Katherine Rosecrans is a marketing leader known for blending creativity, strategy, and results. She grew up in Edina, Minnesota, where she learned teamwork and leadership as a varsity softball captain and catcher. Those lessons shaped her approach to business—focused, disciplined, and people-driven.
After earning All-State and All-Star honors in high school, she went on to play collegiate softball at South Dakota and Northern State before graduating magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota. While in college, she served as president of the DECA Business Club, where she discovered her passion for business, brand building, and leadership.
Her career began in Chicago, where she launched her own marketing company working with restaurants, bars, and lifestyle brands. That hands-on experience taught her how to balance storytelling with data and creativity with performance. “You can have great ideas,” she says, “but they only matter if they drive real results.”
Today, Katherine Rosecrans serves as Director of Marketing for a leading hospitality group, overseeing brand strategy, creative development, and revenue growth across multiple markets. Known for her collaborative style and results-driven mindset, she has led national campaigns, multi-city openings, and digital strategies that move brands forward.
Outside of work, Katherine is passionate about animal advocacy, especially for bully breeds, and has been recognized with the American Pit Bull Foundation Community Impact Award and the Women in Business Community Leadership Award. She lives by one simple belief: success is built on authenticity, hard work, and purpose.
Q&A with Katherine Rosecrans: Redefining Success Through Grit, Growth, and Authenticity
Q: You’ve built an impressive career in hospitality marketing. When you think about success, what does it mean to you today?
Katherine: Success used to mean checking boxes — promotions, new titles, hitting certain numbers. Over time, it’s shifted. For me, success now means creating something that lasts, building teams that thrive, and doing work that reflects my values. I’ve learned that real success isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s the quiet confidence of knowing you stayed true to yourself while getting results that matter.
Q: You’ve talked before about how your leadership skills started on the softball field. How did sports shape your understanding of success?
Katherine: Being a catcher taught me everything about perspective. You see the whole field, strategy, timing, teamwork — and you learn to stay calm under pressure. It’s the same in business. You’re constantly reading the game, adjusting to change, and making split-second decisions that impact others.
In high school, I was captain of the varsity team, and we won some tough games simply because we trusted each other. That lesson stuck with me. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice; it’s about clarity, consistency, and showing up for people every day — whether you’re behind home plate or leading a marketing team.
Q: You founded your own marketing company early in your career. What was the biggest lesson from that experience?
Katherine: Starting that company in Chicago was like jumping into the deep end. I didn’t have a blueprint or investors — just a laptop, a few contacts, and a lot of determination. I learned quickly that success doesn’t come from waiting for perfect conditions. You have to build momentum before you feel ready.
One of my first clients was a small restaurant that couldn’t afford a full marketing team. I helped them redesign their brand identity and tell their story in a more authentic way — through visuals, social media, and customer experience. Within months, their foot traffic doubled. That was the moment I realized strategy and storytelling could completely change a business.
But the bigger takeaway was resilience. Not every project worked. Some months were lean. But those experiences taught me how to stay adaptable — to pivot when needed and still move forward.
Q: Many people struggle to balance creativity with measurable business results. How do you manage that balance?
Katherine: That’s a constant challenge, especially in hospitality. You can have the most beautiful branding in the world, but if it doesn’t drive traffic or revenue, it’s just decoration. On the other hand, if you focus only on numbers, you lose the human element that makes brands special.
For me, balance comes from listening — to data, to the team, and to the audience. I think of creativity as the spark, and strategy as the structure that keeps the fire going. In my role today, I encourage my team to ask two questions before launching anything: “Does it connect emotionally?” and “Can we measure the impact?” If the answer is yes to both, we’re on the right track.
Q: You’ve mentioned that both of your parents had a big influence on your work ethic. What’s something they taught you about success?
Katherine: My mom ran her own marketing company when I was growing up, and watching her taught me the value of independence. She built something from nothing and made it look effortless — though I know now it wasn’t. My dad spent 20 years in the Navy and later worked at the VA, and from him I learned discipline, resilience, and humility.
They taught me that success isn’t about being the smartest or fastest; it’s about consistency. You keep showing up, even when it’s hard. That mindset carried me through college, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership.
Q: Outside of work, you’re deeply involved in animal advocacy. How does that connect to your idea of success?
Katherine: Advocacy keeps me grounded. Working with shelters and supporting bully breed rescues gives me perspective beyond business metrics. When I see a dog find a home or a shelter get more community support, it reminds me that impact can look different — it doesn’t always have to be professional.
My rescue pit bull, Harrison, has taught me so much about patience and empathy. Success, for me, isn’t just about career growth; it’s about how I use my skills and voice to help others — even if it’s just one person or one dog at a time.
Q: What advice would you give to young professionals who are still figuring out what success looks like for them?
Katherine: Stop chasing perfect conditions. There’s never a perfect time to start anything — not a business, not a career change, not a new idea. You learn by doing. I always tell young marketers: take the messy first draft, launch the small idea, test it, and keep refining. Progress builds confidence.
Also, define success for yourself. Don’t let someone else’s version dictate your path. When I first started, I thought success meant working for a huge brand. Now, I know it means having creative freedom, a great team, and work that aligns with my values. That definition will evolve, and that’s okay.
Q: Looking back, what’s one small decision that made a big difference in your career?
Katherine: Moving to Chicago right after college. It was terrifying at the time — I didn’t know anyone, and I was starting from scratch. But that leap forced me to rely on myself and take ownership of my career. Every major opportunity I’ve had since traces back to that move.
Sometimes, success is just saying yes before you feel ready.
Q: If you had to sum up your philosophy on success in one sentence, what would it be?
Katherine: Success is doing work that aligns with your values, challenges your growth, and still lets you sleep well at night.