Career Struggles, Resilience & Reinvention: Staying True | The Struggle Is Real with Caty Burgess

The Struggle Is Real, Caty Burgess opens up about navigating career challenges, resilience during turbulent times, and the process of reinventing herself after a high-profile layoff. From her time at CW Network to facing industry-wide layoffs and strikes, Caty shares the lessons she’s learned, the importance of self-confidence, and how she’s redefining her professional identity. Dive into an honest conversation about persistence, self-discovery, and finding strength amidst uncertainty.

Key Topics:

• Career Shifts and Layoffs: Caty's experience transitioning from the CW Network after its acquisition and industry restructuring.
• Adapting to Change: How Caty is navigating the entertainment industry's hiring freezes, layoffs, and strikes.
• Resilience and Reinvention: Strategies Caty uses to maintain confidence, build skills, and brand herself during challenging times.
• Challenges of Sobriety: Reflections on maintaining sobriety and building self-confidence in social and professional settings.
• The Evolving Entertainment Industry: Insights into streaming, digital marketing, and how the industry is changing.
• Personal Growth: Caty's journey of learning new skills, embracing challenges, and staying focused on her goals.

Quotes:

• "I remember on a daily basis that I am really good at what I do... It's a struggle, but it's also a chance to rediscover myself."
• "I’m an entertainment person who happened to end up doing marketing, not a marketing person in entertainment."
• "Everyone is trying to game an algorithm somewhere."
• "You can’t force young people into behaving like you—they’ll always find their own way to access content."
• "Getting laid off felt like a moment of clarity. It gave me the chance to take a break, travel, and refocus."
• "For me, drinking was about self-confidence. Quitting it meant finding new ways to address that."
• "The strikes ending was supposed to bring new opportunities, but it’s not happening at the pace anyone expected."
• "I don’t think I’ll get a job just by responding to a LinkedIn post—I believe it will come from a human connection."