Katy Collins is a creative producer and the co-founder of Wonderful Things, a purpose-led creative production company built on collaboration, kindness, and courage. Her journey is deeply personal—shaped by loss, resilience, imposter syndrome, and an unwavering desire to prove to herself that she belongs. Humans of Fuzia features Katy for her honesty, grit, and commitment to building spaces where people feel valued, seen, and supported—values that echo strongly with our 5M+ global community of women and allies.
Q: What inspired you to begin your journey in the creative world?
Katy: It was really a combination of people, moments, and challenges. My first job out of university was in financial headhunting, and it was completely wrong for me. I didn’t feel aligned with that world at all. I moved through PR and eventually found my way into big creative activation agencies where we did bold, impossible things and figured them out as we went. That feeling—of making the impossible possible—is what made me fall in love with this work.
A big part of my drive also comes from personal loss. I lost my mum when I was 14, and my dad became my whole world. I didn’t really know him well before that, but we grew together, and he became my best friend. A lot of what I do is about making him proud—and proving to myself that I deserve to be here.
Q: What challenges did you face while building your identity and confidence?
Katy: Imposter syndrome has followed me throughout my career, and I still struggle with it. I’ve always felt like I needed to work harder than everyone else to prove I belonged. One of my biggest challenges has been not being naturally self-promotional. I prefer lifting others up rather than putting myself in the spotlight, and that sometimes slows recognition.
I also learned the hard way about choosing the right people to invest in. I mistook someone as a cheerleader who actually pulled me down. That experience made me appreciate the true supporters in my life—my husband and my business partner most of all. Therapy also helped me shift my mindset from trying to please everyone to focusing on the people who genuinely matter.
Q: What has been your proudest milestone so far?
Katy: Starting Wonderful Things with my business partners, especially Grace. Building a business from the ground up is incredibly hard, especially in today’s economic climate. But our tenacity, work ethic, and belief in what we’re creating make me so proud. It’s the first time I’ve truly stepped forward as a founder and industry voice. And on a personal level—choosing the right life partner is one of my greatest successes.
Q: How do you structure your team and collaborations?
Katy: We’re three founders, and we work with a flexible global network. We bring together the right teams for the right projects instead of limiting ourselves to a single in-house structure. We work with freelancers and specialists across the world, including an amazing technical and creative team in Mumbai. This flexibility allows us to work with the best minds, regardless of geography.
Q: What is your perspective on women in leadership today?
Katy: It’s incredibly exciting to see more women stepping into leadership in ways that feel authentic and independent. Success isn’t just financial—it’s also about doing something you love. There’s still work to be done around pay gaps, career breaks, and equality for mothers, but things are far better than when I started 15 years ago.
I also believe deeply in allowing people to exist as they are—whether they are men, women, or non-binary. It’s no one else’s business but theirs, as long as they’re happy. I hope the future brings even more acceptance and support.
Q: What message would you give to aspiring women leaders and entrepreneurs?
Katy: Believe in yourself. Work hard—nothing comes without effort. Don’t take “no” as the end of the road; there’s always another route. Keep pushing, keep testing possibilities, and never stop carving out your space.
Q: What does success mean to you today?
Katy: Success used to mean money to me. Now it means kindness, happiness, and the ability to listen. My happiest moments are quiet ones—at home with my husband and our four dogs. Professionally, the best feedback I could ever receive is that my team and I were kind, helpful, gracious, and friendly. That’s real success to me.
“The true measure of success is being kind, content, and happy—both in life and in work.” — Katy Collins
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