TEDCO caught up with Executive Coach at Sea and Sky Coaching and Consulting, Katie Manasse, to find out more about how her business helps other entrepreneurs achieve their business goals and enjoy long term growth. Having completed the Digital Track programme – funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and delivered by TEDCO Business Support – we also asked Katie what drew her to the fully-funded programme, and how it will help her business thrive.
Katie Manasse has already found entrepreneurial success with her first business – Polyphony Arts. This artist management and coaching business helps creative minds realise their goals, increase revenue, and get their music noticed.
Now, however, Katie has branched out into coaching across all industries, with Sea and Sky Coaching and Consulting. Initially set up as a way to broaden her personal development and people skills, while reconnecting with North East brands, Sea and Sky is already going from strength to strength.
Katie says,
“I wanted to expand my range of clients beyond music, so I set up Sea and Sky. One of my motivations was to work with people locally. I live in Whitley Bay and, after years of remote working, I’m keen to reconnect with my business community.”
Sea and Sky Consulting offers executive coaching and business strategy. Katie’s clients range from budding start-ups to business leaders, looking to increase their revenue and achieve their goals. Katie specialises in partnerships and teams, and helps a range of clients nurture these vital relationships in business.
“I’m working with a lot of creatives, as well as executives in organisations like trade unions. You have to cater your services to fit the client, as there are profound differences in the challenges people face, depending on their backgrounds. You have to consider differences in power, responsibility, balance, and circumstance.”
Katie has been self-employed since 2018, but it wasn’t a decision she made lightly. With a young child at home and personal grief taking its toll, she worried about a lack of security and consistent income.
“I was sleep deprived and grieving, so I was worried about my ability to make good decisions. My mindset at the time was to just do ‘the next right thing’ and it paid off! The experience helped me help others run their businesses during challenging times.”
Getting on Digital Track
As part of Katie’s efforts to build the Sea and Sky brand, she joined the Digital Track programme and completed both the leadership and digital marketing modules.
Katie says,
“I was looking for support, and to connect with more people in the local business community. Having been a member of the North Tyneside Business Forum for a while, I knew there was support there.”
As someone who works best with others, Katie says meeting other people on the course and understanding their challenges was an invaluable experience.
“A lot of my energy comes from connecting with people, so the courses were great because I got the opportunity to reflect on my own business while connecting with other organisations, most of which were completely different to mine.”
Despite Sea and Sky being a new endeavour, Katie had been an entrepreneur for five years by the time she took on the Digital Track courses. But, she says, this didn’t take away their benefit.
“Even when the information wasn’t new, I still think there’s always something to learn. The courses are just as valuable for someone who’s been a business leader for a while. When you’re on a course that’s run well, by someone who’s knowledgeable, even when they’re talking about something you already know, you still benefit from hearing that information again.”
TEDCO Business Advisor, Jeff Thompson, adds,
“Digital Track is designed to help business owners like Katie expand their horizons and embrace the tools available to them. The added ability to network with other entrepreneurs has already proved itself to be productive for Katie as she continues to find success with Sea and Sky. I’m delighted the courses have been of benefit to her and that she’ll be looking to utilise what she’s learned as both her businesses continue to grow.”
The Digital Track programme is offered exclusively to businesses based in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland and is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority as part of their Digital Business Pipeline programme. Digital Track offers support in a number of different areas – including marketing, growth and leadership courses – delivered through a combination of in-person and online workshops.
To find out more about our courses, click here. To see more from Sea and Sky Coaching and Consulting, check out the website here.