meet kate de jong
Co-Host of The Thriving Business Podcast | Business Strategist | Bestselling Author
Why do so many high-achievers build a business that feels like a cage?
We are conditioned to believe that success is a technical climb: get the PhD, reach the executive level, and tick every box of professional prestige. But after 15 years as a high-level Process Engineer, Kate De Jong discovered a silent epidemic among the ambitious: Functional Success vs. Personal Suffocation. ​ Most entrepreneurs start their journey seeking freedom, only to find they’ve accidentally engineered a business that drains them. Kate’s mission is to help you "unlearn" the industrial-age approach to work and build a business that actually makes you come alive.
The Science of Finding Your "Why"
With a PhD in Engineering, Kate spent over a decade solving complex, large-scale problems for global corporations. On paper, she was the definition of success. But internally, the rigid technical world was at odds with her need for creativity and purpose. The friction eventually led to a total health collapse—a wake-up call that forced her to re-evaluate the very nature of "calling." ​ In 2012, Kate walked away from the corporate ladder to apply her engineering precision to a new field: The mechanics of human fulfillment in business. She realized that the same systematic thinking used to optimize a factory could be used to optimize a life. As a TEDx speaker and bestselling author of The Art of Unlearning, Kate has spent the last 12 years helping founders bridge the gap between technical expertise and a business model that honors their "Zone of Genius."
Alignment is the Ultimate Competitive Advantage
This is the core philosophy Kate brings to her consulting and The Thriving Business Podcast: You cannot scale a business that is misaligned with who you are. When you stop fighting against your natural strengths and start building a business based on alignment, the "grind" disappears. Kate uses her engineering-grade strategy to help you create bulletproof positioning and authentic marketing that resonates because it’s true. While she often collaborates with Sam to help listeners thrive, Kate’s independent mission is to ensure that your business isn't just profitable—it’s a true expression of your highest contribution.