Every once in a while, someone stops you in your tracks. Katie O’Connell is just such a woman. A soon-to-be graduate of John Carroll University, Katie has been carving quite a path for herself as both a student and new author. We recently caught up with Katie to learn how she got her creative start and how she plans to prepare herself personally and financially for life in the post-graduate world.
AdvisHer: Tell us about you – who is Katie O’Connell?
Katie: I am a soon to be graduate of John Carroll University and author of Live, LIVE! Creating Community in Live Music Experience. Making the move to Cleveland four years ago from La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, I did not anticipate the number of opportunities that would present themselves. As I gear up to make a dent in the universe post-graduation, I am hoping to work in the hospitality world, connecting passionate people to create human-centric experiences.
AdvisHer: What was your inspiration for writing your book?
K: Over the summer I got a call from my professor, Doan Winkel, with yet again, another bold idea…to write a book with the Creator Institute. I enrolled in the two-semester course and joined a cohort of twenty students from across the country in this experiment in entrepreneurship. More so than writing a book, this course has been an entrepreneurial journey building relationships and learning from music and community innovators. The creation process has been a journey of self-exploration, which at the end of the day was why I did it. Coming into my senior year I had many ideas and little projects I was working on, but the Creator Institute gave me the tools to focus in on a passion of mine and write my own credibility in a space I am very excited about.
AdvisHer: Take us through a day in the life!
K: No day ever seems to be the same or go as planned. Lately, I have spent my time trying to soak up all the wisdom and memories left on John Carroll’s campus meeting with professors, staff, and friends collaborating on the book project and some other projects that give tribute to my John Carroll experience.
AdvisHer: What is your favorite type of project to work on/piece to create?
K: I’m energized by creating in-person experience that tells a rich story. I enjoy bringing passionate people together to create multi-dimensional events, mixing mediums, facilitating purposeful conversation and advocating for a transformative story. I am trying to capture a snippet of that for the readers of my book. I am bringing in unique mediums to experience the book including a curated playlist that will serve as the reader’s soundtrack as they immerse in short stories from some of the most unique community and live music experiences.
AdvisHer: How do you stay inspired?
K: If you are looking to disrupt an industry, you don’t turn to your peers to see what they are doing, you look beyond. I feel when I am looking for inspiration on a specific project it comes from seemingly unrelated settings. Much of my inspiration comes from conversations with people on topics that I am learning about for the first time.
AdvisHer: If you could give your younger self some advice, what would it be?
K: Reach out to people you are curious about and ask for a conversation to learn from them. Shoot your shot. You never know who you will end up meeting and what you will learn. Worst case, you end up right where you started.
AdvisHer: What has been your favorite thing you’ve worked on?
K: This year has been filled with energizing project from the book to advocacy events, mentorship dates, an entrepreneurship empowerment retreat for high school students and an exhibit that captures stories from John Carroll’s Class of 2019. As I grow into myself and my projects, I hope my favorite is yet to come.
AdvisHer: How do you prioritize your financial health?
K: As a student and young professional, I am learning to navigate my finance. Since my first job when I was 15, I am lucky to have parents who taught me the value of saving.
AdvisHer: What are your financial goals for 2019?
K: As I graduate from college, I hope this year to be completely financial independent, supporting myself. In beginning my career, I hope to start saving so one day I could start my own venture.
We would like to thank Katie O’Connell for her time in helping create this post! For more on Katie and her wonderful new book, check out her website, or follow along on Instagram at @oconnell_ko!
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