How Emylee Williams Helps Women-Led Agencies Drive Revenue

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I'm Emylee Williams, founder of Creative's Catalyst. After co-founding and scaling a successful marketing company, I made an intentional pivot to focus on what I do best - building systems that support agency founders, not replace them. Now I help women-led agencies drive predictable revenue growth by turning their data into decisive action. I'm obsessed with combining data-driven strategies with Human Design principles because I've seen firsthand how powerful it is when you grow your business in alignment with how you naturally operate.

Who are your customers?

I work with women-led agency founders who are generating $1M-10M annually and are ready to make more strategic, data-backed decisions about their growth. My clients are brilliant at what they do but need clarity on which levers to pull for their next phase of growth. Whether that's optimizing SEO, enhancing storytelling, or increasing strategic networking - the data tells us exactly where to focus. They're not interested in following someone else's playbook - they want sustainable, strategic growth that amplifies their natural strengths.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I'm actually an art school kid at heart - I graduated with a degree in fine art and had absolutely no clue what I was going to do with that. But that creative foundation has influenced everything I've built since. My ability to see patterns, think outside conventional frameworks, and approach business problems with a creative mindset all stems from that artistic background.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

Even 14 years ago, I knew that having my own business on my own terms was going to be crucial for my wellbeing. Living with chronic illness and neurodivergency meant I needed flexibility that traditional employment couldn't offer. Some days I wake up needing to take it slow, some days come with unexpected pain, and I needed a business model that could flex with my physical and mental bandwidth. What started as a necessity has become my superpower - I've built multiple successful businesses while honoring my body's needs, and now I help other founders do the same.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Interestingly, I wouldn't have said I wanted to be an entrepreneur when I was in college or even high school, but entrepreneurship came naturally to me. It's in my DNA - both of my parents are entrepreneurs, and many people in my family own their own businesses. I watched my mom start her own business after being laid off when I was in kindergarten. As a single parent, she chose entrepreneurship for the flexibility it provided to raise me. That business put me through college, and she ran it until she herself decided to go back to school after I graduated. Seeing firsthand how small business ownership could provide both financial success and lifestyle flexibility made it feel like a natural path for me to explore.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

My entrepreneurial journey has had several chapters since 2011. What started as a cupcake business shifted into lifestyle photography, where I went through the classic rite of passage of drastically undercharging and not making money - something I see a lot of service-based business owners do. But I became obsessed with learning everything I could about marketing, selling, and creating exceptional client experiences. As I implemented what I learned, I saw it reflected financially and the business grew.

That growth led to me helping other photographers with their selling processes and client experiences, which revealed my love for teaching and strategy. This evolved into working with influencers on styling shoots and marketing strategy. Eventually, I co-founded a business with someone I met online, which grew into a multi-million dollar marketing and education company over 8+ years.

When I launched Creative's Catalyst in 2023, I applied all the strategies and frameworks I'd taught to over 30,000 service-based business owners. I kept it simple - started with done-for-you services and tapped into my warmest network of peers, past clients, and connections. Within 3-4 months I was booked out, and within 5 months I was on track to hit six figures. This foundation gave me the runway to evolve into what I do now, and it was incredibly validating to see that the frameworks I'd designed and taught for years still worked perfectly.‍

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

My biggest challenge has actually become my greatest differentiator - building and scaling businesses while managing chronic illness. It's influenced everything from how I structure my day to how I market and network. I've had to constantly weigh my physical and mental bandwidth against my business goals. But this has made me incredibly skilled at building efficient, sustainable systems that don't require sacrificing wellbeing for success. I've found that sweet spot where you can drive significant revenue and work with incredible clients while honoring your natural rhythms and energy.

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

While I could list revenue milestones or client wins, I'm actually most proud of the moments when clients tell me they don't know what to do with their newfound free time. Getting to help them discover what lights them up beyond just doing more work is incredibly fulfilling. Using my own experience as evidence that you can have white space in your calendar and still run a highly successful business - that's what really excites me. Every time I help a founder find that balance, it reinforces my own commitment to building businesses that support how we naturally operate.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

I've recently been published in Business Insider and was highlighted in Forbes alongside other incredible women for our work in mental health advocacy. But what I'm actually most proud of is continuing to make aligned decisions in my business - including recently choosing to release a project that, while I loved the work and the client, wasn't in alignment with how I wanted to show up day to day. These decisions only come with confidence when you're clear on where your time and energy should be focused.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

I'm excited about several opportunities on the horizon - I'd love to expand my reach through more large publications and return to speaking on stages after a few years away. I'm also playing with the idea of writing a nonfiction book. But what really lights me up is finding new ways to inject fun into business growth - because that's really what this is all about. When you build systems that support your natural way of working, you create space for creativity and joy alongside success.

What is your top productivity tip? 

My favorite productivity hack is getting out of the house and working from my go-to coffee shop, complete with my favorite spot and my signature honey cinnamon oat milk latte order. There's something about being in what feels like a co-working space versus the comforts of home that helps me get so much more done.

