Meet Katya Souchitski

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

Hi Katya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
To be honest, the thought process began very unexpectedly. I started my social media journey at the start of college in 2016. At the time, I was studying Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Merced. All things related to social media were more of a hobby. Post topics included my journey of writing and publishing my book, which was about my story of surviving the eating disorder Anorexia Nervosa. Additionally, I posted a lot about body positivity and fitness tips since I was a certified fitness trainer in college. One thing led to another, and I started to grow a loyal following. Brands began reaching out, and I essentially began creating this personal brand.

My career path was to go to Doctor of Physical Therapy school, so while applying for programs, I had some extra time on my hands. I used that time to enter the world of network marketing, where I gained leadership, marketing, and business skills that I never thought I’d have such a passion for. Upon starting graduate school, I realized the physical therapy career path was not for me, so I withdrew from the program and dove into the social media industry full-time. From launching an athleisure brand and a social media marketing agency to trying out freelance and in-house positions, I eventually hit burnout. This was a wake-up call for me to truly ask myself what in social media I truly wanted to focus on.

Recently, I did a tour in Europe across seven countries, hosting masterclasses about social media and personal branding. This made me realize that mentoring others is something I definitely want to stick to. Additionally, I know my managerial skills get my clients results, so growing my clientele as a social media manager and content producer/editor is something that I will continue to prioritize.

Lastly, my dance career has unexpectedly grown over the course of the last two years. My 11 years of experience in competitive rhythmic gymnastics is something that I’ve utilized when diving into the dance world. I did not expect dance to become a big part of my personal brand, but it did, and I’m so grateful, especially for the confidence boost it gave me. Now that I have learned to appreciate, love, and take care of my body, I have decided to pursue a modeling career on top of all the things I have going on.

Overall, it seems like my life is crazy, but I love it. Everything I do is connected to my personal brand, which is my business. In other words, I, Katya Anastazia Souchitski, am the business.

What should our readers know about your business?
As I mentioned, my business is my personal brand. Many individuals express that my confident, go-getter energy stands out among others. Honestly, that is the quality I am most proud and excited about — after all, it is what has allowed me to reach all my goals so far.

It wasn’t easy getting to where I am today. There was a lot of experimentation, trial and error, doubt, and limiting beliefs. This was mainly because I was supposed to be in the medical field, not the social media industry. Changing your whole career can be scary and risky, but with risk comes opportunity. I’ve overcome every challenge by reminding myself that there is one life I get to live, so I might as well give it my all. I guess that’s the main lesson I’ve learned along the way.

One thing I’d want the world to know about my story is that I used to be a shy, anti-social girl who got bullied most of her childhood. My insecurities about my physical image led to an eating disorder. Overall, I was the exact opposite of who I am today. But once I let go of my fears and gained this carefree energy, I bloomed into a social butterfly who loves life, meeting new people, jumping at new opportunities, loving every inch of herself, and radiating this energy onto others around her.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would 100% take my friend to the beach at least three times during the week. I would share the beauty of California sunsets, especially during the warm summers. I’d definitely take them out for an evening adventure in Hollywood and Santa Monica. Food and drinks are a hard one because I’m a big foodie. We’d most likely grab sushi somewhere (I have too many favorite places haha), get coffee at cute spots like Alfreds, La La Land, and Bodega, enjoy some food and smoothies from Erewhon, and dine at a rooftop restaurant with stunning views… the list goes on.

I would most likely need to catch up on work, so we’d properly relax at the lounge of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel. Oh! I would definitely take my friend to a dance class at Playground LA! Speaking of movement, we’d definitely join the Venice Run Club on Wednesday!

This answer is kind of all over the place, but I think I would just take it day by day and make sure that my friend enjoys the city in the most spontaneous way possible. I’d try to have my friends meet my friend for some group hangouts. Overall, I would, of course, plan certain things but not overplan, since spontaneity is key for a good time!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A group that deserves not just a little, but a tremendous amount of credit is my family. When I was struggling with my eating disorder, my family really went through it with me. After all, I almost lost my life, but they stuck with me through thick and thin. My parents supported me throughout and after college. Although my career choices were difficult for them to understand, I have learned how to communicate my decisions with my parents so they can essentially see what I envision for my life through my eyes.

Website: https://www.katyasouchitski.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katya.souchitski/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katya-souchitski/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katya.souchitski/

Other: https://pillar.io/katya.souchitski 

Image Credits
Alena Sable