Catharine Montgomery is our guest today, and she is the founder and CEO of Better Together, a communications agency focused on positive change for purpose-driven organizations through creative strategies, messaging, and branding.

As an experienced communication professional with a background in education, environment, and social justice, Catharine founded Better Together after a successful career in various communications agencies and in-house roles. Throughout her career, Catharine has focused on supporting social justice efforts, utilizing her expertise in media outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community involvement to support marginalized communities.

Catharine’s business is young, but she’s already doing important work helping businesses build intentional business relationships and assimilate DEI work into the work they already do. It’s very easy for businesses and corporations to throw around buzzwords to make it sound like they’re doing the work to make the world better, but Catharine helps make sure they know how to walk the walk.

To learn more about Catharine and her work, visit https://thebettertogether.agency/

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Podcast Intro/Outro Music composed by Troy Chapman

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

I really think that, audiences and Buyers

2

are going to start holding companies

accountable to what they're saying.

3

And even if they're not saying anything,

they're going to have to start saying it.

4

And then they're actually going

to have to start doing it.

5

They're going to have to put that

talk into action and they're just

6

not going to get away with it.

7

Sarah Bacerra: Hello, changemakers

and social impact enthusiasts,

8

Sarah Chapman Becerra here.

9

In today's episode, we dive deep into

a transformative conversation with

10

Katherine Montgomery, the visionary

founder behind the Better Together Agency.

11

Catherine and I originally connected

via The Upside, a community focused

12

on supporting independent consultants

to advance their businesses.

13

Connections like this just continue

to remind me of the power of community

14

and intentional relationship building.

15

I was immediately drawn to Catherine's

lifelong commitment to social justice

16

and Better Together's innovative

approaches to using communications

17

to achieve equity and social change.

18

And I knew I had to get her on the show.

19

Our chat takes us on a journey

through the world of social impact,

20

change, and the power of community.

21

Catherine's insights and journeys are

not only inspiring, but a testament to

22

the profound impact one person can have.

23

I can't wait for you to listen.

24

Thanks for being here.

25

Hello everyone, and welcome

to this week's episode of the

26

Trailblazing in Color podcast.

27

I am thrilled to have our guest today.

28

Let me start by telling

you a little bit about her.

29

We're going to jump into a

really Great conversation.

30

Catherine Montgomery is our guest

today, and she is the founder and CEO of

31

Better Together, a communications agency

focused on positive change for purpose

32

driven organizations through creative

strategies, messaging, and branding.

33

As an experienced communication

professional with a background

34

in education, environment, and

social justice, Katherine founded

35

Better Together after a successful

career in various communications

36

agencies and in house roles.

37

Throughout her career, Katherine has

focused on supporting social justice

38

efforts, utilizing her expertise

in media outreach, stakeholder

39

engagement, and community involvement

to support marginalized communities.

40

Catherine holds a Bachelor of Science in

Public Relations and Marketing from Auburn

41

University and an MBA from the University

of Maryland Smith School of Business.

42

Catherine, I am so excited to

have the opportunity today to talk

43

about your work, to talk about

what brought you to this work and

44

what you're really focused on now.

45

So welcome to the conversation.

46

Catharine Montgomery: Thank you.

47

Thank you.

48

I'm so glad to be here.

49

It's so different having my bio

read, still getting used to it.

50

Sarah Bacerra: I know,

it's all, is that me?

51

Are we talking about meat?

52

Catharine Montgomery: Who is this person?

53

Sarah Bacerra: She sounds great!

54

Yes, she does.

55

And I can't wait to

talk about all of this.

56

But let's start with, with Better

Together and talking about the catalyst

57

for starting this agency and a little

bit more about what you're focused on.

58

Okay.

59

Catharine Montgomery: Right, right.

60

So if you had asked me a year

ago, if I would have agency called

61

better together, focused on social

impact, I would say, yeah, right.

62

What are you talking about?

63

Like that wasn't even on my radar.

64

Uh, but it's amazing how things just

line up and they lined up a pretty.

65

Remarkably and perfectly for

me, uh, fall of last year.

66

So around October, I left my

previous agency I was working at.

67

and I wasn't sure what

I was going to do next.

68

I just knew I couldn't stay there and

I was like, I'll go home to Alabama

69

and live with my parents if I have to,

which would have been my last resort.

70

But I just knew I needed to move on and

So I, you know, was just lounging around

71

looking at slack one day and, uh, there's

this channel called ladies get paid has

72

about 50, 000 women on it, just from

all walks of life and a recruiter posted

73

for her colleague, actually, because the

channel is not even monitored anymore.

74

So nobody can join it.

75

but she posted that a venture

capital firm was looking to expand

76

and move into the U S and they only

invest in public relations agencies.

77

And I had never heard

of anything like that.

78

Like, why do you need.

79

An investor for public relations agency

because you just, you know, find a client.

80

Then you have money.

81

It's not like a product.

82

but I was like, well,

this seems interesting.

83

It could be sketchy.

84

It could not.

85

So I just, uh, I messaged the,

uh, the woman who posted and she

86

put me in touch with her colleague

and I spoke with her colleague the

87

next day and we really hit it off.

88

It was like instant

best friends, you know?

