Women business owners juggle a lot more than just leading and growing their business. They must learn how to navigate and thrive in predominantly male-dominated industries and bring their own seat to the tables traditionally not reserved for them. They must speak confidently and boldly, know when to pick their battles, and stand firm when their decisions and ideas are questioned. And in the federal government sector, which is undoubtedly male-oriented, women leaders must make the conscious decision to show up every single day even when the doubts and questions are coming from within.
When a small woman-owned business is determined to deal with whatever comes its way, it surely comes out with flying colors despite the obstacles, red-tape, and bureaucracy. After a marvelous entrepreneurial journey of 30+ years, Kathryn Freeland, CEO of A-TEK has evolved into an inspiring leader whose story is one of community, perseverance, and faith.
Kathryn’s Inspiring Journey
It is easy to look at Kathryn today and see and admire the many accomplishments, accolades, and success. But to truly understand her journey, you must also understand it is not without decades of hard work, sleepless nights, and overcoming life’s challenges. She bootstrapped her first start-up RGII Technologies, her late son’s namesake, to the point of using credit cards to fund the company until the first contract was won and invoices were consistently being paid. Kathryn hired her first employee and has been moving full steam ahead ever since. She sold the company 10 years later. She tells this story in her first published book, Navigating Your Way to Business Success, An Entrepreneurs Journey, which she wrote in 2009.
In 2010 she would revisit the federal market, but this time through the acquisition of A-TEK…
Source: Kathryn Freeland: A Woman Leader Slaying the IT Sector, March 25, 2024. CIO Women Magazine.
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