Meet the entrepreneurs of Seiche: Katie Eukel and Tom Elko. These two Pollenites are behind one of the 14 values-driven businesses that have come together in support of Pollen’s mission to invest in human connection. Together, they challenge Pollenites to raise $15,000 by Give to the Max Day on November 16, which they will match dollar for dollar. Match the hive and donate today.
Photo by Bobby Rogers
Katie Eukel is the founder and managing principal of Seiche, a full-service strategy and creative consultancy that values integrity, intuition, and impact. Along with Creative Principal Tom Elko, they work solely with clients—foundations, nonprofits, governments, and businesses—focused on social impact. Seiche acts as their creative support system, helping to bring big ideas to life.
How do you think through the role of network building and fostering connections as part of your business?
We firmly believe that people are the experts on their own lives, and we believe in meeting people where they are. We don’t need to be in the front seat. We often work behind the scenes, quietly weaving networks and working alongside our clients to expand what they view as possible and with whom that could become possible.
We walk in so many different networks. Connecting people across those networks is like breathing to us. It’s just part of who we are and how we exist in the world.
Do you separate your personal network from your business network? How are they related? How are they different?
We have close networks of family and friends who know and love us outside of our professional lives. We also have amazing networks of colleagues, both here and across the globe, who challenge and support us as business owners.
That said, these networks play with one another. We’re whole people, with complex intersections of identities. That means, all of our identities—business owner, wife, strategist, father, talented home cook, travel fiend—are not hats we take on and off, they’re omnipresent. Our networks also have this fluidity; the personal and the professional are always in a dance with each other.
We’re in service of social change and social movements. Showing up as your whole self is required, but it requires tremendous honesty and a degree of vulnerability.
What you see of us in our professional networks is not much different than what you’d see of us in our personal networks; we’re showing up as ourselves, wherever we are.
Do you have a favorite mantra or quote to keep you going and inspired?
We probably say, “Take a breath. Breathe.” several times each day. It’s a good reminder, especially in consulting, which is often informed by the priorities and emotions of your clients.
We also say, “Open. Open. Open.” The world is constantly in flux; it’s a reminder to work with emergence, rather than steel ourselves against it.
Join Katie and Tom:
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