We had the good fortune of connecting with kathryn emery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi kathryn, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Authenticity. Being in Public Relations, if your are true to yourself, you learn early on that you cannot promote something your don’t believe in. This goes in business and it should flow through to the other areas of your life. When you speak about what you know, and genuinely enjoy what you do, you give off an energy, and people will naturally gravitate towards it. I’ve been fortunate in my career, where I had a position created for me at Home Depot in about my tenth year there, all around telling stories for products. That job was developed for me because I gave it my all, and then I gave more. I’ve always loved the written word, and found a passion in home improvement products and being their voice. And was surrounded by people who recognized that in me and let me run with it. It has brought me to where I am today. Everything you see me talk about, I genuinely believe in and that allows people to trust me. I treat that trust with the utmost respect.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started in Home Improvement back in 2001, and had no idea that I wanted to even be in Home Improvement. I loved to write and that took me to a Public Relations job with Home Depot. In 2017, on a very corporate mid-year skype review with two people who did not know me well, or appreciate what I can do, told me my position, after 17 years was being “relocated” to Atlanta (I always sat in California doing what I do). It felt like a dagger in my heart. They gave me six months to figure out what I wanted to do. I’m good at Public Relations and I always enjoyed the TV aspect of the job (I managed the TV program for Home Depot the entire time I was with them), so I launched my own business in February of 2018 BeTheBestHome.com dedicated to telling home improvement stories on TV, in the press, online. What I learned when launching my business is relationships are everything. When I was in house at Home Depot, I did my job, but I did more, and I helped whoever I could and talked to everyone and genuinely enjoyed people. And that is the pillar of my business today. People won’t remember what you did for them, but they will remember how you made them feel so you should be in the moment as much as you can. And even if the circumstances are rough, find the good. People will gravitate towards you, and want to be around you, and be a part of what you are doing. I want people to know that BeTheBestHome.com is dedicated to working with home improvement & lifestyle brands that will enhance your life, make things a little easier, better, smarter at home. I love products that get it done, I’m passionate about sustainability, and most importantly I’m going to tell stories in my voice now. I’ve put in my 20 years at corporate America, you can trust me, I know what I’m talking about, but I can still have fun while I’m talking about it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the vibrancy of Hollywood, my son and I love walking Hollywood Blvd and checking out the Pop store that is like a museum, and the selfie museum is a must. Hollywood bowl for some music under the stars. Santa Monica for some amazing shopping by the glorious ocean. A visit to WP 24 in the Ritz Carlton right before a Lakers Game. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well I’ve had two phenomenal mentors in my life, Stephanie Martin and Brad Shaw. Both brilliant leaders. What they have in common is they led by example, and they fully trusted their team to get the job done. I was always put on the path and then given the room to spread my wings. With encouragement, but a lot of space. They were able to recognize my strengths, build on those, and see my weaknesses and move around them. Why do people think you need to fix weaknesses?! Build on the strengths and follow that path. That’s where you truly thrive. My corporate awards from Brad were so real “you kick ass” which in a corporate environment is air to breathe and keep going. I’ll never forget when Home Depot was hit by the recession in 2007 and we all thought we were losing our jobs, and all the executives were getting cut down a level and Brad opened a very stiff meeting about not taking a demotion because he didn’t pass a drug test (to get a promotion you had to take a drug test back then, and he said, well I failed it so I’m not taking the demotion), laughter erupted, and that set the tone right there. It’s the people you want to be around, and kick ass for, who make the best mentors.

Website: https://bethebesthome.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynemerytv/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynemerytv/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynEmeryTV

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynEmeryBeTheBestHome/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsOSLHuKgj9DHKZpwvwvdzA?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
Kathryn Emery

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