89

And, so then she put me in

contact with one of the investors

90

who lives in Connecticut.

91

And And I spoke with him, we actually

had some similar contacts on LinkedIn

92

because we had worked at the same

agency previously at different times,

93

but knew some of the same people.

94

So that was a great, you

know, place to start.

95

And then a couple days later, I met with

the other investor who lives in Germany,

96

and he asked more hard hitting questions,

like, how are you going to make money?

97

It's like, I have no idea.

98

Like, I just found out about

this like two days ago.

99

So that was, Crazy how you're just

slacking around and, you know,

100

you find this great opportunity.

101

And what I noticed right off the bat

is how genuine and nice and authentic

102

it seemed that the investors were.

103

And you're all these things about how

investors can be and what it can be like.

104

And, since This type of opportunity

I never really crossed my mind.

105

I wasn't really thinking about how

they would actually be, but I love

106

their demeanor and just how supportive

they were and open to my idea of

107

having a social impact organization.

108

So I met them in person in October

of last year when they were.

109

conference.

110

And from there, we, you know,

just started solidifying the

111

relationship and the partnership.

112

And I built a business

plan, which I did not have.

113

I had a Google doc that had,

it was literally called C A.

114

M.

115

Like initials I made up for myself.

116

Um, it said all the things

like in big capital letters.

117

And so from 2000 2019 I have just

put random stuff like messaging, a

118

potential business name, all this

different stuff clients I could have not

119

knowing what I was going to do with it.

120

And I was able to take that, turn it into

a business plan, presented it to them.

121

One of the investors, the investor

from Germany was like, Oh, this

122

is like shark tank in the U.

123

S.

124

I'm like, please don't make me any

more nervous than I already am.

125

but they saw something in

me and we really hit it off.

126

I started developing my website with

a good friend and branding and in

127

December and then officially started

working with them January one and

128

then, uh, launched in January 25th.

129

And I know that was a really long, uh,

way of putting it, but I do have to

130

say that I knew from the beginning.

131

That I wanted to focus on helping

other people and I wanted, like, I

132

knew that that had to be the goal of

Better Together and we couldn't veer

133

from that and I think that's what

continues to make us unique today.

134

Sarah Bacerra: think about And

I may say it imperfectly, but

135

Oprah's quote about luck being

opportunity meeting preparation.

136

And it just feels like

that's, that's what it was.

137

You had this document that you didn't

know if you were gonna, you didn't

138

know what you were gonna do with it.

139

It was just a, a place for you

to capture all of these ideas.

140

Everything that had been

happening felt innovative and new.

141

And then...

142

All of a sudden, this

opportunity presents itself.

143

It sounds like you got

things together very quickly.

144

Catharine Montgomery: It was a whirlwind.

145

I mean, one week I'm,

you know, again, just...

146

watching something on Netflix,

I'm sure, and slacking.

147

And then the next I'm writing a

business plan and figuring out

148

what colors I want, like branding.

149

So it was, uh, it went by fast.

150

I'll say that the last quarter of last

year was, uh, it was pretty remarkable.

151

It's like when you I don't know.

152

It's like you're at Walt Walt

Disney World and like your dreams

153

come true or whatever it is.

154

It's just I find myself saying cheesy

stuff, but it really was like you've

155

never thought things that you never

could have imagined happening, come true.

156

And, before earlier in the year, it

was the absolute worst year of my life.

157

And it was the hardest time, In

so many ways, many, many ways.

158

And, you really start to stop thinking

that things could turn around.

159

And, uh, they, they really did.

160

And you're right.

161

I think preparation was

definitely, uh, key.

162

And also being open to the change.

163

Because a lot of times we can

pigeonhole ourselves into, I

164

have to go in this direction.

165

Or I can't, like, veer off and

do something totally different.

166

but being open to those different

things is really important.

167

Sarah Bacerra: Tell us about the focal

points of Better Together and how

168

you engage in this work with clients.

169

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah,

so I think first we seek out

170

clients and relationships.

171

One, we don't just seek

them out to be clients.

172

Like, a lot of the times I'm building

relationships with people I admire

173

and I love the work that they do.

174

And a lot of times it's turned

into, we actually need you.

175

And so I don't go out and a

lot of times just think, okay.

176

This person going to try to get

them as a client is really about

177

building those relationships.

178

And I found some of the best mentors and,

just people in general to learn from.

179

And they've turned into

clients and that's wonderful.

180

Sometimes I get off a call, a client

call, and I'm, I asked my colleague,

181

like, how do we have such amazing clients?

182

Oh, yeah, they're helping the world.

183

They're helping the

world be a better place.

184

And as you get off the call, like not

feeling drained, but hopeful and just

185

so happy to be working with them.

186

So that's one way of

building relationships.

187

And then we also seek out organizations.

188

If there is a purpose of, you know, Oh,

this organization is doing amazing work.

189

We'd love to work with them.

190

that's how we know that, they're

aligned with our mission.

191

So we don't really try to, seek out

organizations just for their money.

192

It's a lot about what

impact are they making?

193

Are they willing to change?

194

Are they willing to, Oh, we're

not maybe doing the exact.

195

Right thing right now, but we know

we need to move forward and we're

196

not just trying to greenwash.

