Work Smarter Not Harder: Kate Mohan of Fromm International

kate mohan fromm international chicago

If you are new to Cedar & Rush, Work Smarter, Not Harder (WSNH) is a weekly column showcasing Chicago’s leading ladies – think CEO’s, entrepreneur and everyday women making a difference – and how they work smarter, not harder. I decided upon Monday so we can kick off the week as productive and as motivated as possible. If you love a particular piece of advice or have any tips of your ownplease share by tagging #WSNH2015 on Instagram and Twitter.

I’m elated to have a leading professional from the beauty industry today because…who doesn’t love beauty! Before we get to it, I made some tweaks to the “go to” questions. My goal is to give us more takeaways. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these changes so please leave me a note below. Also feel free to add anything else! Here’s what’s new…

  1. Added “What time do you go to bed”: I believe routines and processes are incredibly important to success. We always got the wake up time but now we can get a better idea for bedtime and the amount of sleep these leading ladies are getting.
  2. Added “What is the best way to get your foot in the door of your industry with little
    to no experience?”: Looking to swap industries? Get a similar job. Now you know from the horses mouth.
  3. Removed “How do you format your emails?”: I felt like everyone’s answers were similar and didn’t see a strong value in these responses. If I’m wrong here, call me out!
  4. What’s the most recent thing someone did that really impressed you? So you can impress someone you need to impress. Aka lets stand out!

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So without further adieu, I’m pleased to introduce you to marketing master, Kate Mohan of Fromm International – the leading marketer of beauty essentials.

Kate, tell us what you do! I am the director of marketing for Fromm International, which is a leading marketer of beauty essentials, including combs, brushes, and other salon-quality tools. In my role, I lead the charge in business development, marketing, and consumer insights.

How did you get to your current position? I’ve always loved beauty and began my career in the industry at Paris Presents, where I helped to launch the EcoTools brand. Though I loved this position, I decided that I wanted to expand my experience and took a position at multi-billion dollar company where I focused on innovation and development for new business extensions. This was an invaluable opportunity, not only because I gained a ton of knowledge, but also because it reaffirmed my longing to be employed in the beauty industry. Just as I realized my true passion, a recruiter reached out to me regarding an opportunity with Fromm. My diverse yet applicable background set me apart from the competition and as soon as I learned about the company’s passion for “finding better ways to create beauty,” I knew that I had found the right place for me.

kate mohan fromm international chicago

What time do you typically get up in the morning and go to bed? I’m an early riser by nature and try to get up by 6 a.m. each morning. It probably also helps that I get to bed at a reasonable time each evening. I truly believe in coming back to work each morning refreshed, and getting enough rest is a huge part of this.

How do you take your coffee and what do you typically eat for breakfast? Large! I definitely need a big coffee to start my day and usually just mix in a bit of vanilla creamer before I head out the door. I like to eat a lighter breakfast that is somewhat healthy, so I usually go for some toast with avocado or Greek yogurt with whatever fruit I have in my fridge.

Quickly walk us through your morning routine: Although it is hard to separate yourself from your inbox, I try to start my day with as little stress as possible. I always wait to dive into my emails until I hit my desk. I have a bit of a commute, so I find that listening to my Spotify playlist or catching up on the latest podcasts clears my head before hitting the office!

kate mohan fromm international chicago

What is the best way to get your foot in the door of your industry with little
to no experience? The beauty industry is an extremely competitive field; however many job seekers don’t realize there are many different positions within the industry. From marketing to sales, zero in on the position you are passionate about and ensure that you know the ins and outs of what it entails. Know the latest trends, product launches, and use your knowledge of the industry and the specific position to show companies how you would be an invaluable resource!

What resources do you use to stay organized and remember tasks? Although I love planners and journals (especially when they are super cute) I always find myself skipping them in favor for virtual to-do lists on programs such as Evernote and my iCal! Each week I create a to-do list that syncs across my devices so it can be updated at all times. I also put everything on my iCal– from scheduled meetings to blocking out time to work out!

What mistake do you see people constantly make that they should be aware
of? I often see people go after jobs that aren’t right for them. Before interviewing for a position, it is so important to make sure that you really want the job and know what you want to get out of the position. While job hunting can be stressful, candidates need to look at interviews as an opportunity to learn more about the company as well. Your career is such an important part of your life! A job needs to be the right fit for you, especially if you want to advance and create a long-term, successful career!

kate mohan fromm international chicago

How do you conquer your inbox? I find that the best way to conquer your inbox is to keep up with emails consistently. Although I have some exceptions, such as during personal time or when I’m working on a big project, I find that filing and responding to emails as soon as I can helps my keep my inbox manageable – and me a little more sane!

What’s the most recent thing someone did that really impressed you? Although I spend a lot of my time working in the digital realm, I still love getting physical reminders of a job well done! Recently a colleague of mine sent me a hand written thank you note and a small floral arrangement after a great presentation. Things like that just brighten your day and inspire you to work even harder!

How do you make time for working out and staying healthy? I think that minimizing stress is the best way to stay healthy. I always try to remind myself that you can’t stress over something that you cannot change; every time that I feel myself getting overly stressed, I make sure to step away and carve out some time for myself. Whether that means taking a yoga class or indulging in a relaxing bath with a good book, keeping balanced mentally is something that is really important to me.

kate mohan fromm international chicago

What are your favorite tips for keeping an organized work space? Less is more! I keep my work space as minimal as possible, which can sometimes be hard when you have amazing beauty tools floating around the office! I find that when my space is clean and less distracting, I focus for longer periods of time and don’t start fidgeting with items around my desk.

What other pieces of advice/tips can you share? I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. This is something that I always tell myself when things don’t work out as planned. If you stay focused, work hard, and learn from your experiences, you will get to the place that you were meant to reach, even if it’s not when or where you thought you would be!

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Favorites:
* Favorite Apps: Evernote, Instagram, Podcasts
* Favorite Resources: WWD Beauty Inc, Beauty Store Business
* Favorite Books:The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, “My Year with Eleanor” by Noelle Hancock, “168 Hours, You Have More Time Than You Think” by Laura Vanderkam
* Favorite Programs: DropBox, iCal
* Favorite Websites: Byrdie, Allure.com, The Coveteur
* Favorite Gadget: Hate to be cliché, but I’d have to say my iPhone!
* Favorite Podcasts: TED Radio Hour, Stuff You Should Know, Happier with Gretchen Rubin