Stop Underselling Your Story & How To Strengthen Your Visibility Online with Chanel Cathey
Thu May 29 2025
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.
Looking for a specific gem?
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 CatheyWebsite: cjcinsights.comCJC Instagram: @cjcinsightsBoard Member: Wellness in the SchoolsConnect with Naomi
Website: www.naomihaile.comLinkedIn: Naomi HaileInstagram: @naomiahaileTwitter: @naomiathaileYouTube: Naomi Haile
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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. Looking for a specific gem? 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 CatheyWebsite: cjcinsights.comCJC Instagram: @cjcinsightsBoard Member: Wellness in the SchoolsConnect with Naomi Website: www.naomihaile.comLinkedIn: Naomi HaileInstagram: @naomiahaileTwitter: @naomiathaileYouTube: Naomi Haile