197

We're trying to make an

authentic, impactful change.

198

And so that's kind of on our

checklist in our mind of, you

199

know, is this organization doing X?

200

Are they willing to have authentic

conversations with us and truly understand

201

where they're starting and where

they need to go to make that impact?

202

So that's kind of our criteria

for working with clients and how

203

we build those relationships.

204

Sarah Bacerra: That's, that's wonderful,

especially because you, it's more about

205

the connection first and like getting

to know each other and what you're

206

about what's your mission and what's

the connection there, what challenges

207

are you typically helping them solve?

208

So when they discover a need,

what tends to be the work you're

209

helping them flow through?

210

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah, it's

like a lot of people want it.

211

to be doing good.

212

They want to be helping the world.

213

They just don't know how to communicate

that and how to tell people about

214

it, how to get people involved.

215

And so it's building that

community of people to help

216

amplify what their goals are.

217

So, like we're one organization we're

helping, they support breast cancer

218

survivors and it's like, how do they get

the word out about what they're doing?

219

You know, they, they want to help

others, but, um, we need to help them

220

come up with a plan and implement that.

221

Plan on how to actually get people

involved and to help those survivors.

222

cause there's so many women who go

through and, and supporters who are

223

going through, uh, you know, breast

cancer or helping those they know with

224

breast cancer or who have survived

it and they don't know where to go.

225

They don't know who to

talk to or what to do.

226

And so we're there to help them

figure out the best way to do that.

227

so that's one example.

228

also, I think there are, Clients who

maybe they've been around for a while,

229

and they just don't know exactly how to

transition into Oh, I'm helping the world.

230

And I'm, you know, trying to be better.

231

And it might not be perfect right

now, but we're trying to get there.

232

So how do I communicate that?

233

Although people may not like me

as I'm saying this, but I want to

234

show that we're being authentic.

235

And so that's kind of a totally

different path for a client and one

236

that wants to do well and can do well.

237

But Isn't there right now.

238

And so, I have to say

that better together.

239

We're not, we're not going to take

on a client just for the money.

240

We're going to take on a client

when we know that they truly

241

want to make a difference.

242

And if that's not happening after three

months, then we're ready to let you go.

243

Like, it's not It's not

about the bottom line.

244

It's about who we can help.

245

And I, I authentically mean that.

246

I'm not just saying that.

247

we, how would we be any different from

any other agency if we took any client?

248

what makes us different is that we have

criteria and that we seek out those who

249

are actually trying to make a difference.

250

Sarah Bacerra: Sounds like you.

251

Been so connected to that

mission since day one.

252

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

253

I mean, that's our purpose.

254

Like, That's who we are.

255

And if we didn't have that, then I

don't think better together would exist.

256

so that's it's our whole being

as an agency is what we strive to

257

do is what we wake up to hoping

to do and expand every day.

258

Sarah Bacerra: So maybe we could take just

a couple steps back and talk about, well,

259

what drew you to PR and communications

strategy in the first place?

260

I know you went to school for it, so.

261

So talk us all the way back to when

you, when you first thought, Oh, this

262

Catharine Montgomery: Long

263

Sarah Bacerra: profession I want to be in.

264

Yeah.

265

Catharine Montgomery: I know.

266

I can't believe the years go by so fast.

267

Um, I honestly don't know where I heard

about public relations at first, but

268

the skills to do it really drew me in of

having, you know, to be detail oriented.

269

I loved the fast pace and

having to multitask and learn

270

a lot of different industries.

271

I mean, one of the agency I became.

272

A true beekeeper and I learned how to

save honey bees and I still have my honey

273

bee suits I went traveled all over the

world talking to beekeepers and so you

274

never know what you're gonna learn And

I think that from Way back, you know,

275

when I was a freshman in college, I

when I knew marketing, I might both my

276

parents were in business or they are

in business, and I knew I wanted to do

277

something in the business world and then

adding on public relations, which was

278

kind of different from the business world.

279

But I knew just those skills of

writing and being in the public and

280

being around people was just very me.

281

And it also stretched me a

bit coming out of high school.

282

And so I like that as well, but I

don't know, I just knew from day one

283

and I knew the day I graduated, I knew

I was going to work at Edelman and

284

Atlanta and I was going to the big

city and it was going to be fantastic.

285

And, uh, yeah, I just, I thrived

in that type of atmosphere

286

with that type of pressure.

287

And it definitely isn't for

everyone and it shouldn't be.

288

It's really intense

working at a PR agency.

289

It can be so.

290

But yeah, I just I loved it and so I

stayed with it The only time I veered

291

from agency world was when I worked in

house for the cruise line industry which

292

was very interesting and I just wanted

to try something new out because I hadn't

293

ever worked in house and I did a lot

of crisis work in the cruise industry.

294

So it really wasn't slow.

295

I have to say So that was very it

was just a different type of Type of

296

atmosphere, but yeah, it was still good.

297

Sarah Bacerra: Were you hoping it would

be a little slower going in house?

298

Catharine Montgomery: not really.

299

I was not hoping I remember like some

days There would be a little quieter

300

and I'd be like, I don't really know.

301

I guess I'm gonna go

home like It's not 10 p.

302

m.

303

Like what's happening, but I

also loved Obviously cruises

304

are everywhere around the world.

