all of my interests. But there wasn't a lot of money to play with. And I feel I always grew up really understanding the value of a dollar and knowing like what we could afford as a family and what we couldn't. And like I said, I grew up with everything that I needed, but I didn't have everything that I wanted. And I kind of always knew that if I wanted to have these things in life, I was going to have to work for them. And so making money has always been something that has excited me.

• 7:23Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So I actually didn't know before we started doing research on you that you first started by creating budgeting videos, living in New York City. What drew you to start making budgeting videos when your dream was really to be in fashion?

• 7:38Speaker 02

  I think that I was watching what people were posting on TikTok in 2020, which was very, very different than how things are today. And I was watching these videos for things that were very aspirational going viral, which is still something that happens today. But at the time, there wasn't a lot of substance for things that I thought that people could relate to. And this was just how I was honestly living my life. I knew that I had a story that I thought people would be interested in. Fashion school was not something that a lot of people like really knew about pre-TikTok. I mean, that's not a valid statement, but it's more well-known education path today because of social media than it was five, six years ago.

• 8:22Speaker 02

  And so I knew that this was something that I could talk about, that I thought that people would relate to. And it was a kind of old-school, almost YouTube-style content that I was producing on TikTok when it was mostly dancing and lip-syncing and more aspirational content.

• 8:38Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So you start creating these budgeting videos, and that's what you start getting known for, right? I think it's such an interesting person to be able to look back on years of now being on the internet and think about the pivotal moments where you were able to pivot and really be known for something else. Because a lot of the advice and a lot of people listening to this are going to hear like niche down and be known for one thing. And then ultimately, you kind of get stuck there because making the same video over and over and over again can be exhausting. So was there a moment that you started sprinkling in different videos with all of the budgeting stuff that you were doing? Or how would you distill down what you've built now from just starting making budgeting videos?

• 9:21Speaker 02

  You know, I would say that there was one moment and one day and time that a brand took a chance on me that I do see how it changed the course of things for me. I was, at the time, living in a really bad apartment.

• 9:38Speaker 02

  It had no window. It was really bad. And my room was very dark. And I was just like, had a fashion internship, and I was going to fashion school, and I was doing all of these things. And I got an email from Louis Vuitton, and they said, hey, we'd like to send you something. And at the time, I thought it was, I thought I was being pranked. Like, I thought it was maybe a scam. But I was like, okay, sure, you can send me something. And they sent me a beautiful bag. And I showed that experience. I was like, hey, guys, Louis Vuitton just sent me this bag. I posted about it. It went, it did very, very well. And that was when the luxury brands started to approach me, thanks to Louis Vuitton.

• 10:19Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So a lot of people are listening to this and thinking like, wait, how do I get a Louis Vuitton bag sent to me? What was your following count like at this time? Had you been posting luxury content? Or you were still just doing budgeting content?

• 10:30Speaker 02

  Mm-hmm. I was not posting any luxury content. I was posting content of my fashion internship and going to fashion school.

• 10:38Maggie Sellers Reum?

  That is crazy. Okay, this brings me to actually a case study that we just did this past weekend while we're recording this. We did a case study on how some brands, if they are offering a value of like a Louis Vuitton bag, or in this case, it was velvet caviar and this whole experience, they just did giving iPhones with so sick. And I distilled it down to like, some brands don't need to do creator deals via monetary value because they offer something of such value, whether it's a bag, or whether it's an iPhone, that the creators will just do these things for free or for exchange. So how do you start thinking about monetizing a luxury fashion category when those are

• 11:23Maggie Sellers Reum?

  the types of brands that typically just want to do exchanges for gifts like Louis Vuitton did?

• 11:28Speaker 02

  It's not something that I think about monetizing. I don't ever think about monetizing with a luxury brand because it's very unlikely. Maybe you will make a little bit, but it's not going to be anything significant. So I consider, I kind of place when I'm working with brands, them into two different categories. Is this like a brand that I'm going to build a relationship with that I'm going to make money from? Or is it a brand that's going to build up my image and association? And a lot of times, mass brands like to work with a creator like me, or a creator that works with luxury brands, because they kind of get to be aligned with that in a sense. And that's a great thing, because then these partnerships can add up to, you know, a lot

• 12:10Speaker 02

  of money, just by working with a creator that's associated with a luxury brand.

• 12:14Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And do you have a formula for how, in a month period, do you have a formula of how many brand partnerships you do for your image and how many you do for a monetary value?

• 12:23Speaker 02

  No, I don't. It changes. And I think a lot of times, the ones for your image, you can't really like, create them out of thin air. They come when they come, and you take them as they come. But I wouldn't say there's like a formula that I have for that.

• 12:39Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So, let's go back to this Louis Vuitton video. You're living in this small apartment, you're going to fashion school, you're making these budgeting videos. Louis Vuitton gifts you this bag. What happens from there to build the empire that you are now living today?

• 12:53Speaker 02

  What happens from there? So after that, I graduated from FIT. I graduated undergrad, and I started doing content creation full-time. And I would say, you know, I had a, that year was very life-changing for me, because I was going from, in less than a year, at 20 years old, I went from making $15 an hour, New York minimum wage, to then running a multimillion dollar business in the span of less than a year. And so it was a lot all at once, but I signed on an amazing team that I'm still with today, who really helped me navigate things. And that's something that I find so important, to, you know, outsource work to people that

• 13:35Speaker 02

  are smarter than you and know more about these areas of the industry than you. And from there, we kind of took off.

• 13:41Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Because a lot of creators listening to this or aspiring will think like, well, I need to go and get a team, I need to go and find a management company. But a lot of the time, my mentality in business has always been, if you put your head down and you do the work, people and opportunities actually come to you. And I think that's really an important distinction, because it's all about who's actually selling to who. And it doesn't sound like you were having to go out and pitch yourself to a bunch of management companies, or a bunch of people that were going to start representing you. They were coming inbound, is that a fair assessment?

• 14:12Speaker 02

  Definitely.

• 14:13Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And I think that a lot of people will think, oh, the answer is just to go and get a team. But I would say the answer is actually just to create really great content, and a lot of things will start lining up for you. When you think about building, in this entrepreneurial journey that you've had, and the team that you've built, has a lot of these things been that formula of just doing great work and things coming for you? Or what are the things that you've had to really go out and outwardly sell yourself to be able to bring onto your team?

