From Strategy to Self-Employed: A Conversation with Katelyn McArdle

Katelyn McArdle spent over a decade working in nonprofit digital strategy before striking out on her own to found Functional Authority LLC. In this inaugural episode of The Journey : In Conversation, she and Paul dive into the mindset shifts, early failures, and practical lessons that come with moving from employee to founder.

They discuss how to earn trust in client relationships, avoid over-engineering before you know what sells, and define success on your own terms—not just scale for scale’s sake. Katelyn’s advice is clear : start small, build what you need, and only grow if growth fits your life.

Whether you’re a nonprofit pro thinking about a new path or a founder wondering how to escape the hourly trap, this episode is packed with insight.