305

So I've got to travel all over the world.

306

Like, uh, we're really

focused on sustainability.

307

And so meeting with scientists

and other people around the

308

world was, uh, was great.

309

I think everything kind of, you know,

working with honeybees, working on

310

sustainability with the cruise industry,

it all kind of started to change my

311

perspective of like, this is what I

want to focus on in communications,

312

like ways I can help other the earth

or help people, you know, and not.

313

You know, some of the other projects

I worked on were, you know, they

314

were in their own way important,

but they weren't directly related to

315

social impact and things like that.

316

So, um, and I just thought about

that the second I think that, you

317

know, the things I was working on

was kind of leading me down that

318

path of working in social impact.

319

Sarah Bacerra: Right, you never know

what those breadcrumbs are going to

320

be, but we quickly start to learn,

okay, I like that, I don't like that.

321

This feels bigger than myself.

322

So it, it sounds like with a

lot of the work you were doing,

323

it's like, it's bigger than me.

324

It's bigger than the company

or the agency I'm working for.

325

It is having a scalable impact.

326

And now you have an agency

that's fully devoted to that.

327

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

328

Sarah Bacerra: know it, it

hasn't been that long, but,

329

Catharine Montgomery: It hasn't.

330

Sarah Bacerra: but you, you've done so

much in such a short period of time.

331

I mean, say even, what would you say?

332

It's been six months.

333

Catharine Montgomery: It's

been three and a half months

334

Sarah Bacerra: and a

335

Catharine Montgomery: So I,

336

Sarah Bacerra: half.

337

Three and a half.

338

Thank

339

Catharine Montgomery: so I launched

340

So, yeah, it'll be four months.

341

This month on May 25th and, uh, it

feels like 10 years, but . But yeah,

342

it's been, um, I honestly cannot

believe it's only been that long.

343

It really feels like a lot long, but all

good things, and I would say I was, the

344

investors did tell me, you know, it's, The

first year is going to be really tough.

345

I was like, sure, yeah,

like, I'll be fine.

346

No, no, it's tough.

347

It's very tough.

348

There's so much unpredictability.

349

So many new things you're doing.

350

Every process is from the beginning.

351

I mean, it's literally starting.

352

a business from scratch.

353

So like, where's my employee handbook?

354

Where's like a PTO policy?

355

Where's like an onboarding deck?

356

You're like coming up with

everything from scratch.

357

And so, yeah, it's very interesting.

358

Yeah.

359

Sarah Bacerra: by fire, from a fire hose,

I feel that, definitely remember those

360

days early on in my business, it's only

been two years and it still feels like

361

I'm in that a lot of the time, like, oh,

362

Catharine Montgomery: Right.

363

This, we need this too.

364

Sarah Bacerra: before.

365

Catharine Montgomery: What

are you talking about?

366

And although I say, you know, having

my MBA is, it's fantastic, but there's

367

nothing like, Doing it, you know, I

mean, learning in a classroom, how

368

to run a business is one thing, and

I'm glad I had that knowledge, but

369

being in the middle of it, obviously,

you know, it's just so different.

370

Sarah Bacerra: Um, What has support looked

like for you, or what's been helpful in

371

terms of support in doing all of this?

372

Mm.

373

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

374

I mean, obviously the investors, MXP

Ventures, they've been wonderful.

375

Plus they're.

376

group of agencies.

377

So there's four agencies in

Europe, one in Jakarta that are

378

part of the MXP Ventures family.

379

And so their knowledge definitely helps.

380

I'll also say I'm a part of

a million different groups.

381

And, uh, I know we're

members of the upside.

382

And so Obviously meeting you,

learning from you and all the other

383

members has been, um, amazing.

384

And, uh, I know Chief has come

under some fire from, you know,

385

previous members, but the women

and Chief were absolutely amazing.

386

Um, I have to say three

of four are clients now.

387

Um, we created a WhatsApp group for

local Chiefs and they are so supportive.

388

Like I woke up this morning to Like

a ton of different texts from people

389

about the NASDAQ article and I was just

like, oh, I forgot I even scheduled

390

it to come out, you know, and so just

everyone's so supportive of each other

391

and no one's competing, but we're, uh,

just trying to see everyone succeed.

392

And so I say without

those groups, I really.

393

I don't know if I would have had

the knowledge, like just asking,

394

can you share, you know, policy

that you have on X, Y and Z.

395

Can you do this or that?

396

Um, show me the ropes, like just

building those relationships

397

have been, uh, fantastic.

398

So, uh, definitely the people I've met

so far, um, family members, uh, although

399

I don't know that they know exactly what

I'm doing, just like, what are you doing?

400

But, um, and the investors

have been, uh, fantastic too.

401

Sarah Bacerra: I'm so glad that

you have all of that support.

402

And I know we, we have each other,

we have the upside and some of

403

the connections we've made there.

404

And I think that is three

and a half months in is one

405

of like the biggest lessons.

406

That we can impart as entrepreneurs.

407

Don't go it alone.

408

Don't try to build all of

this from scratch because a

409

lot of it's been done before.

410

Your special unique superpowers around

the work that you do and what you create.

411

No one can do that.

412

But people have these

contracts ready to go.