• 14:42Speaker 02

  Yeah, I think in the beginning stages like this, I really put myself out there to honestly, anything that I was invited to. I focused on making relationships with not just other creators, but the people working in PR, and people working for brands, and really being somebody that was reliable, that they could have at an event, or to represent them well, and building what I consider to be a good reputation for myself. And I find reputation to be so important.

• 15:11Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, so we were just talking about that offline, and I think it's something that needs further explanation. So when you talk about reputation, what does that mean to you?

• 15:19Speaker 02

  I think a lot of times, you know, people will give advice to you and say, oh, don't care what other people think about you, you know, that's not the way to live life. And, you know, while I think that's very valid when it comes to maybe personal things, or starting to put yourself out there, or, you know, like pitching a business, starting a company, I think that's great advice, I think you should just go for things like that. But when it comes to, especially a business like this, which is the business of image, I think caring about what other people think of you is really important, because that can be the difference of millions of dollars a year, you know? People like to work with people who are reliable, who are kind, who are on time, who they can

• 16:03Speaker 02

  trust, and who are going to represent their, in my case, brand, in a great and positive way. So I really do care what people think about me. I like to be somebody that's known for having a good reputation. I think it's very, very, very easy to get a bad reputation. You do something wrong once, or twice, and, you know, people talk. But building a good reputation takes a lot of time, but I really do think that it's worth it, because people will come back over and over again, and come to you with new opportunities.

• 16:35Maggie Sellers Reum?

  When you think about the people that watch you every single day, what are the lessons that you would want them to know that are even more important than what we talk about in pop culture, for a level of professionalism and reputation that will follow them wherever they go in their career?

• 16:52Speaker 02

  If you do a few very, very simple things, you are already doing better than 90% of your competitors. First of all, you're going to be on time. Like, it's shocking how many people are not on time. And if it's maybe your first time working for somebody, or working under them, be early. I also think it's very important to walk up to everybody, introduce yourself, ask their name, remember their name, which is very important. These things go a long way. Knowing the right way to present yourself when you show up, you know, if you're working for somebody else, or you're working in an event, you are not the star of the show, and you probably shouldn't be dressing like that.

• 17:34Speaker 02

  You know, wear what is appropriate to be wearing for the occasion and the room that you're in. And I also think people really underestimate follow-up. Like, if you are working for somebody, and you, maybe you have a day on a job, that's like a one-off job, but it's somebody that could maybe provide you with opportunities down the line. I think it's so important to send a follow-up email after, and include something personal in it. Maybe you're talking to them, and, you know, you're talking about your weekend plans, and they say, oh, it's my anniversary this weekend. Send them a follow-up email, say, thank you so much for this opportunity, I had an amazing time, would love to be kept in mind for anything in the future. By the way, I hope you have an amazing anniversary dinner, talk soon.

• 18:18Speaker 02

  And you are already doing better than 90% of everybody else.

• 18:22Maggie Sellers Reum?

  You mentioned the word room a lot in there, which is my favorite, because we have this whole franchise called Own the Room. And walking into rooms where you don't know anyone is very scary. If I was invited to a New York City Fashion Week event, I'm going alone, like, I have anxiety walking into that room. How do you feel when you're going to an event just like that, and you're going solo? Like, what is going on inside of Kate's body?

• 18:46Speaker 02

  You know, I think I used to be actually better at it. I think I used to be a better fearless networker than I am now. I would say, the majority of rooms that I am in today, I typically know people, but in the beginning, it was, it was definitely scary. And I think it involved a lot of imposter syndrome, a lot of faking it, and learning how to be a great conversationalist in any room.

• 19:15Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Why, I'm the same way, by the way. I think it used to be easier walking into rooms than it is now. Why do you think that is?

• 19:24Speaker 02

  I don't know. I've done, I don't know if this is what it is, but I think I've done a tremendous amount of reflection about having spent all of my young adult life and coming into my twenties and becoming an adult, being watched by millions of people. And I think it's definitely had impact on my life in a lot of ways that I'm only kind of starting to realize. You know, people always say that your frontal lobe develops at, I think, 25.

• 19:57Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Yeah.

• 19:58Speaker 02

  You know, I know nothing about neuroscience, but I, I can kind of feel that. Like, I can kind of relate to that. And I think that, in my experience, being watched by so many people has, you know, made me have this very, like, I know that I'm being perceived, and so I feel this pressure that I put on myself to maintain this level, certain level of composure. And I think that that's probably had an impact on my fearlessness, if that makes any sense.

• 20:28Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So interesting. You think because so many people are watching you, that makes you put pressure on yourself, not because they are?

• 20:35Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 20:36Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this. You do not need to make marketing so hard for yourself. And I say this because I speak to founders day in, day out. And one thing that's become abundantly clear to me is that most entrepreneurs find building their businesses from scratch easier than marketing them. That's wild to me. We started using Stanley a little while back for Hot Smart Rich. And I'm not just saying this because they are our sponsors and I absolutely love the founder, John, but it's genuinely made growing the business so much easier and fun because you can think of Stanley as your AI head of content. You just connect your social page and Stanley learns your tone, type of content, and your audience.

• 21:18Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So when you give it a task, like, "Write me a caption," or "Build me a content calendar," it gets straight into the work without you having to handhold. It's great. You've already built the business, so let Stan help it to get seen. Head over to stan.com to start making your marketing easier now. That's stan.com to make your marketing easier now. Something I've really come to appreciate and absolutely love is being home, because I love to explore and discover everything that's right on my doorstep in my routine. The other day, I was in Beverly Hills and I saw the cutest little Italian spot and thought, "This is my next date night with Courtney." I promise you, there's potential right on your doorstep if you just know where to look,

• 22:01Maggie Sellers Reum?

  which is actually the idea behind Bilt, our sponsor, who helps you get more out of where you live. With a Bilt membership, you can earn points on rent or mortgage payments, and at local spots, too. Then you can put those points towards things like flights, hotels, dining, and more. Just download the app and link any credit or debit card to start earning at participating spots. There's also a neighborhood concierge in the app that you can ask pretty much anything to, and it will tell you about exclusive member benefits in the area. Download the Bilt app and join the membership for where you live at joinbilt.com/hsr. That's J-O-I-N-B-I-L-T.com/hsr. And use our link so they know we sent you.

