Breaking Barriers and Building Success: Meet Kayla Starta

Have you ever wondered what it takes to start your own business and thrive in today’s competitive world? Look no further than Kayla Starta, the founder of Starta Strategies, a digital marketing agency that offers boutique-level services to small to medium-sized businesses, including strategic digital marketing and PR campaigns.

In this exclusive interview, Kayla shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early career working for startups to taking the leap and starting her own business. She also discusses the unique challenges of being a woman in business and offers insights and advice for anyone looking to follow in her footsteps.

So sit back, grab a cup of coffee, and get ready to be inspired by Kayla’s story of perseverance, passion, and hard work.

Morgan: Let’s start by having you introduce yourself and then talk to me a little bit about your entrepreneurial journey thus far.

Kayla: My name is Kayla Starta, and I am the founder of Starta Strategies. I started my journey, really, in high school. That’s when I knew I wanted to be in marketing. I was Publicity Director in Student Council my senior year of high school and always enjoyed that organizational structure. I knew after graduation that I wanted to go to school for public relations and marketing, which is what I majored in at Baldwin Wallace University in Cleveland, Ohio.

I had a couple of internships throughout my time in college, and when I graduated, I started working for a startup in downtown Akron, a tech incubator at the time. I worked there for a few years with people I still keep in touch with today. And I honestly owe a lot of my career and where I am today to those who mentored me during that time.

That company ended up pivoting its strategy, and I ended up working for a former client of mine in the public relations space, working as their PR Director. In the time that I was there, that’s where I got a majority of my public relations experience and expertise because I worked almost exclusively on pitches and built valuable relationships with the media.

After that, about three years ago, I decided to go out on my own, and that’s when I started Starta Strategies. I started small, very much as a solopreneur, and it’s grown to what it is today. Now, we work with various clients from a wide range of industries across the United States, and our team has grown into a small but mighty group that I am so grateful to work with every single day.

To be honest, entrepreneurship is something that I never really thought I wanted to do; I never had dreams of being a business owner. Entrepreneurship kind of fell into my lap when I worked for and with a lot of founders, and I saw this world where it was possible to start your own business. Growing up, I was never really exposed to any of that; my parents have very traditional nine-to-five jobs, and it wasn’t really an option for them to be entrepreneurs.

I am so thankful for my early experiences working for founders in multiple industries and being encouraged as a young professional to be immersed in the startup world and eventually launch my own company.

Morgan: Can you elaborate on why you started your own business?

Kayla: As I said, I never really had aspirations to; that was never my mindset or goal. I was on a slow burn of doing freelance work until I realized I could turn it into a business. As a business owner, you have control. You have control over your mission, vision, who you serve, and the decisions made. You can foster a profound sense of purpose in your work when you control all of that.

That’s been a big transition for me; having the team that we have now where it’s not just me. and keeping the ship afloat. But it’s something I now love: working with such amazing women and, most importantly, making an impact on people’s lives.

Morgan: How much do you love what you do? And why is that so important to you as an entrepreneur?

Kayla: I love working with small business owners. Most of our clients are small to medium-sized business owners and solopreneurs. Even though it sounds cliche, they’re people who have a dream and are passionate about what they do. I hope that that comes off in the way that I interact with our clients and that I care deeply about their business as well. I like to work with organizations that I have a passion behind, too, or I see and understand their vision, so it’s not as transactional, if that makes sense.

But there are hard days. I speak so positively about being a business owner, and yes, it’s awesome, and yes, there are so many positives, but it’s absolutely a double-edged sword. You create all these opportunities, but they can be pulled from you just as quickly as you create them because you’re completely responsible.

But I would say, for how many hours we work in our lives, you have to love it, knowing that it’s not going to be sunflowers and roses every day. Whether you’re a business owner, working for a company, waiting tables, an administrative assistant, or anything, it’s about the people you work with and why you do what you do.

Morgan: What mistakes have you made along the way in your entrepreneurial journey, and what have you learned from them?

Kayla: Being too hard on myself and not being patient enough. More specifically, to the agency, I would say not being selective with who I work with and working with people who weren’t a good fit for us. But it’s hard initially because you’re hustling, trying to build a book of business, and saying yes to everybody. Eventually, you learn that you have to be a little more selective, and it should be a mutual fit between you and the client. However, this is all part of the learning process.

Morgan: What do you think helped you the most to make a career as a woman, and what’s the biggest factor that has helped you become successful?

Kayla: The support from people around me; my team, family, and friends. I’m lucky to have friends, both men and women, who are also entrepreneurs, so we push each other. I’m very connected to my people, and it’s essential to have a tribe of people that support you. That’s for life, and that’s no different for business. Not only my current team, friends, and family but also former coworkers and bosses because they helped me understand this was possible.

