Life and Work with Katie Benford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Benford.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Katie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Peoria, AZ. I went to high school here, had many things happen to me, good and bad, and when I was 22, I had two choices; I could either stay in Phoenix or move to LA. I have always wanted to do something different in life. I didn’t want to do the normal 9-5 thing, not that there’s anything wrong with that. I knew I needed a profession/passion that would let me be my full authentic self, 100% of the time. I decided to move to LA when I was 22 to pursue acting. While I was there, I attended The Second City for their Improv Program. I ended up staying in LA for around three years. I learned so much while I was there; how to love myself, grow as a person, fall in love, work hard and how to understand my self worth. In May of 2018, I went through something that helped me realize that I needed to come home. I packed my bags and moved back to Arizona where I currently reside. I have recently come to the conclusion that I need to start my own business. I am working on starting my own blog where I’ll discuss travel, manifestation, self-love, and gratitude. I believe that being the best possible version of yourself is the most empowering thing in the world, which is exactly what I’m working on right now.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely been a rocky road. I had many hardships in my younger years that really helped shape me as a woman. I lost my sister, Andrea to Ovarian Cancer when I was 13. While it was a horrible thing to go through, it taught me to “never sweat the small stuff,” which was her favorite saying. In May of 2018, I went through a break up with a guy that I cared for very deeply. It was so difficult for me to make the decision, but I completely lost myself in that relationship. My advice to women going through any hardship or just starting their journey is this: never sacrifice your self worth for anyone. This is important. The moment you base your worth on what others think or do to you, you lose all control. Always be true to yourself and never be afraid to walk away from anything that is not benefiting you any longer.

Please tell us about your work.
I pride myself on my ability to encourage others. I truly want everyone to be happy and live their best life. I am currently working on my blog, which will launch soon. I am graduating from ASU this year and will be working full time on my blog after I graduate. I want to inspire as many people as I can. I want them to realize no matter what life throws at you, you can and you will get through it. Life is all about perspective and a positive outlook as well as gratitude can cure all.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Honestly, I believe girls truly do run the world (all cliches aside). There is such a powerful force behind all women today. We are no longer the afterthought. We are running companies, becoming entrepreneurs, creating change and inspiring people constantly. I think that every woman, no matter what she does, has the ability to inspire others. There’s so much more for women in the future and I cannot wait to experience every bit of it.

Contact Info:

• Email: benford.katie@gmail.com
• Instagram: batiekenford

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