• 22:44Speaker 01

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• 23:09Speaker 03

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• 23:38Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Do you ever feel torn between wanting to go into the corporate fashion route and doing what you're doing now?

• 23:44Speaker 02

  At the beginning, no. Because when I graduated from undergrad, it was the start of one of the most exciting periods of my life. You know, I was kind of accomplishing some of my goals, I was starting to make money, and so it was a very exciting time for me that I was getting a lot of experiences that I never imagined that I would have, especially very early, at 20 years old. So, in the beginning, no, but I think this kind of leads to my decision to go back to school and to go to business school.

• 24:16Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, so let's talk about that, because this, this really shook me in a good way, Kate.

• 24:22Speaker 02

  Okay.

• 24:22Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Because I, I feel like part of what makes people an exceptional creator is the ability to bring people along on all of the journeys that they're doing. And we often see this with people that start creating content in corporate, and then they leave corporate, and the content kind of falls apart, because it's like, but you don't work in the office anymore. You made a crazy decision to go back and get your MBA. Walk me through this.

• 24:48Speaker 02

  So, the decision, I would say, has a few different dimensions. I mean, there are obviously the personal reasons and then the professional reasons, which I love that you really understand this, because the personal reasons, I would say, are like more my media-trained answers, which are all accurate, but they're, you know, like something that everybody can really understand. And I loved when you talked on your solo episode about how you really understood some of the professional reasons that I did as well, when it comes to content. So, starting on the personal side.

• 25:19Maggie Sellers Reum?

  The media-trained answers, yeah.

• 25:21Speaker 02

  Exactly. So, content creation and doing this as a full-time job, amazing. There's so much flexibility, there's so much freedom, but it can also be extremely lonely. I mean, your day to day, your goal when you wake up in the morning is to make a video or make content and have it go viral and keep people engaged. And, you know what? What I think when you're at a certain level, you've reached a certain level of doing this, you can be, I guess, in a way, surrounded by a lot of yes-men, and it can be, it can get very comfortable, and you're not really challenged much anymore. You know, I realized that I wasn't doing things that scared me at all.

• 26:05Speaker 02

  I was kind of like living the same day over and over again. I didn't feel like I was getting any smarter, and I didn't feel like I was in rooms with people with challenging opinions, or who were doing something that was completely different to what I was doing. And I was having a conversation with one of my friends about this, who had previously worked in finance, and she said, "Why don't you go to business school?" And honestly, this was something that I had never even considered to be in my realm of possibility. When I moved to New York, I did not even know what business school was. I mean, the extent of my knowledge was like guys I was going on dates with that worked in finance that would be like, "Oh, yeah," like when I was in business school, or my

• 26:50Speaker 02

  business school friends, and that was it. That was all that I knew. And once, you know, I had this conversation with her and I started to, I guess, do a little bit of research and have some conversations, I realized that I thought that it would solve a lot of these more personal dilemmas that I was having in my career and in my life. And I also just had this gut instinct that it would be amazing for my business, which it was. I mean, going to business school literally tripled my income.

• 27:22Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'll be honest with you, too, Kate. Like, I probably wouldn't have had you on the show had you not gone, gone back and gotten your MBA. And I don't mean that because I am some, like, snob that only values MBAs. Actually, funnily enough, to be sitting here today, the reason I started angel investing, and I talk about this now, is I was like, okay, if I'm gonna spend $250,000 to go back and get my MBA, all I'm doing it for is a network, to be with really smart people, to learn via case studies, and I'm gonna take that money and start angel investing and see if I can do the same thing. But I do value MBAs, and I do value people who feel like they are maybe at a crossroads or at a pivotal point where they're like, "I need to make a change."

• 28:04Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And I think what you did is so scary. It's such a big investment, not only of your money, but of your time. And I think it's just, I wanna platform women that bet on themselves time and time again and have a story to share from that. And so, I wanna really dig into this, because I think there are so many people that are watching that are flailing. They either feel they're in a rut with their career, they may be in corporate, they feel like the business that they started is not working out, they feel like they're creating content and they don't really know what their next step is. So, take us back to this moment where you decide you are going to start applying for schools.

• 28:45Speaker 02

  So, I had to take the GMAT, which is a standardized test that you take to get into business school. And it takes quite a bit of prep time. At least, I needed a lot of prep time, because I hadn't done the quantitative work that you need to know how to do in order to take this test in a long time. So, I started studying for the GMAT, and, you know, I didn't tell that many people in my life that I was considering doing this, because, first of all, I was very nervous and a little bit insecure that I would not get in. And I also was working on, you know, a pretty tight timeline for when I wanted to apply for the next year. So, I told a few people in my life, some of my friends, who were all very supportive,

• 29:27Speaker 02

  some people who were maybe a little bit confused, because this was something that I was doing at what was the peak of my career at the time. So, it was a little bit like, why do you want to go sit in a classroom every day, Kate, when you have this great job already going on? So, I started studying for this test, and I had a lot of conversations with my team, who was incredibly supportive of this choice, and who supported me through, like, kind of taking six months, not even six months, probably three months, to just really go heads down and study for this test. And I applied, I got in, and I was terrified to start.

• 30:07Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So, what school did you go to and what program exactly is it called?

• 30:10Speaker 02

  So, I went to NYU Stern, and I did a luxury and retail MBA.

• 30:16Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So, you now have your MBA.

• 30:17Speaker 02

  I do.

• 30:18Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Congratulations.

• 30:19Speaker 02

  Thank you so much.

• 30:20Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So, you go back to school to get your MBA. When did you decide to bring your audience into the experience?

• 30:28Speaker 02

  When I got in.

• 30:29Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay.

• 30:29Speaker 02

  I did not share anything about what I was doing because I was very nervous that I wasn't going to get in. So I shared, I think maybe two weeks before I started school, that this was something that I wanted to do. And for then the first half of the program, which I condensed the two years into one year.

• 30:48Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay.

• 30:48Speaker 02

  So the first kind of half of that year, I was in the classroom Monday through Friday, nine to five, every single day, on top of doing what I was working on with social media. So it was definitely a huge time commitment.

• 31:02Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Was it the most amount of money that you have spent to date in one period of time in one year?

• 31:08Speaker 02

  Yes, yes.