413

People have these SOPs or, or processes

or recommendations for platforms and

414

payroll and all of these things that

we don't have to reinvent the wheel on.

415

But some people don't know that

or learn that a little too late.

416

And so I'm so glad that you have a

great deal of support and congrats

417

on the NASDAQ article feature.

418

We'll, we'll put that

in the show notes too.

419

Catharine Montgomery: Thank you.

420

That's, uh, that's wonderful.

421

Yeah.

422

And, and also I was COO at my last,

the last agency I worked out, which

423

was, it was like a, it was a startup.

424

So it was like COO plus CHRO plus, oh,

like all the other roles that there are.

425

So I was able to get that kind

of hands on experience there too.

426

which, you know, after I earned

my MBA, I always wanted to.

427

You know, see if that could turn into

running a business, and I wanted to be

428

more in the running an agency part than,

uh, doing the work as much, which I was

429

able to do both, which is fortunate.

430

Same as now, but, uh, but yeah,

I mean, the actually doing it and

431

being in that role has nothing like,

uh, you know, being in a classroom.

432

So I'm grateful I had that experience.

433

Sarah Bacerra: More trial by

fire, um, especially in the

434

Catharine Montgomery: always

435

Sarah Bacerra: startup world,

436

Catharine Montgomery: make it.

437

Sarah Bacerra: so many hats,

you're accustomed to wearing

438

lots of hats, so that's good.

439

Catharine Montgomery: Yes.

440

Sarah Bacerra: Well, talking about

this idea of, you know, you were

441

saying earlier some of, some of your

clients, it's on a trial period, like,

442

are they, are they putting their talk

into action or is it more lip service?

443

I remember you said that in

the, the NASDAQ article, or

444

is it more the lip service?

445

And what do you think are some

of the biggest challenges?

446

Either with your clients or we know

that organizations, they, many of

447

them want to focus on social impact

and building equity and, and creating

448

more inclusive organizations,

but then things get in the way.

449

And so what do you see as some of

those big challenges or what are

450

some of your flags perhaps when

you know, you know, they, they're

451

saying this is what they want, but

actually their actions are showing.

452

Something else, if that

question makes sense.

453

Catharine Montgomery: like fortunately

with better together, I haven't come

454

into that situation yet, but in previous

roles I have, like when ESG before it was

455

really cool to talk about, environment,

social governance, like it was, we had

456

a client that would, one of the largest

companies in the world, at a previous

457

agency I was working at and they wanted

to include ESG in their, investor program.

458

Profile like for the month, a quarter or

whatever they want to talk about what they

459

were doing around BSG, which really was

nothing really weren't doing anything,

460

but it was a cool new term to use.

461

And so it was how can we put this

into whatever we're creating for them?

462

And I think that that is the main.

463

Way and I am kind of blanketing it,

but I think it's the main reason that

464

companies use it as so their investors,

think more highly of the company and

465

therefore their profits are higher, but

it's not really so that they can, help the

466

world and help improve the environment.

467

Social responsibility, which is

very unfortunate because they have

468

obviously had the means to like they

have the financial means to do it.

469

They have the people to do it.

470

And the more that we

make these terms just.

471

So someone can sound good, like

the less they're going to feel

472

like they actually have to do good.

473

And we as people as general public

don't hold them accountable to it.

474

Like how often are we paying that much

attention to what they say on an investor

475

call or how much are we You know, paying

attention to a news article and saying

476

like, Oh, wait, a year ago, this company

said they were going to do X, Y, and Z.

477

Did they actually do it?

478

And we might, there might be one or two

people, you know, who actually do that,

479

but we have to come together as a group

to hold these companies accountable.

480

otherwise, why, why in

the world would they?

481

Feel like they actually

have to go through with it.

482

especially if it's not

their mission to do that.

483

you know, I did give the example

once of like, if Patagonia were to

484

say, oh, oops, like, none of our

clothes were made sustainably, like,

485

that would ruin them because that's

what they're built on, you know, and

486

that's what people buy their clothes.

487

so they can't really do that.

488

But if other companies do, nobody's

really holding them accountable

489

to, like, if their clothes were

really made sustainably or not.

490

So I think that's very, very important

that we hold them accountable.

491

And I think new generations, Gen Z is,

they're going to hold them accountable.

492

I feel so strongly about

that, especially this year.

493

And I know that we're almost even

halfway through the year, but I really

494

think that, audiences and Buyers

are going to start holding companies

495

accountable to what they're saying.

496

And even if they're not saying anything,

they're going to have to start saying it.

497

And then they're actually going

to have to start doing it.

498

They're going to have to put that

talk into action and they're just

499

not going to get away with it.

500

the cancel culture, they will

cancel things like so quickly

501

and just stop buying from.

502

companies.

503

So, I think they have

to be very aware of it.

504

Sarah Bacerra: You're right, and...

505

in addition to ESG, I know you've overseen

diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

506

and I think that's another thing that

becomes so performative, such lip service

507

to, you know, it's trendy, continues to

be trendy, and yet there's no resources.

508

There's no investment.

509

And even though all the data shows,

everything shows when you invest in this,

510

when you actually are intentional and

build, build goals around it, around how

511

are we going to improve our organizational

culture and make sure people feel

512

respected and valued and like they belong.

