Katie Patterson, the founder and CEO of Happy Medium, shares her journey into entrepreneurship in Iowa, starting from her early career aspirations in media to founding her strategic business agency in 2011. Initially aiming to be a journalist, Katie discovered her passion for advertising after an internship with Two Rivers Marketing, which set her on the path to founding Happy Medium. Her journey is marked by a series of pivots and learning experiences, including a stint in sales at a TV station, which ultimately led to her establishing her own business with a focus on media buying for clients.
Over the years, Happy Medium has evolved from a digital agency to a strategic partner for businesses, supporting them through various stages of growth. Katie emphasizes the importance of decomplicating media buying and maintaining transparency with clients, a principle that has guided the agency’s mission since its inception. The agency’s growth necessitated hiring more staff, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed Happy Medium to adopt a more flexible gig economy model, transitioning from a team of 30 employees to a core team of five and leveraging a network of contractors.
Iowa stories for your inbox
Justin, David, & Kaylee cover Iowa news, agriculture, business and tech. No clickbait. No rage. No agenda. Support our vision and subscribe!
Katie reflects on the challenges of leading a growing business, particularly the balance between managing people and focusing on the company’s operational health. She highlights the importance of building systems that allow for smooth operations even in her absence, understanding the company’s numbers, and fostering a work environment where team members feel safe to express their ideas and concerns. Katie has learned to embrace her role as a leader, making informed decisions that are best for the organization while acknowledging that she cannot be everyone’s “cup of tea.”
Katie also discusses her latest entrepreneurial venture, Project Homecoming, which aims to improve access to housing finance through innovative tools developed for the Iowa Finance Authority. This project has garnered attention from other states, and Katie is excited about the potential to impact housing finance nationwide. She is optimistic about the future growth of this venture, drawing on her past experiences to navigate the scaling process with a healthy balance of caution and enthusiasm.
Looking back, Katie shares insights into the evolving media landscape, noting how media buying has become more regulated and targeted over the years. She also discusses the role of AI in the industry, emphasizing that while AI can enhance productivity, it cannot replace expert knowledge and strategic thinking. AI tools require skilled human input to be truly effective, and businesses should leverage AI to complement their existing expertise.
Katie concludes by encouraging entrepreneurs to remain adaptable, understand their business’s financial health, and focus on building strong teams to drive success. She invites listeners to connect with her on LinkedIn to discuss any of the topics covered in the podcast further.