• 31:08Maggie Sellers Reum?

  How did that feel?

• 31:10Speaker 02

  I was, you know, it's weird because I think I have an easier time making these big purchases than I would on something that's maybe $20. But I was so confident that this would be not only amazing for my personal development and be such a good thing for, you know, I knew I was going to get smarter and that I was going to meet interesting people. But I also was so confident that I would make the money back so quickly from ways that I could incorporate school into what I was already doing and the content and the partnerships surrounding that, which maybe people might not love that that is a factor of why I went back to school. But at the end of the day, it's business school and I have

• 31:53Speaker 02

  a business and so I'm going to do what I can to monetize in whatever is going on in my life.

• 31:58Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Yeah, and I would say to those people, like, every single person is doing that. Like, if you're going back to business school, it's to further your business. You might not even have your idea yet, but it's exactly for that point. I think you were just one of the first people in the luxury fashion category that did it. What was the perception of your peers in the luxury fashion world of you going back to school and getting this designation?

• 32:19Speaker 02

  Oh, I think people were really like, why are you doing this? But I completely understand that it's not for everybody. And while it was an amazing move for my business, it was something that I truly wanted to do for myself and I wanted to be there every single day. And I understand that that's not for everybody. And but it was for me.

• 32:39Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, so let's talk about what you said, which is you 3X your business revenue going back and getting your MBA. Why do you think that that happened?

• 32:49Speaker 02

  It's very interesting because my following didn't really increase a huge amount. It was pretty negligible. But, you know, going back to what we were talking about, image and perception, and I consider this content creation a lot to be a business of image. You know, how people perceive things matters a lot. And brands, I think, really respected it. There were so many ways that I could integrate product into, you know, my content now. There were no other macro creators at my level who could do these back to school partnerships or school tech partnerships, so I was able to monetize a lot from that. But what's interesting is that from having these,

• 33:31Speaker 02

  you know, accolades, which, whether you like it or not, it has changed a lot of ways that I work with brands. And it's changed a lot of, like, when I'm sat at a table, I could literally physically see how it changed my seat at that table from sitting with maybe another creator, which I love, to being sat next to an executive of the brand and being able to have conversations with them. And I think these things are what really made all the difference.

• 33:58Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I would 1,000% agree. And that's why on the solo I talk about it is building your resume virtues. It's how do you stand out when you're applying for colleges? Like, you are on the debate team, you're on the volleyball team, you're doing service hours. It is a way for creators to be able to stand out because so many people are now wanting to be a creator and they're phenomenal at it. And I look online and I'm like, wow, these people are incredible at making these videos and they have such a great point of view. But when you can differentiate yourself in that way, I think it just gives you a leg up in this hyper competitive world that we live in. When you think about what you learned, what are some of like the key takeaways and lessons from the program that anybody listening can apply to their life?

• 34:41Speaker 02

  I have found that I find so much growth when I'm around people who do things that are different from me or when I'm put in uncomfortable situations. I think the best things in my life have come when I'm out of my comfort zone. And, you know, I learned a lot of amazing things about the industry, about finance, about business. But the most important lessons for me were definitely those that I learned from putting myself out there, talking to people that I would have probably never had conversations with, hearing challenging opinions, learning from my peers who worked on the backends of brands, you know, what they look for in creators. And all of these things were what was the most valuable for me.

• 35:21Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm so curious because I feel like one of the questions I really wanted to ask you was about

• 35:27Maggie Sellers Reum?

  this concept that I often see with luxury creators, where you even said this word a few times when we first were talking, relatable. You sort of making relatable content when you were starting the budgeting and you were moving to New York City and you're at school. But oftentimes you see a lot of people, when like Alex Earl makes it, they're like, she's no longer relatable. When you think about how you've taken your customers or your, let's say, your community on your journey, how do you stay relatable when you are now one of the top luxury fashion creators?

• 36:02Speaker 02

  I mean, I'm very open. I'm not trying to pretend that I'm somebody that I'm not. I mean, I came from not having a lot of money to spend, being on a very tight budget, to being able to live my dream and do this. And I'm never going to try to convince somebody that I came from this lifestyle and that I, I've just always been this way and I've always done this. You know, I have my roots, I'm from Orlando.

• 36:27Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I love that.

• 36:28Speaker 02

  It took a long time to get here. It was a lot of hard work. I mean, I hope that it can be something that's just like aspirational in a way.

• 36:37Maggie Sellers Reum?

  But you never get that from people. They're, you're like, she's no longer relatable.

• 36:42Speaker 02

  Not really. I don't really.

• 36:45Maggie Sellers Reum?

  See, I was curious if that was one of the reasons why you went back to school because it's like, it can bring people into this life of like, oh, we're studying together, oh, we're doing these things that I'm also doing. But there wasn't an element of that.

• 36:58Speaker 02

  Not really. I think relatability has never really been like a goal of mine, I guess. I think a lot of my habits in life that I already have probably like are very relatable still. And that's just inherently, that's me, you know? I still use a lot of my financial tips that I used to give back in the day. I mean, that's just me and I'll always be that way. So it's not something that I really keep in mind, being relatable.

• 37:22Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, let's talk about that because I get a lot of questions on what are the things that are worth splurging on and what are the things that maybe are cycling and fashion trends so much that are just like not worth the splurge? So for someone who is good with money, who works in fashion, what do you think right now are the brands that are worth investing into, buying into, getting nicer pieces? And what are the things that just move so quickly in the cycle that aren't worth the splurge?

• 37:47Speaker 02

  I still feel like I'm learning how to spend money.

• 37:51Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay.

• 37:52Speaker 02

  And I'm learning, you know, what things really make a difference in my business to splurge on, even if there are an amount of money that seems absurd to me for that, for what it is, because I'm like, oh, I could do that on my own, I could get like a cheaper version. But if something is really elevating or helping my business, I'm learning how to spend money that way. But to your point, I mean, I still shop mostly secondhand. I shop most of my clothing on the real real. I think basics, like great jeans, a great, good quality white t-shirt, great boots, a nice pair of sunglasses, like invest in those things. And then the rest of the fun pieces, get them secondhand.

• 38:31Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Where do you go for that?

• 38:32Speaker 02

  The real real.

• 38:33Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Yeah, I love the real real.

