Working Mom Diary: Social Media Coach

Growing careers while raising babies is as challenging as it is beautiful. Every working mom has a unique story to tell. Balancing work, life, and everything in between is a little easier with the power of connection. My dream at Freshly Brewed Mama is to connect with working moms in all phases of their journey to embrace this season, and support the incredible work that moms do every day. It is a privilege to hear your story and share it with this community with a working mom interview.

This week I was able to connect with a phenomenal working mom that I met through the world of social media! Not only is Katie McKiever a wonderful working mom to her girls, but she is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the social media space! If you are a blogger, influencer, or business owner, Katie is a great source to connect with. Her tips are always relevant to each social media platform and I know I can count on her to always provide updates that are crucial to a social media strategy. Check out her insight into the working mom life, and reach out to her connect with her in the social media space for all the tips and tricks!

Please tell us about yourself!

I’m a working mom with two girls ages 7 and 4, Kaitlyn and Nova. I’m a wife to the funniest, nicest guy I know, John. We live in Charlotte, NC.

I am a people person. I love hearing people’s stories and seeing how we’re all connected in some way.

I’m loud. I can’t help it. A loud talker, a loud laugher, and if I have heels on, a loud walker.

I love music, reading, laughing (loudly), working out, going on family walks, and social media

What do you do for work, and what do you enjoy about your job?

I’m a social media professional. I’m a coach, consultant, and teacher. I help women business leaders grow on social media platforms. I’m passionate about this work because it marries my expertise in social media with people’s stories.

Everyone has an expertise and using social media is one of the best ways to showcase that expertise, but so many people are overwhelmed by the thought. They don’t know what to do, where to start, what to say, and are typically self conscious about putting themselves “out there” online.

I empower women with strategies to help them reach their ideal audience at scale and in a fun and uplifting way.

Does your work look differently after entering motherhood, and what changes did you make to your career if any?

Fun fact: I started new jobs during both of my pregnancies. I was visibly pregnant during the interviews and was hired for both positions I was vying for.

Once I had Kaitlyn, my first child, and returned following my maternity leave at my newish job as a marketing and communications lead at a small tech startup, my eyes were sprung open by the difficulties of being a working mom ESPECIALLY if you’re pumping and in a very demanding position. It was almost comical the hoops I had to jump through to secure a location to pump multiple times throughout the day.

Your priorities change so much. Before kids, I was very focused on my career, and while I still very much am, I have a completely different perspective. I work hard in my career now to show my girls what’s possible for them too.

What parts of working motherhood do you love, and what parts are most challenging?

I love having multiple passions. My children and family are my passion, and my personal goals are as well. It’s a piece of me that I hold sacred because it reminds me of who I was before being a mom.

The challenge comes with the delicate balance of doing everything you want to do without overwhelming yourself. That is a weekly, if not daily, if not hourly tightrope that you walk as a working mom.

What is your best piece of advice for other working moms who may be struggling with working motherhood?

Find a group of fellow working moms to form bonds with. Having others that understand all of the struggles is very comforting. You feel much less alone.

With all the things we balance as moms, where does mom guilt most often show up for you and how do you cope?

I am very driven in my professional life. I’m regularly asking myself if I should be putting so many hours into my business and how to know the “right” amount of time to give to work, your family, and other parts of your life.

What is one resource or success strategy that you could not be successful without?

My morning routine of getting up before everyone else and doing my Bible reading, gratitude journal, to-do list organization and working out.

What makes you feel most fulfilled in motherhood at this point in your journey?

Seeing my kids playing and being happy. It’s really as simple as that.

How do you make time to take care of yourself and what does that look like for you?

It’s usually when I workout in the morning. My husband is amazing too and we truly have a 50-50 parenting and household duties partnership. This allows us both to make time for hobbies or activities that fill our cups individually.