Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Katz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since I began my career as a puppeteer and special effects artist, I have been passionate about team building and effective leadership. I was privileged to work on a number of successful teams and alongside effective leaders early on in my career. As a freelancer, I noticed that cohesive teams and inspiring leaders were not always a guarantee on every project.
When I was working in challenging environments I noticed that my puppetry background had given me an enhanced set of soft skills, allowing me to communicate and collaborate well with others. These skills which range from adaptability to problem-solving, to delegating and active listening, helped me advance into leadership positions on projects. I realized that due to these skills I was a greater asset to the projects I worked on AND that these skills (which I obtained through my puppetry training) were teachable. I began to dissect team dynamics and leadership styles, looking to improve weakness and highlight strengths. I began to draft curriculums focusing on using the tool of puppetry to bring a corporeal approach to leadership training and team building. I opened my home and asked a few trusted female colleagues to attend a round of workshops to see if the concept had any merit. I received a lot of positive feedback and continued to offer these workshops to my friends for free.
Shortly afterwards, I had a close friend suggest I start a company. I was hesitant at first but with her support and encouragement, she connected me to a small business development company in LA. So much of my company was seeded in the value of community and still remains essential to the brand of All Hands In. The goal of All Hands In is to improve soft skills in leaders and teams through the tool of puppetry. I hope to make working environments more productive, positive, and fun because I believe we all deserve to thrive.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hell No, the entrepreneurial journey has not been easy. It’s been a wonderful road and I’m grateful everyday I’m on it, but the entrepreneurial road is not smooth. I’m grateful I’m well versed in soft skills because they’ve become essential in helping me navigate setbacks, failures, and disappointments. They’ve also kept me humble, focused, and joyful when I have victories. Puppets are a hard sell for adults, even if they are only being used as a tool for larger concepts (as they are in our company.) I’ve encountered a lot of initial hesitation. People come with all kinds of pre-conceived notions such as needing to talk in a “puppet voice” or something else totally outside of the work we do.
Once they realize that these workshops are less about learning puppetry and more about tapping into skills that can really elevate their careers and relationships, I see the “Ah-ha” moment in their eyes. It’s very reassuring and validating when participants make the connection of how a puppet can expand their skill set and then see them really dig in. I’ve also learned to be patient (another great soft skill) with people’s expectations and feel confident in the substance of what I’m offering.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the All Hands In story. Tell us more about the business.
All Hands In is a soft skill development company. We take a corporeal approach to leadership and team building training, using puppets. Unlike other professional training companies we use a unique and creative tool that infuses an element of play into work that can have a very profound impact on people. I am proud that what we offer people really impacts them positively. People think puppets are toys for kids but it’s incredibly rewarding to see an adult allow this tool to have a deeper impact on how they interact with the world around them. I’m incredibly proud of combining the arts (in this case, puppetry) with professional training and soft skills development. I feel honored to be able to use my knowledge of puppetry’s connection with soft skills and use that to help others become better leaders and team assets.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck, gratitude, and joy have carried me for so much of my journey. I’m also a big believer in Karma. I’m very invested in community and human connection. I take an active interest in the people in my life on every level. I’m engaged with everyone: from friends and family to the employees at my fluff and fold… I think my luck has resulted from actually caring about other people. As a result, I lean into that even deeper. My luck has come from connections- but not connections in a sense of privilege. The connections I’m talking abut are on a deeper human level when people feel that you actually care about how they are doing… I’m fortunate to have an abundance of these types of connections. I think my luck just happens to be a byproduct of that. I mean, I have a company that uses puppets to train professionals and I’m being interviewed by VoyageLA… if that isn’t luck…
Pricing:
- Individual classes are usually $30 for a 3 hour class.
- Company and corporate pricing vary.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.allhandsinworkshops.com
- Phone: (323) 306-4569
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @Allhands_in
- Facebook: @Allhandsinworkshops
- Other: www.linkedin.com/company/all-hands-in-workshops
Image Credit:
Anisa El-Khouri
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