Cate Hollowitsch joined Nesnah Ventures, a family-owned private equity firm, as the Chief Marketing Officer just six weeks before the COVID pandemic prompted a shut down. Luckily, her ability to be resilient and adapt, led the company on a transformative journey. The journey began with an analysis of core strategies, devising continuity plans for shareholders and focusing on opportunities for each portfolio company.
Finding the resilience to forge forward is nothing new for Hollowitsch. “Throughout my career, I’ve encountered numerous obstacles and unforeseen challenges, yet my ability to adapt, learn and bounce back stronger has been a key driver of my success,” she said.
Resilience has empowered her to remain focused on goals, even in the face of adversity. “It’s not about avoiding failure but about embracing it, learning from it and using it as a steppingstone to achieve greater heights,” said Hollowitsch.
Her adaptability is what has led to the size of the marketing department quadrupling since COVID and digital marketing efforts that have resulted in a 200% increase in connections and followers for Nesnah Ventures.
“Driven by her desire to make a meaningful impact, Cate consistently seeks out ways to add value beyond traditional marketing functions,” said her colleagues. “Recognizing the importance of driving revenue growth, she spearheaded collaborative initiatives with sales teams and sales experts through out the enterprise in order to create a value creation team rather than separate marketing and sales functions.”
Hollowitsch’s performance, coupled with her ability to navigate complex challenges has earned her recognition and respect within the firm, as well as national recognition with highlights included in Exhibitor Magazine and the Human Centric Leadership Podcast. She is also the creator of the F.E.A.R. Framework for Selfless Leadership and speaks frequently at leadership summits and exhibits.
She reminds herself daily of the mission of the company and her responsibility to foster the growth of others. “I make it a point to regularly engage with employees at all levels of the organization,” Hollowitsch said. “Their insights and experiences are a rich source of inspiration and a constant reminder of the value we create every day.”
Hollowitsch said she also loves exploring new ideas and gaining new knowledge to fuel her passion and spark innovative ideas for others. “I believe in empowering and supporting others to take ownership of our work, make decisions and contribute ideas,” she said. “I want to foster a sense of pride and fulfillment in our team.”
For her unending commitment to be a resilient and inspiring leader, Hollowitsch has been named a Titan.