Kate Nishida’s Biggest Lesson? 'Everything Is a Phase'
Agnostic’s senior director shares a lesson from parenthood that applies just as much to her career, as part of LBB’s My Biggest Lesson series.
With over a decade of communications experience, Kate Nishida has led award-winning campaigns across a range of industries, from CPG and retail to entertainment and non-profit.
Known for her ability to craft insight-driven stories that cut through the noise and resonate with real people, she continues to help brands forge meaningful connections with their audiences. She has worked with partners including PepsiCo Foods, Dyson, Hayu, Aldo, Bacardi, Goodfood, and more.
A recognised leader in her field, Kate has been shortlisted as one of the top PR professionals in the media and is a proud recipient of PR in Canada’s Women in Communications, Marketing & Technology Award.
Beyond the boardroom, Kate brings a global perspective to her work, having traveled to over 40 countries, including a year spent living in Bangkok. When she is not planning her next excursion - preferably to destinations with a warmer climate - she can be found chasing her son around the park, binge-watching alllll the reality TV, or ordering take-out sushi.
The best career advice I received didn’t come from a mentor. It came from parenting.
In the early days of parenthood, I was inundated with pieces of advice from those with more experience. The one that stuck? “Everything is a phase”.
At the time, I didn't understand what they were talking about.
Until I did.
For every tooth, sniffle and 3 a.m. wake-up, I’d silently remind myself “everything is a phase”. And for every milestone, belly laugh and new skill, I reminded myself again. These four words got me through my first year of parenthood.
Coming back from mat leave, I realised this same parenting truth applied just as much to my career. PR, like most fast-paced industries, is unpredictable. One week you’re riding a high from landing a big pitch; the next you’re trying to recover from a crisis. The key is perspective: no high or low lasts forever.
It sounds obvious, but when faced with gruelling hours, tough clients and what seem like impossible deadlines, it’s not always easy to see the other side. It’s often easier to believe the pressure will never let up or think your situation is permanent.
I say this from experience. Nearly a decade ago, burnout pushed me to quit agency life and move halfway across the world (spoiler: I found my way back to Toronto and agency life). At the time, I believed every setback defined me and every challenge was final. The weight of that all-or-nothing mentality drained me.
Today, the hours, the clients and the deadlines are all still here. What’s changed is my mindset. Now, I appreciate the good seasons and more importantly, keep perspective during the hard ones.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting we sit back, cross our fingers and hope things magically improve. Hustle, drive and a sense of urgency are what carry us through tough stretches. But staying grounded has shaped how I show up in the office: it helps me support my team through volatility, and it gives me the distance to make better decisions under pressure.
In a business defined by constant change, it’s the lesson I keep coming back to, the one that lets me see the big picture and keeps me ready for what’s next.
More Articles