• 38:34Speaker 02

  I also love Thredup. Thredup has been really good recently.

• 38:37Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay.

• 38:37Speaker 02

  And it's a lot cheaper.

• 38:40Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And do you have any brands that you recommend that are like a great price point for the girl that's listening that is ambitious, goes into the office, wants to look cute, that are your like everyday capsule collection wardrobe?

• 38:52Speaker 02

  I'm a Ralph Lauren girl. Ralph Lauren everything.

• 38:57Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Really?

• 38:57Speaker 02

  And I love the world that they've built around their brand. I mean, I could live my whole life, I could furnish my home and have, you know, my evening wear, my red carpet, and then my everyday clothes. And it's such a wide price range, so I'm a Ralph girl.

• 39:11Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, let's talk about that, the secrets of working. Have you worked with Ralph Lauren?

• 39:15Speaker 02

  I have.

• 39:16Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Oh, my God. Okay, what are the secrets to working with luxury brands?

• 39:21Speaker 02

  A few years ago, there used to be what I consider to be a formula that you would do if you wanted to get invited to a show or you wanted to work with luxury brands. You would start pulling pieces and pulling looks and shooting them with a great photographer and posting those photos on Instagram. And then their PR would flag you as a luxury girl and then you're invited to the show or XYZ. That used to be a formula a few years ago. I don't think that's very, like, applicable these days. I mean, now it has changed a lot. I see luxury brands being far more interested in creators' lifestyles rather than necessarily what they're wearing or association with people that they tend to like.

• 40:05Speaker 02

  Like, what are people doing in their free time? What restaurants are they eating at? What cultural things are they doing? Luxury brands love that kind of thing. And follower count does not matter, or engagement for that matter, does not matter as much as it used to.

• 40:21Maggie Sellers Reum?

  What do you mean by that?

• 40:22Speaker 02

  Luxury brands, I've said this so many times, I've said this on a few podcasts, but they seem to not care about engagement as long as it is aligned with them.

• 40:31Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And what makes you have that thesis?

• 40:33Speaker 02

  For example, one brand, I did a video for them that got 700,000 likes. And then I did a post that was, you know, more artistic, more editorial, and it got much, many less likes. They loved that. They did not care about the video with 700,000 likes. It didn't align with them. It wasn't a style that they loved, but they loved the editorial content. And I've seen it over and over again.

• 40:59Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Is that something that you got a backend view to when you were doing your MBA program? Like, do they talk about that type of stuff?

• 41:05Speaker 02

  Definitely. My MBA program was amazing because we talked about such culturally relevant topics and my professors really had their finger on the pulse, which gave me so much reassurance and I loved it.

• 41:19Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Who did your professors think are the luxury brands or the brands that just understand marketing right now and where we are at in society?

• 41:28Speaker 02

  Hmm, good question. I mean, I loved this program because we didn't just talk about fashion, but we talked about luxury as a whole. So we talked about yachts and hotels and wines and things like that. And I think especially like those categories really, really understand their customer and what their consumer likes. And the things that they will do for these customers are insane. Like, things that we don't even see on social media.

• 41:56Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Well, and I think that's a huge part of now building a luxury fashion house brand. Like, for example, when I was in Paris a lot this summer, I didn't shop one Dior bag because Dior's aesthetic doesn't really align with mine. But I went to the Dior Cafe a number of times. I absolutely love the matcha. I love just being in the house. But it was such an interesting thing to think about all of these brands, or whether it's hotels or coffee shops or Aloe Yoga even doing that huge massive lot. Like, is Aloe Yoga considered a luxury brand now because of that yacht?

• 42:26Speaker 02

  I think they're trying to align themselves that way and they're doing a good job.

• 42:29Maggie Sellers Reum?

  You think so?

• 42:30Speaker 02

  Yeah, I think they are.

• 42:31Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay. I'm so curious for you, the brands that you feel like completely align with Kate Bartlett?

• 42:40Speaker 02

  Ooh, good question.

• 42:41Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Aside from Ralph Lauren?

• 42:42Speaker 02

  Yeah, good question. I mean, I think I have genuinely such a wide range. As a creator, I think it would be hard to have a wider range of brands that you work with than I do. I mean, I love working with Walmart. I will wear a Walmart cashmere sweater and my Birkin. And that's me. That's like what I love. But then I also work, I have an amazing contract with LVMH. And I work with Chanel and Louis Vuitton all the time. So I love having a range. I don't think there's like five brands that represent me the most because that's just not who I am as a person. I will always do high-low. I don't care. If I love it and it's a great product, I'm wearing it.

• 43:23Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm obsessed with that. I've been waiting to ask you this question because I feel like you would be the perfect archetype of creator that would start a fashion brand one day or start something of yourself. Why have you not today?

• 43:38Speaker 02

  I think that there's a lot that goes into being a founder. And I think that, you know, sometimes people will expect, just because somebody has a platform and an audience, that they should start a business. But there's a lot, I mean, this is like a 10, 20-year commitment when you decide to start a business. And I want to be, I mean, my advice for a lot of things is start before you're ready. But, you know, when it comes to something that's going to be a 10- to 20-year commitment, I would want to start when I really feel like this is exactly what I need to be doing and what I'm so passionate about. And I'm 25. I still think that I have a lot to learn.

• 44:15Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Your frontal lobe just developed.

• 44:16Speaker 02

  I know.

• 44:18Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I don't know if you guys have been able to tell, but we have recently made a switch to the podcast set. Yeah, I wanted it to be more authentically me, so I have all of my essentials nearby. First and foremost, we can't go any further without giving acknowledgement to my emotional support pillow. She's comfy, she's burgundy, she's cozy, and we get the best of me when she's beside me. Of course, there's my boring stuff like my iPad. There is a lip gloss, a lip liner, always. And usually there has been a matcha, but recently I have been obsessed with Element, specifically the watermelon salt. I can't believe that they are a show sponsor because I have been drinking these for years. I'm obsessed with the taste. I'm obsessed with the way it makes me feel. I bring them everywhere and I'm always on the road.

• 45:03Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And I love the variety of flavors. And right now, you can get a free sample pack of Element's eight most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at drinkelement.com/hotsmartrich.

• 45:14Speaker 02

  That's drinkelement.com/hotsmartrich.