513

Everything gets better.

514

Trust goes up.

515

Speed goes up, costs go

down, like ROI is there.

516

why are we having such incongruence?

517

we are a product of the

society that we're in.

518

Catharine Montgomery: It seems like

we're just a hamster on a wheel, you

519

know, and it's because if you look at

still who's at the top, it's white men.

520

And until we start to diversify our

leaders and having more women, which more

521

women are, in the C suite, but more women

of color in the C suite and above, like.

522

it's not gonna change.

523

we obviously have a lot of

organizations who are focused at

524

the lower levels of hiring people

of color, especially women of color.

525

But, uh, I don't know, like until those

people are leveled up, there's not

526

gonna, they're not the decision makers.

527

So there's not gonna be that change.

528

but again, I think we just

have to keep pushing forward.

529

We have to realize this is a long game.

530

It's not gonna

531

Sarah Bacerra: to

532

Catharine Montgomery: that's what some

political activists and campaignists

533

know as well, like they, not to get

too political, but I mean, when Roe v.

534

Wade was passed, back in 1973,

Republicans knew right then that it was

535

going to be a long game to overturn it.

536

They planned for 50

years to overturn Roe v.

537

Wade.

538

And.

539

Democrats weren't paying attention

and we weren't, looking at what

540

they were doing and that we have to

take that and realize that we're not

541

going to change the world in one day.

542

It's going to take time, but we have

to keep pushing for it and, it will

543

change eventually, but we have to just

keep believing that and supporting

544

each other when we're doing that

and, um, we will see a difference.

545

Sarah Bacerra: It was a great

documentary on Netflix about Roe v.

546

Wade before it got overturned.

547

I think it came out in 2017, I

don't know if you watched that

548

one, but exactly to your point.

549

they were so Organized around it, like

you said, they knew it would take a long

550

time, but they were singularly focused.

551

And I think that's, that's an

opportunity for us, is just more

552

unification, more connection.

553

I think that's the beauty and the

power of the work that you do,

554

is it's elevating that message.

555

It's elevating what is happening, so that

people can say, I want to support that.

556

I want in because I know I've

got all this energy and I don't

557

know where to channel it to.

558

And I think that with, with elevating

and amplifying the work that's being

559

done, we can see like, oh, there is hope.

560

There is progress.

561

It isn't a dark black hole.

562

Like we sometimes feel like there are

beautiful, positive change happening.

563

We just need more people to know

about it and then take action for it.

564

Catharine Montgomery: yeah, yeah.

565

I mean, you're right that

that black hole does seem to

566

always be there like in Texas.

567

Texas had a very hard day yesterday with

the shooting at the mall or on Saturday.

568

And then, I don't know

if you heard, but a man.

569

Plowed into immigrants walking

across the street and, you know, he's

570

being charged with manslaughter, I

believe, but it's just, I don't know.

571

I hear about those things.

572

I wake up to this news and I just

want to be like, what can I do?

573

Like, how, like, who do you go to?

574

Where do you go to help educate to,

I don't know, to just amplify what

575

um, Why we shouldn't be doing this.

576

Why we shouldn't hate each other,

you know, and, yeah, I don't know.

577

I just, every time I see

something like that, it just

578

makes me want to do something.

579

And I, you know, I'm always

talking to people, looking for

580

ways that we can figure out how

to make the world a safer place.

581

you know, a lot of times my mom asked

for Uh, my itineraries for every little

582

detail when I go travel abroad, like I

just got back from Milan last night and

583

she wanted to know every like place I'd be

and I think It's less safe to be in the U.

584

S.

585

than it is for me to travel to Milan,

like I, I, you know, people aren't

586

carrying around guns everywhere in Milan,

like and that hate against each other

587

isn't there the same way it is here.

588

in the U.

589

S.

590

And so sometimes we have to worry

more about, you know, walking down

591

the street here than we do, abroad.

592

And I think it's just the unknown that

a lot of times we're afraid of rather

593

than really knowing what's happening.

594

So, I don't know.

595

It just tears my heart every time,

you know, and it happened so much.

596

199 mass shootings this year and just

I ask myself all the time, like, what

597

am I doing to help that, to help,

and I know I can't do everything,

598

but like, I can help in some way.

599

And so, um, I'm very open to.

600

ideas.

601

I'm gonna start crying.

602

Sarah Bacerra: I think that there

are so many of us who feel just

603

like you do, just like I do.

604

It's like, what can I do?

605

I feel.

606

Helpless until I don't, until I have

an avenue, until I have a channel to

607

put this fuel that I have, this energy

that I have to make things different, to

608

make things better for those that come

after us, and you're doing it in your

609

company, in just the way you operate and

share your experiences, I'm sure, and

610

so that makes me hopeful, but you're,

and I think that's why we need it.

611

community also to just say like,

oh my gosh, this is so hard.

612

It's so hard to keep going and yet we

know we need each other and there's so

613

much more good in the world than evil.

614

The evil gets talked about the

loudest but the good is so much more

615

pervasive and I see that as your

work too is we're just spreading

616

the messages of the good, the hope,

617

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

618

I love that.

619

It was so beautiful, Sarah.

620

Sarah Bacerra: Aww.

