Revel Voices: Kate Isler
Who starts a business for women entrepreneurs during the pandemic?
Kate Isler, and her business partner, Susan Gates, that’s who. Described as the “economic engine for women” the WMarketplace is an ecommerce platform for women entrepreneurs.
Kate Isler has spent the last few years of her career working towards creating economic parity for women – and being bold about it.
We asked Kate a few questions for our latest Revel Voices.
What is your guilty pleasure?
A long airplane trip, a glass of wine, and my laptop NOT connected to the internet. I have traveled for work for years and as silly as it sounds, I love to settle into my seat with my headphones and my computer, with writing to do, email to catch up on or a project to complete. I normally don't connect to the internet while in the air and love the time to focus, with no one talking to me or expecting an immediate answer. I feel so accomplished when I Iand!
What’s one thing that can make your day instantly better?
The sound of sales on my ecommerce site. I launched an ecommerce site for women-owned businesses, the WMarketplace, during the pandemic and have been working non-stop with a small team to build our business. Hearing the notification of a sale makes my day. I know that someone has chosen to support one of the 500+ women-owned businesses selling products and services on the WMarketplace with a purchase. It makes my day!
What’s one thing you wish you knew when you were 25?
I wish I had known how to take a breath before moving ahead with my first thought. I have found that waiting too long is deadly, but taking a breath, and a little time to consider my tone and content, is always better. Often I follow through with whatever first came to mind, but taking a minute to consider the delivery or pausing before hitting the send button, has been a winning strategy both personally and professionally.
What makes you feel accomplished?
Spending time with my adult children make me feel very accomplished. I have three sons, none of which were remarkably outstanding students or athletes while in school. They had good friends, and never got into much trouble, which was great. But as they have matured, they have become extraordinary young men. Each has charted a path in his life that makes him happy and successful. They are interested in the world and are informed and care about current affairs. They are each engaged, either working or volunteering, with issues and causes they care about in their communities. I am so proud that my husband and I raise good, kind, contributing people. I don't aways agree with them, but I am always proud of them and the people they have become.
Who is a woman that inspired you?
The list of notable women that inspire me is long and I am very sure not unique. It includes historical figures and modern-day women who contribute to society and the wellbeing of women in all aspects of life. Some are politicians, intellectuals, and entertainers. But the women who truly inspire me are those that I have had the privilege to talk and work with every day. They are women entrepreneurs. These women are working against difficult odds to build businesses that they are passionate about and committed to making successful. They include women like Erika Dalya Massaquoi, Founder of The Oula Company, who has become a Nordstrom supplier with her beautiful dresses. And Lynn Power, founder of Masami, who works tirelessly to create amazing, clean haircare products and has created a vibrant community of like-minded women all producing clean beauty products as part of the Conscious Beauty Collective. Or Christine Stoffels, Owner Christine Stoffels Consulting who specializes in leadership development and organizational effectiveness coaching. All of these women are contributing to the economy, creating jobs, and setting an amazing example for women and girls everywhere who want to own their own businesses and achieve economic gender parity. Attainable inspiration!