• 45:18Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I've always understood why people are interested in crypto, but always so real. A lot of trading platforms make the whole thing feel more complicated than it needs to be. If I'm going to explore something financial, I don't want to feel like I've downloaded some random app that I barely understand. I want it to feel simple and I want it to be through a company I actually trust. That's why today's sponsor, SoFi, is interesting to me. SoFi is the first nationally chartered bank where you can buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency all from one simple app. You can access over 25 cryptocurrencies on a federally regulated platform with the safeguards of a bank. And because it's all in the same SoFi app, you can manage your crypto alongside your

• 46:02Maggie Sellers Reum?

  SoFi checkings and savings and investments. If you're keen to get started, SoFi has in-app guidance to help you learn as you go so you can trade smarter. Of course, crypto is inherently risky and you need to make sure it's right for your financial situation. But if you're ready to explore crypto with SoFi, visit sofi.com/hsrcrypto and get up to $1,000 in cryptocurrency when you open and fund a crypto account. That's sofi.com/hsrcrypto.

• 46:37Maggie Sellers Reum?

  When you-

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• 47:33Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Think about people that you have seen do this very well, going from creator to brand founder. Who do you think has done an exceptional job at that?

• 47:43Speaker 02

  I mean, there are so many examples. I mean, two that we studied when I was in school, which was like crazy to see this, were like, they would talk about Fifi and the Felong Twins, and they would be in our class presentations. Or, I love Pia Mance, Heaven Mayhem. I think she's done, even though I don't consider her to be a creator, she still has, you know, or an influencer first, she still has an amazing social presence. And the worlds that they've been able to build around their brands are very impressive.

• 48:14Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I think that's such a key word that a lot of people, whether you want to be a creator or you're an entrepreneur, need to pick up on, which is the word world. Building a brand world is so critical to having a brand that people are just drawn to. How would you describe building a brand world?

• 48:30Speaker 02

  I mean, I think just being able to see even two colors together and think, oh, that's so XYZ brand, or see a style and it just immediately transforms you, or just the way that somebody carries themselves and think, oh, I know that they would love wearing this brand. That's what building a world is for me.

• 48:49Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay. What is, how would you describe your world?

• 48:51Speaker 02

  Oh, my world? Very classic. I tend to lean towards classics. And yeah, I think that if I could describe one word, that would be it.

• 49:01Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Like, when you're getting dressed every single day, are you looking at mood boards? Are you pulling things? Is it like, you just see things in your closet? Like, how do you even make creative decisions? I think distilling down people's creative process is actually really helpful for other people to figure out what will work for them, because it is a formula, usually.

• 49:21Speaker 02

  Definitely. It's taken a long time to get where I am today. And I'm sure I will evolve much more in the future. But if you scroll way down on my Instagram, you will see that I've come a long way, and my style has evolved a lot through the years. But I've tried out a lot of things. I really know my silhouettes. I know what I feel amazing in. I know what cuts work for me. I know what cuts I do not feel confident in. I know, like, I love to be in a heel. I love to be super tall. That makes me feel very powerful. And so that's something that will probably always be a part of my look. And other than that, I will play around. I'll take risks. But for the most part, I feel like years of trial and error, I found kind of what I like.

• 50:05Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And do you have codes? Like, you only wear these colors, or you only do heels, or you only wear this pattern with this? Or like, how formulaic is it?

• 50:14Speaker 02

  I mean, I have some things. Like, I don't really wear pink. That's not my color.

• 50:18Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Why?

• 50:18Speaker 02

  I don't know. I just don't feel myself in pink. So it's probably one color that I like, never really find myself reaching for. But other than that, I'm trying to have a little more fun these days. I'm switching it up. I wore a look two days ago to the Victoria Secret show that was kind of out of my comfort zone. But I worked with a stylist, and he put it together, and he was like, just try this. And I loved how I looked. So while I feel that I know my style very well, I also love being wrong, and I'm open to taking risks.

• 50:47Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, I love that. Wait, we have to talk about Victoria Secret, because I feel like your videos went so viral from Victoria Secret. What was it like actually being at the show?

• 50:57Speaker 02

  It's so fun. It's just girl world. And, you know, the energy is infectious. And it's just, it's so fun. Like, that's the best way to describe it. But it's also an amazing content opportunity that I really try to milk as much as I can.

• 51:13Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Well, that's what I was gonna say, is like, when you think about going to an event like that, like, what is the way, how is the way that you prepare to make it not only something you have fun at, but truly a business opportunity?

• 51:24Speaker 02

  Well, I love, I love making content. Like, I love taking beautiful videos and watching beautiful clothes come down the runway and getting a shot that I think is really gorgeous. But I also really plan these things out to make sure that I'm doing the best that I can for my audience, who I know loves to see it, but also the brand, who, that's the reason I'm there, is that they want me to do this. And I'm very meticulous down to, I will study what frames per second on my iPhone camera settings are best for taking runway clips and then slowing them down. And I'll adjust my camera settings to make sure that I'm getting the most beautiful, crisp runway video. Or, for Victoria Secret, a huge part is that, you know, people love seeing the model and then their boyfriend in the audience. So when I get there, I'll look and I'll scan the front row, and I'll be like, okay, there's

• 52:09Speaker 02

  Timothy. Like, I know when Kylie walks, I'm gonna shoot her and then pan to him and get his reaction. And I know in my mind, that's a video that the algorithm is really going to pick up. So I'm pretty meticulous.

• 52:20Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I mean, it is a formula. And it is, it is someone that understands pop culture. And I think that's one of the biggest lessons that someone taught me when I started making content, was things move in cycles. And like, you have to be on pop culture to understand how to make it work for you. When you think about why certain brands' shows, like, stand out amongst others, why do you think that it is?

• 52:41Speaker 02

  I mean, these days, brands are doing a lot of very buzzy things to get their content, the content from the show to go viral, because that is the world that we're living in right now. I mean, there's some brands, like The Row, that's so popular, that they don't even allow phones, and they don't even do that. And that works for them, and that's their strategy. But other brands, you know, have their show at Disneyland Paris, or have like, Bella Hadid getting a dress sprayed on her, because they know that that's what works for their audience and what's going to work for the algorithm. So I think it's really interesting to see different approaches.

• 53:13Maggie Sellers Reum?

  And when you come up with these crazy viral hooks, like, I will never forget the one that you did that was for Carolina Herrera. Can you explain what you did with that one?