621

What you do is so beautiful.

622

I think it was...

623

Octavia Butler calls social

justice a science fiction.

624

Like, it's just...

625

We're all just imagining that things

can get better, and we're working

626

every day to make it a little

bit better than the day before.

627

But it is like creating

something that's never existed.

628

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

629

Yeah.

630

It's surprising.

631

And he took away my,

you know, book author.

632

Like, if you were going to talk

about my favorite, book, um, Octavia

633

Butler, she's just so amazing.

634

And I'm going to go ahead and talk

about it since you mentioned it.

635

But, uh, Parable of the Sower is

just, I don't know if you've had

636

a chance to read it, but it's,

637

Sarah Bacerra: Okay.

638

Okay.

639

Okay.

640

Catharine Montgomery: You know,

she wrote the book in the nineties,

641

kind of, oh, this will never really

happen, . And then it's like, our world

642

was just destroyed and we were going

through like so much time and pandemic

643

and it was just so we could see.

644

Everything happening in that book

happening in real life, and it was

645

really scary and she just was spot on

in her writing and her thoughts and

646

the way that she portrayed everyone

in the book and it's just a Eye opener

647

to like how amazing she was a you know

as a writer and just kind of Knowing

648

the world and knowing like oh, this

is Science fiction, but not really.

649

It's really reality.

650

Yeah,

651

Sarah Bacerra: Well, Yeah, the,

the darkness is, is reality.

652

And like, what does it look like

to see the other side, to visualize

653

the other side and share that

vision, like co create that vision

654

just as Republicans have, they're

unifying, they're singularly focused.

655

That's, that's what we need to do.

656

So thank you for that recommendation.

657

It's come up several times and it's

like, Sarah, just, we, you gotta read

658

Catharine Montgomery: mean, you're

probably like, I mean, I know it's

659

going to be hard to get through like,

660

Sarah Bacerra: It's

661

not light bedtime reading.

662

Catharine Montgomery: I know, right?

663

Yeah, it is not.

664

It is not.

665

And there's a great, I have to

remember it, but a great podcast that

666

goes along with the book that was

released maybe a couple years ago.

667

And so, you know, like reading a

chapter and then listening to the

668

podcast, it like gives you a whole

different perspective on, you know,

669

deep down, like what it could mean

and different perspectives on it.

670

It's great.

671

Sarah Bacerra: Okay, I've got some,

672

Catharine Montgomery:

Got some homework to do.

673

Sarah Bacerra: I've got some homework,

but I'm excited about this homework

674

and then I'm going to come back to you

and maybe we'll have another episode.

675

Just

676

Catharine Montgomery: I love it.

677

Sarah Bacerra: This is

678

Catharine Montgomery: We'll create

our own Parable of the Sower

679

Sarah Bacerra: new podcast for

the world we're in right now.

680

Catharine Montgomery: podcast.

681

Right?

682

Exactly.

683

Sarah Bacerra: Plenty to unpack there.

684

Well, let's go into, started to

pivot into some of these quick

685

takes, the book being one of them.

686

I always ask, you know, what's

a book that's, they've read that

687

changed how you think about the

world or how you think about people.

688

So I'm, I'm so excited

to dive into that one.

689

I want to ask, this is trailblazing

in color, thinking about, you

690

know, you are paving this way

of doing this work differently.

691

I want to ask who, Who

blazed the path for you?

692

Who blazed these

693

Catharine Montgomery: Oh gosh, I

would not be anywhere without my

694

parents and that might sound, I

don't know, just like a lame answer

695

but, they, uh, We're always there.

696

Like I know that they probably did

not have that easy when I was growing

697

up from, you know, financial point of

view or just being black in America,

698

you know, especially in the South.

699

but they always believed that I could

do whatever I wanted to and they never.

700

thought about holding me back, except

I wanted to go to Boston for college

701

and my dad made me go to Auburn,

but, but it ended up being great.

702

And I loved Auburn, so War Eagle.

703

But, other than that, I mean, wanting to

travel the world, wanting to move out of

704

Alabama, wanting to move wherever I wanted

to go, like they just never, I know they

705

were always anxious and concerned about

it, but they never, limited me and what I

706

could do, but I think also when I needed

their help, which I think is one of the

707

toughest things for me is asking for help.

708

but I knew if I could go

anywhere, it would be to them.

709

And they never questioned, they never said

no, they never said like, I don't know, no

710

questions asked, just whatever I needed,

they were always there to support me.

711

And I think they always knew that I

was trying my hardest and that if I was

712

coming to them, like I really needed it.

713

So, they were, I don't know, just.

714

amazing parents and I think that

they never, did not believe in me.

715

They always knew I could do it.

716

And, recently my mom sent me a card

saying how proud of me she was.

717

And I just like stopped and cried.

718

And like, I mean, how often do you

get, a random card from, Your parents

719

like saying how proud of you they are

with nothing else like no expectation.

720

Just it's not a holiday.

721

It's just that I'm,

you know, proud of you.

722

So, I owe it to them.

723

Sarah Bacerra: That's amazing, just, I see

you, I believe in you, like to have that

724

message all throughout your life and look

at what you've done, look at what you've

725

created for yourself and for the world.

