Chanel Cathey is the founder and CEO of CJC Insights, a strategic communications and public relations agency headquartered in New York City. Since launching the firm in 2018 with her savings and a bold mission, Chanel has built a powerhouse agency that partners with global companies, high-growth startups, mission-driven nonprofits, and private equity teams to craft narratives that resonate, build trust, and drive real impact.

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00:00 Introducing Chanel

01:47 Editing newspapers at age 4

03:42 How growing up in a house of educators shaped her

04:54 Creating a goal list with her mom and grandma

05:22 Goal lists > checklists

05:56 Learning to read and phonetics changed her life trajectory (she went from not reading to reading in just one summer)

07:40 Why she switched from business to communications

08:20 Her first networking event and homemade sunflower business card

09:24 The bold ask that got her an internship at ABC News

13:41 What it was really like interning at a political news show

11:37 Discovering PR was her calling

16:05 Starting CJC Insights without a master plan

17:55 Why she was naïve about starting her business —and grateful for it

24:33 The realities of entrepreneurship that no one talks about

19:22 How she built her first client base without even realizing it

19:44 Defining her zone of genius (hint: it’s not social media)

21:54 Why most people undervalue their own stories

24:14 How she uncovers a founder’s “IT” factor

26:30 What confidence has to do with your brand strategy

27:44 I tell people and brands the same thing: Write it down.

28:48 Not everything is newsworthy. Take time to invest in messaging and strategy

29:10 When brands start to lose their way…

30:00 Reputation and trust are really hard to restore

33:52 Getting more funding into the hands of founders

40:46 How therapy helped her rebuild confidence

42:20 Why she hired a financial consultant for sanity and scale

43:35 Her advice for founders who feel overwhelmed

46:00 Final thoughts + where to connect with Chanel online

Connect with Chanel

• LinkedIn: Chanel Cathey
• Website: cjcinsights.com
• CJC Instagram: @cjcinsights
• Board Member: Wellness in the Schools

Connect with Naomi

• Website: www.naomihaile.com
• LinkedIn: Naomi Haile
• Instagram: @naomiahaile
• Twitter: @naomiathaile
• YouTube: Naomi Haile