• 53:23Speaker 02

  Yeah. So I took a video of a designer who I love, Wes Gordon, after his show, when he's coming out, and, you know, thanking the audience for coming to the show. And then some clips of the models and the outfits. And I believe my text overlay is, you can tell when a designer loves women. Wes Gordon loves women. And it's my most viewed video I've posted on TikTok ever.

• 53:46Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Forty million views. How did you come up with that?

• 53:51Speaker 02

  I don't even remember. It was a few years ago. I feel like I had heard that quote, or like, read that quote somewhere. And I love putting videos together with music in a way that's going to make whoever's watching it feel something and feel emotional. And I'm constantly coming up with like, text ideas like that, and writing them in my notes app. And that one just happened to fit.

• 54:11Maggie Sellers Reum?

  It's so funny, because that has stuck with me forever. And it's something where I'm like, every time I see fashion now, I'm like, how much does this designer actually love women? Which is all from seeing that video go super viral. When you go to these types of events, how would you describe the energy of being in that room? Because I went to my first fashion show in New York. I went to Altesa, did I say it right?

• 54:33Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 54:34Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, fabulous. But it was very intimidating. And maybe that's because I was more perceiving it to be intimidating, but it wasn't actually. I had to bring my husband as my plus one, because I was like, I can't go by myself. There's no way. How would you describe now, as a veteran of this industry, how those environments feel?

• 54:52Speaker 02

  Like you said, it was my first few times, my first years of doing it, it was very intimidating. And some environments, I still am intimidated in. And it definitely varies brand to brand. When I went to the Kate show, I was like, I'm the least cool person in this room. This is just how it is. And I accept that. And I know that. I'm just happy to be here. But then, some brands that I've worked with for years and years, like Michael Kors, I just went to my 10th show with them. I know the street style photographers, and I know the girl working the door, and I know, you know, the BFA photographers, and the person doing seat assignments. And so it kind of just feels like a little reunion, and it's very fun. And so I wouldn't say there's one emotion that would sum up going to a show in general.

• 55:34Speaker 02

  It definitely depends on the brand. But I always, it will never get old to me. I mean, I have so much gratitude to be in any of these rooms.

• 55:42Maggie Sellers Reum?

  We often, as people that aren't invited to these things, see a lot of conversation on the internet of people upset that fashion influencers are at fashion shows. What is someone's take on that, that is both now, and like, has the expertise of an MBA in luxury fashion, and also is a fashion creator?

• 56:00Speaker 02

  I mean, I know a lot of people feel that way, but this is the way that the world works now. You can accept it or not. I mean, in order for these brands to get coverage and to sell their products, which it's now harder than ever, there is so much out there, you need to have a social presence. I mean, like I said, there's some, there's some brands like The Row, where that's just not their MO, and that's not how it goes. But for the vast majority of these brands, they need creators producing viral content of their collection in order for it to get press and coverage and really, really stand out and get people talking.

• 56:33Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So there's a founder that's listening to this and wants to work with you. They don't have crazy budgets. What is the ways that they are able to get through and cut through the noise and actually be something that you would like, or be interested in receiving, even if you don't post it? But like, someone's watching this and thinks, like, I want to get in touch with Kate. Has anyone done anything super creative that has cut through the noise and gotten your attention?

• 56:56Speaker 02

  Oh, I mean, I can't think of necessarily, off the top of my head, a concrete example. But I think it goes a long way to be very personal about things. Instead of just sliding into a DM or emailing with this generic note that you know every other creator is getting this as well. I love it when brands really, if they're interested in working with me, they know a lot about me. They're like, hey, I know you're in school right now. I really love what you talk about, when you talk about XYZ. Or, I followed you forever. I followed you when you lived in this apartment. And I've been here ever since. I have this product I would really love to send to you. This is how I think it could be integrated into your life, or how I think that you would like using it. And that goes a long way.

• 57:40Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Totally. I once had someone send me a custom box that they hand painted with like, all of their products. And I literally opened it on TikTok, like, bawling my eyes out. Because I was just like, this is the sweetest thing that, to someone, you can like, make or break the month that their brand has, just by giving someone exposure. But it's also, it is a business, and you can't post everything. And now, my kind of rule is like, I obviously will accept gifting. And then if I get it, and it's just not something that I would wear, like, I have a whole protocol of like, like, this year, we're gonna find families to like, actually buy gifts for, for HSR. And we're gonna like, get them all of their Christmas stuff, and find something where we can put all of the PR towards that. Because

• 58:21Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I think that's the side of this industry that could use a lot more work, and like, could actually be a lot more give back, or have a deeper purpose. When you think about your deeper purpose to everything, what usually comes up for you?

• 58:38Speaker 02

  I'm so, so passionate about women, especially young women, investing in their education, having an education. And I think it goes far beyond.

• 58:49Speaker 02

  Even, you know, making money or having some kind of degree. But I think it does so much for your confidence and your self-worth. And I have grown so much in my confidence, even in the past year, having gone to business school. That was something that it made me feel like I can take on anything.

• 59:05Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Well, I think that's so true because now, I forget the exact stat, but I think it's 57% of young people want to be an influencer. And it's almost like an either or in the conversation of like, go to school or become an influencer and you are one of the few that has done both. Would you say that that's actually helped you build the career that you have because you were doing both? Or would you be further along if you hadn't gone back to school?

• 59:28Speaker 02

  Oh, it helped 100%. But also in doing this and being a creator, especially when you're going to do it for a long time. It's been 10 years now of posting my life on the internet. I started when I was 15. But in order to do this for a long period of time, you have to reinvent yourself over and over and over again. I mean, you have to be constantly evolving. I have never felt comfortable in where I'm at or that I could just sit in peace with where I'm at doing this because there's truly always something that you can be doing to, you know, elevate your business or work with your audience in a better way.

• 1:00:04Maggie Sellers Reum?

  What's next for you then?

• 1:00:07Speaker 02

  You know, I can't give you a concrete answer, but the conversations that I have had in even the past six months since I graduated and the way that I am able to work with brands in a much more intimate way, in a much more consulting way, I guess. And the conversations that I've been able to have about equity in companies are so exciting for me. I mean, I truly see the past 10 years of what I've been doing as just chapter one. And I am so excited for what chapter two will look like and what this industry will become.