In my work at Kent State as an advisor in the entrepreneurship department, I get to do that with current students. I not only help them down a path to create a business plan and make this business into a tangible entity, but also mentor the mentality that you can do this; you have the resources. Especially in 2023, you know? We have the world at our fingertips, and if you want to, you can do it. It may seem like it’s not in your realm or something you have ever considered, but anyone can start a business if you just put your mind to it and commit to it.

Morgan: Tell me more about your work at Kent State University.

Kayla: In 2022, I had the opportunity to take a position at Kent State University at the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship with the College of Business on Kent State’s main campus. I work with students to advise and mentor them down the path of entrepreneurship. I also assist in planning pitch competitions, like “Shark Tank” style competitions, that allow students to win money and mentor them towards the growth of their businesses. I love working with the students, and it’s been extremely rewarding.

Morgan: Since you are now a mentor, do or did you have a woman leader as a mentor? Or are there specific women who inspired you and why?

Kayla: There are a lot of female business owners that I have worked closely with on projects, worked for, and worked alongside, that I’ve seen what they’re able to do, and it gives me the motivation to keep going on the days where I really feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. These women have been there, so it kind of gives me that little kick that I need to keep going.

It’s hard because business is still a male-dominated field. Women have come so far, and the numbers of female business owners and entrepreneurs have increased exponentially, but we still have a long way to go. Even though women have come so far, it’s still very intimidating to be a woman in a higher position or being a business owner.

I’ve experienced it firsthand, many times, when men don’t take you seriously or make comments about your appearance. You’re put under a different microscope as a woman in the workplace, no matter your position. That has been the most significant value of being alongside these powerhouse women who make me feel like I can do anything.

Morgan: That leads nicely into the next question: What has been the most significant barrier in your career as a female leader? Have you been confronted with gender-related roadblocks in your career?

Kayla: I’ve been grateful to have some incredible male mentors. They’ve given me thoughtful insights on navigating the world as a woman. So I will shout out to all of the incredible men in my life who have mentored me as a business owner.

That being said, it goes back to what I said earlier about not being taken seriously. A lot of people mistake my outgoing personality for not being as serious. In reality, I don’t mess around when it comes to my business.

Morgan: Why would companies benefit from having more women at the top?

Kayla: Women tend to have a greater sense of empathy, which is critical in the workplace. Back to everything being transactional, I think that’s the bare minimum for any type of people-facing organization. You have to have a deep sense of connectivity and empathy for individuals’ problems, pain points, and needs, and women are typically more attuned in that area. Women are just a little bit more relationship-focused, and it is all about relationships. That’s what sales is about, and that’s what marketing is about. It is all about relationship building.

Morgan: How should women support other women in the workforce?

Kayla: I think a little can go a long way. We’re all on social media; share your business owner friends’ posts. Even if you know nothing about business, those posts will now reach more people than they probably would have before because it’s going out to your network and your followers as well. Or just shoot them a text telling them, “Hey, I see what you’re doing; it’s incredible. Keep it up.” You don’t always have to support someone monetarily; there are ways to support their business for free.

Women can be competitive, just as men can be very competitive. Women can also see another woman’s success and get jealous and negative. I think that’s something that can be inherent in all of us, but I think women need to realize that we’re not going to continue to get further up in society unless we start building each other up. It’s like taking one step forward and ten steps back; we must support each other.

Morgan: My last question is, what advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Kayla: Don’t listen to what other people think. Take everything with a grain of salt, but you can do whatever you want with your career. Whether you want to start a business, whether you want to work in an organization, whether you want to create a new sector in your industry, you can do it.

Especially with this month being Women’s History Month and just a few weeks ago seeing the outpouring of love and support on International Women’s Day and seeing all of the incredible women in my life, you realize that you have an army behind you and that you’re not alone.

The number of women in previously male-dominated fields is incredible, and we live in an age where more women are going to college than men statistically over the past year. This is the time, so just go.

Kayla Starta’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, hard work, and a passion for one’s craft. As a woman in business, Kayla faced numerous challenges and obstacles, but her unwavering dedication and commitment to her goals propelled her forward. Her entrepreneurial journey inspires anyone looking to pursue their dreams, no matter how daunting they may seem.

As we reflect on Kayla’s experiences and insights, we’re reminded that with hard work, determination, and a supportive community, anyone can achieve their goals and make a lasting impact in their industry.

We hope that Kayla’s story has encouraged and inspired you to pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams and strive for success, no matter what challenges may come your way.