I don't actually time block in the traditional sense because I work best following my energetic moods. Instead, I've learned to understand when I'm most productive for different types of work and align my schedule accordingly. For instance, I'm most effective at deep writing, visioning, and critical thinking in the early morning hours, while afternoons work better for connecting with others. That's why I never schedule meetings before 11am - knowing yourself and working with your natural rhythms is key.

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

I've only learned to avoid burnout because I've experienced it firsthand. For me, endless meetings are my fastest path to burnout, which is why I now prioritize asynchronous work styles. I only onboard clients who are comfortable with async communication - we can use voice memos or Slack updates instead of constant check-ins. As a projector, efficiency is one of my superpowers, so when I feel like I'm being inefficient, it's incredibly draining.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

My approach to work-life integration has evolved significantly. I used to think working evenings or weekend mornings meant I was doing something wrong. Now I don't distinguish between weekdays and weekends anymore. If I need a break mid-week to browse stores, read a book, or work on an art project, I take it. Similarly, if I'm feeling inspired on a Sunday morning to tackle some work, I'll do it. I've stopped attaching meaning to when I work and instead focus on working in flow.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

I wish I'd known that success wouldn't look anything like I thought it would - and that's actually the best part. Like most new entrepreneurs, I had my sights set on massive revenue goals, huge impact, and widespread notoriety. I thought success meant hitting certain numbers or achieving specific milestones.

But what I've learned is that true success comes from asking yourself "what does doing this perfectly for ME look like?" Otherwise, the goal post keeps moving and you never find contentment. You can keep chasing bigger numbers, larger teams, or more recognition - but at what cost?

The real magic happens when you find that sweet spot between drive and happiness. For me, that meant walking away from a multi-million dollar company to build something that felt more aligned. It meant defining success on my own terms and building systems that support how I naturally operate. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is be content with what's working instead of constantly pushing for more.

This perspective shift has actually led to even greater success - but it's success that feels good, sustainable, and true to who I am.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from an incredible leadership coach is that skills are coachable and teachable, but personality and culture fit aren't. I prioritize personality over skill sets, knowing I can provide strong onboarding and training processes for the technical aspects.

A common mistake I see business owners make is misaligning natural tendencies with role expectations. If you're hiring for operations or project management, you need someone who's naturally task-oriented. If you're hiring for marketing strategy, you need a big-picture thinker. Identifying these natural tendencies before you're in the thick of working together is crucial to avoid frustration on both sides.

If you've raised capital for your business already, what are some of your best tips or lessons learned?

All of my businesses have been self-funded. I've chosen to bootstrap my way to success, which has influenced how I approach growth and scaling.

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family:

I've been a mom entrepreneur for over 8 years of my 14-year business journey. My path to motherhood through adoption uniquely prepared me for balancing business and family - I had to be ready at a moment's notice for over a year to welcome our daughter. This forced me to strategically prep my business to run without me, creating systems and processes that could handle my sudden absence. Those skills have proven invaluable, and I've maintained that "absence-proof" approach to business building ever since.

One of my favorite aspects of being a mom entrepreneur is showing my daughter what's possible. She gets to see me support our family as the breadwinner through this incredible business I've built and designed. Having her be part of this journey and witness entrepreneurship firsthand is incredibly meaningful to me.

Do you have a co-founder? If so, how did you find the right one for you and what are your best partnership tips?

I had a co-founder for over 8 years, and my biggest advice is to find someone whose skill sets naturally complement where you lack, and vice versa. The key is to identify these differences early so you can each own your individual lanes while working as a team, rather than both trying to work 50/50 on everything. Be efficient with your time and trust that the other person will own their responsibilities - and they need to be able to trust you as well.

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

I absolutely couldn't live without Voxer - it's become a non-negotiable element of being my friend or working with me in any capacity. As a verbal processor, it's essential to my communication style. I actually use both Voxer and Marco Polo - Marco Polo for friends and Voxer for clients and peers.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

My absolute favorite business tool is the custom dashboards I design for agency founders. I'm such an interesting mix of energetic alignment decision-maker coupled equally with data-driven strategist. As a visual learner (hello, art school background!), I love finding ways to visualize data that makes it easy for my clients to digest and make decisions.

I use a variety of apps, software, and custom-developed tools to make this happen, but what really lights me up is seeing my clients finally understand their numbers in a way that feels natural to them. When we can visualize the data that shows exactly what's working in their business, it takes the guesswork out of growth decisions and allows them to scale with confidence.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Take action. While confidence-building is important in the early stages, confidence comes from getting evidence, proof, and results - and you can only get those things by taking action. It can be wrong, messy, or imperfect. You might do things and think "oof, never doing that again" - but that's valuable information. You're on an information fact-finding mission in your first couple of years (honestly, forever). Thinking you need to have it all figured out before taking action is an absolute myth.‍

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