• 1:00:42Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Do you have any predictions about where you do see the industry going?

• 1:00:46Speaker 02

  Where I thought I would be this time last year to where I am now, it's never, I'm never right. So I try to just take it day by day.

• 1:00:54Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm obsessed with that. When you think about, because we often talk about money on the show, right? And like how it buys you the freedom to do what you want, leave any room that you're no longer respected in. Do you feel like now that you have amassed a certain amount of wealth, that that is what fuels you? Or like, where is your perspective towards money? And what would you want a young follower to hear as it relates to a money conversation?

• 1:01:20Speaker 02

  I think for me, it's changed my security and how I feel about my future. And I love what you always say about, it gives you the option to walk out of any room that you're not respected in. I think that's so important. I really, really feel that way today. I feel so safe and secure that I'm really set up for a long time because of how I've chosen to spend my money. I'm very frugal besides things that are an investment to my business. I'm really big on my investments. I have built an amazing team of wealth managers and financial planners that really helped me. And I feel so secure in my future. So it's a, it's a very calming, calming feeling, I guess.

• 1:02:02Maggie Sellers Reum?

  So what is something that you would want a young follower to do or to know after you've been able to obviously get your finances in a really good place?

• 1:02:11Speaker 02

  I think investing is very important. I think living below your means also adds to that sense of peace. And that's something that I've been doing for years. I, like I said earlier, I feel like I'm still learning how to spend money.

• 1:02:25Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm obsessed with that.

• 1:02:26Speaker 02

  And I don't think it's a bad thing to live below your means or to be frugal. I know people like spending money can be fun and getting nice things can be fun, but the level of peace that I feel is really worth like some sacrifice.

• 1:02:41Maggie Sellers Reum?

  I'm obsessed with that. Okay, let's get into some rapid fire about money. Are you ready, Kate?

• 1:02:46Maggie Sellers Reum?

  What is the last thing you put on your credit card?

• 1:02:50Speaker 02

  I Uber Eats Air One.

• 1:02:53Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. Doesn't exist in New York.

• 1:02:55Speaker 02

  Yeah, exactly. I had to have it.

• 1:02:56Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Uh, what is the last most expensive thing?

• 1:03:00Speaker 02

  I hired a stylist for an event.

• 1:03:02Maggie Sellers Reum?

  They're expensive. Worth it?

• 1:03:04Speaker 02

  Worth it.

• 1:03:04Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Yeah. I always say to my sister, it's like one of the best business expenses that we've had because I just am not a fashion person and it's, it's truly paid for itself. Love you, Olivia. What is something you hate spending money on?

• 1:03:18Speaker 02

  Anything cheap. Like I said, I'm better about spending large sums of money than cheap things, like getting priority delivery on my Uber Eats. Ubers, I hate spending money on. I love public transportation.

• 1:03:31Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. Okay, finish this sentence. I know I'm stressed if I'm spending money on X.

• 1:03:38Speaker 02

  Sober Ubers.

• 1:03:39Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Sober Ubers. What does that mean?

• 1:03:42Speaker 02

  I always used to have this thing going, especially when I was, when I was really young, when I was maybe 21. And I was on a very tight budget. I had this thing called no sober Ubers. It was a huge part of my brand where I would city bike or walk or take the train unless I was having a night out.

• 1:03:59Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Would I come up obsessed with that? Do you still not sober Uber?

• 1:04:02Speaker 02

  No, I do. I do because it's necessary a lot of the times, but you know, I try to, I try to minimize.

• 1:04:08Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, love that. What is the last purchase that changed your life?

• 1:04:14Speaker 02

  Business school, my degree.

• 1:04:16Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. Do you spend more money on fashion or rent a month?

• 1:04:20Speaker 02

  Rent.

• 1:04:21Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Really?

• 1:04:22Speaker 02

  Oh, yes. I mean, New York is so expensive.

• 1:04:26Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Do you live alone?

• 1:04:26Speaker 02

  I do.

• 1:04:27Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Okay, that also doesn't like help. What age did you stop worrying about money?

• 1:04:33Speaker 02

  I think it will always be in the back of my mind. It's still in the back of my mind, even though I feel that I'm in a really good place now. But I would say when I was 20 and I had my first amazing financial year, it, yeah, I would say that was kind of the starting point.

• 1:04:54Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. Okay, if you could only tell yourself one HSR love note for the rest of your life, what would it be?

• 1:05:01Speaker 02

  I think the best things in life are always on the other side of your comfort zone.

• 1:05:06Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. And Kate Bartlett, if you could title the season of your life, what would it be called?

• 1:05:11Speaker 02

  I think the first 10 years of doing this were chapter one, and I really feel that I'm entering chapter two.

• 1:05:17Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that. Kate Bartlett, where can people find you and how can HSR help you?

• 1:05:21Speaker 02

  You can find me Kate Bartlett on everything.

• 1:05:25Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Love that you have that as like a universal name. Oh, my God. And how can HSR help you?

• 1:05:29Speaker 02

  Oh, my God. I've listened to almost every episode and I feel so much smarter because of it.

• 1:05:34Maggie Sellers Reum?

  Oh, I love you. Thank you so much for coming on. We love you.

• 1:05:37Speaker 02

  Thank you for having me.

• 1:05:38Maggie Sellers Reum?

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• 1:06:20Maggie Sellers Reum?

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• 1:06:56Maggie Sellers Reum?

  If you're starting a business, there are certain things that are so fun to think about. Y'all know I love a mood board, so everything that relates to the creative, the name, the brand, the website, the vision board. But then there are the things that make you pause and ask, am I even doing this correctly? Or do I even want to be doing this? Like forming your business, getting the right documents, keeping your personal information private. This is where our sponsor, Northwest Registered Agent, is so helpful. They're a one-stop shop for founders who want to launch and legitimize their business without turning it into a giant admin spiral. They help you form an LLC or a corporation, act as your registered agent, and give you tools like a business address, operating agreement, website, phone number, professional email, and free guides.

• 1:07:40Maggie Sellers Reum?

  They also have real corporate guides who know your local laws. Visit northwestregisteredagent.com/hsrfree and start using free resources to build something amazing. Get more with Northwest Registered Agent at northwestregisteredagent.com/hsrfree.

• 1:08:00Speaker 04

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