726

Well, what are you most

excited about right now?

727

Um,

728

Catharine Montgomery: well,

honestly, in the words is, a life.

729

Changing potential client

of better together.

730

And, uh, hopefully I'm not in a way

jinxing myself or anything like that.

731

But, by the time this comes out, well,

no, but, it's been a journey working

732

with them, being very upfront and honest,

and really figuring out what is needed.

733

And, what makes me so happy about that

is like the number of people we can bring

734

along on this journey with us in that,

you know, how many people we're going to.

735

Like higher and how much of an impact

we're going to have and how much we're

736

going to just be able to do new things

to bring the world more aware of how

737

we need to help each other and how we

need to support each other and help

738

communities and just seeing the getting

very local and granular with in the

739

world of like, we're really Thank you.

740

Changing lives here.

741

There are people who really needed

this and we can see it happening.

742

And we're not just up here,

but we're like down here in the

743

communities really making an impact.

744

So I'm going to love that part.

745

And I don't know, it's just

going to continue to make.

746

My dreams and the dreams of, you

know, my colleagues and investors

747

and everyone continue to come true

and continue to see that impact.

748

So we're really, really

excited about that.

749

I, um, also last week

hired a full time employee.

750

This week, today, hiring

another full time employee.

751

We have someone starting on the

22nd, someone starting on June 5th.

752

Like, so it's just growing

and, uh, any advice is welcome.

753

Um, on, uh, I will say

that I've worked at some.

754

Not so great places.

755

And so I have learned what not to do.

756

So looking for, you know, any advice

on what to do to make sure that better

757

together has a great foundation.

758

I've heard a lot that there are

organizations that do great work for

759

other people externally, but internally.

760

And I do not want that, obviously,

like I want people to love going to

761

work every day so that we provide our

clients with even better outcomes.

762

And so, really anxious about that

foundation and making sure that

763

it works for all of our employees.

764

Sarah Bacerra: Well, the fact

that you're thinking about it

765

now, when there's, it bodes

766

Catharine Montgomery:

I know with two of us.

767

Sarah Bacerra: very well, I'll just say.

768

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

769

I

770

Sarah Bacerra: The intentionality

771

Catharine Montgomery: think

772

Sarah Bacerra: behind it, yes, and.

773

having such experience with probably

good environments, but also really

774

toxic environments that were not,

like you said, that were not, uh,

775

that on the outside looked great,

but on the inside, everyone's

776

suffering, work is suffering, and, and

people's livelihoods are suffering.

777

And so, just thinking about, you know,

what do I want this to look like?

778

what are our core values?

779

And now it's, like, you get to create

that a few months in, And it sounds like

780

you've been intentional since, since day

one, since you said, this is the mission.

781

We're not straying from it.

782

We, this is our identity.

783

And then it just infuses into

your internal culture too.

784

So,

785

Catharine Montgomery: that's so true.

786

And I've asked employees to hold

me accountable to that if it ever

787

seems like we're about to stray as an

agency that we, you know, stay on that

788

straight and narrow because we are no

one without like the right clients.

789

Like we cannot achieve our goals

unless we have those right partners.

790

So, and I am not one to hide in the

back and just tell people what to do.

791

Like, I want people to come to me and

say, like, Catherine, that was not good.

792

Or, Catherine, that was great.

793

Keep going.

794

But, um, yeah, I encourage all

colleagues to be open and upfront

795

about what needs to continue, what

needs to stop, how we can do better,

796

because we're all in this together.

797

We're a team.

798

We're better together, right?

799

Yes.

800

Yes.

801

Sarah Bacerra: I was

going to come, Katherine.

802

I can't even imagine what one year will

look like and And to stay following

803

the work that you're doing, the impact

that you're making, and the vision

804

you're creating for our better world.

805

So I want to ask, how can people stay

following and supporting your work for the

806

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah, of course.

807

So we're on LinkedIn.

808

sometimes I randomly have people

follow me on Instagram for Better

809

Together and I'm like, No, don't.

810

I mean, I just like got

811

Sarah Bacerra: Not a lot

812

Catharine Montgomery: just like

nobody else could take, but

813

LinkedIn is the place for now.

814

hopefully we can expand soon,

but the better together agency on

815

LinkedIn and Always feel free to go

to our website, thebettertogether.

816

agency, and email me,

Catherine, at thebettertogether.

817

agency.

818

So happy to chat with anyone

and, see if we can partner and

819

potentially help change the world.

820

Right?

821

You know, check.

822

Sarah Bacerra: Oh, thank you, Catherine,

for coming on, for having this

823

conversation, for the work that you

do in the world and the impact, the

824

ripple effect that you are creating.

825

So glad that more and more people

are getting to know you and what

826

you're building here, and I'm

honored to have had you on the show.

827

Thank you for being here.

828

Catharine Montgomery: Of course.

829

Thank you, Sarah.

830

It's always great to see you.

831

Sarah Bacerra: You too.

832

More to come.

833

Um, maybe more conversations.

834

Catharine Montgomery: Yeah.

835

I love that.

836

Sarah Bacerra: Thanks

everyone for listening.

837

We'll share more in the show notes on

how to find Catherine and, and learn

838

more about the Better Together Agency.

839

Thanks everyone.