From Fashion to Founder: How Kate Horvath built PeopleSense

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Hi friends. My name is Kate Horvath, and I am the Founder and CEO of PeopleSense, based in Summit, New Jersey. I believe leaders and businesses are most successful when they cultivate a thriving culture for their people. Some may know this as “good vibes.” We call it the emotional operating system of a company—the invisible force that shapes how people feel, behave, and perform together to drive stronger business outcomes. So, that’s why I created PeopleSense. To bring a relevant approach to the future of work, a mission that is deeply personal.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship was not on my radar growing up—my dad was a corporate lawyer, my mom stayed home, and there was never any push to “start something.” Still, I’ve always had a start-and-lead mindset, whether it was founding clubs in high school, serving as President in college, or leading culture and innovation initiatives at Propeller. Those experiences, combined with seeing firsthand how strong leadership and intentional culture drive performance, naturally led me to start PeopleSense. Looking back, the path was not obvious, but it brought me here, and I could not be happier.

Are you a mamaprenista?

I am a mamaprenista with two boys, Holden, 10, and Hayes, 7. Starting my business this year has been amazing, in part because they are old enough to understand and cheer me on for every win. The biggest lesson I have learned is to be kind to yourself. Some days will be 90% work and 10% family, other days 100% family to care for a sick child, and that is totally okay. Embracing the balancing act, being present, and celebrating wins makes both family life and building a business incredibly rewarding.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

When I first launched PeopleSense, my marketing strategy was part tried and true, and part winging it. I started with legacy clients who already knew my work, shared ideas and conversations on Instagram and LinkedIn, and leaned on my network and communities like Entreprenista and Re:Brand. Not everything went perfectly. Some posts took off, some fell flat, and there were rejections, follow-ups, and plenty of unanswered messages, but I quickly learned that showing up authentically and consistently matters more than perfection. That approach helped me build a foundation that continues to grow today.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it:

Six months into launching PeopleSense, I hit a turning point. I was fully immersed in client work, but the business needed attention to grow. Bringing on my first team member, Lindsay DiMarco, felt like a leap of faith, but it was the change I needed. This decision helped advance branding, thought leadership, and growth initiatives while keeping operations running smoothly.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

The accomplishment I am most proud of is just starting. You will hear me say this a lot. Taking the leap to go out on my own was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating and writing my resignation letter to officially launch my own venture was one of the wildest feelings I have ever had. Since then, I have loved working with incredible clients, exploring new partnerships, and figuring out how to collaborate, set expectations, and define my role along the way. Every challenge has reminded me why I took the leap and why this work is so rewarding.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

One thing I wish I had known when I was starting out is how powerful it can be to lean into what you already love and know. About ten months in, I launched Corporate MomSense because I was craving something even more deeply personal, and because I genuinely love writing and reconnecting with my former network. I live by the saying “build the plane as you fly it,” and I have learned to embrace what it means to be constantly evolving. Looking back, it feels fitting that everything is coming together this way.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before starting PeopleSense, I spent several years on the leadership team at Propeller, an Omnicom agency, where I helped guide a major acquisition, lead change management, scale innovation, and built the company’s brand identity and culture. Prior to Propeller, I was a Fashion and Luxury Digital Marketer at Hearst (ELLE, BAZAAR, Marie Claire, Town & Country) and Billboard/The Hollywood Reporter. Across these experiences, I have created teams, experiences, and strategies that empower people to perform at their highest, while having fun and growing the business together.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I started PeopleSense because I craved the independence and thrill of building something from the ground up. I wanted to follow my own vision and create work that is exciting, meaningful, and where I can double down on my obsession for building great cultures. What drew me in the most was the chance to make a real difference by helping leaders and organizations perform at their best by putting people first. There is nothing more powerful than seeing a workplace transform, watching people feel seen, supported, and inspired, and knowing you had a hand in it.

Do you have any recent wins?

One of the wins I am most proud of from our first year was launching the PeopleSense Future of Work survey. With insights from 166 participants, we transformed real employee voices into actionable solutions for building better workplaces—and seeing people engage and ask for more of this was incredibly validating. Drop me a message if you want a copy!

Another meaningful win was launching Corporate MomSense, a new media vertical, inspired by my personal journey of being an ambitious career mom. We focus in on how women can build a career they love, lead with impact, and raise a family, all at once. No shame, no grievance, this is how you can keep growing and achieve your dreams. 

Both wins feel like a real step forward in being able to call myself the “workplace authority,” helping people and organizations truly thrive.

Who are your customers?

Our clients are growth-minded founders and executives who choose to shape the future instead of reacting to it. They want cultures that fuel innovation, retain top talent, and unlock peak performance. They are ready to start now because the companies that invest in change today are the ones that won’t be left behind. 

We also recently launched Corporate MomSense, a new vertical within PeopleSense for ambitious career moms, focused on the how—real strategies that honor the complexity of career growth, leadership, and motherhood, helping you rise with confidence. Take a read!

What is next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years:

We are excited to keep growing our client roster and find new ways to help organizations build thriving cultures, while also leveling up ourselves with new tools, technology, and relationships to stay ahead of the curve. Looking ahead, we are dreaming big—in addition to supporting businesses with their unique culture and growth goals, PeopleSense has a vision to become a media-driven, work lifestyle brand through relatable content, meaningful partnerships, and events that enable progress in the future of work. A key part of this next chapter is cultivating an engaged community of ambitious, career moms through our Corporate MomSense platform. If this sounds like a community you would be interested in joining, let’s connect! This is just the beginning for PeopleSense and I cannot wait for all that is to come.

What's your top productivity tip?

I start my day early, before the kids are up, carving out one hour with a 7-mile run. I use this me time to clear my head, spark ideas, and map out the day ahead. This morning routine gives me the mental space to be energized, focused, and ready to tackle whatever comes my way.

What's your favorite business tool?

My favorite business tool is definitely Copilot. It truly helps with everything from brainstorming ideas and writing content, to developing and tweaking business plans. It is like having a partner who is always ready to jump in, think through challenges with me, and help me work faster without losing the personal touch. I have also recently fallen in love with Manychat because it lets me create a more connected, intentional experience on Instagram. How people experience my brand really matters to me, because it is often their first glimpse into how thoughtfully I approach the client experience overall.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

My approach to work-life balance is really about setting the right boundaries and being intentional with my time. I have never been an 8-8-8 rule person and probably never will be, but I do stick to a consistent routine that works for me. I wake up early, go for a run, and start the day feeling grounded and focused. Then I can be fully present in whatever part of the day I am in — whether that is work time, family time, or a moment to myself. I also introduced a 4-day work week to model the human-centered culture I believe in. That experience taught me a key lesson: sustainable growth requires trusting others, letting go, and creating space to innovate.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

My advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Start. Climb “cringe mountain,” make mistakes, post the content, send the emails—even if it is messy or scary. Keep experimenting, learn as you go, and give yourself permission to grow. You never know where it might take you.

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