Beyond Hustle Culture: Leadership, Storytelling and Culture with Katherine Barrios

On this episode of Work Made Human, Nichole and Jill sit down with Katherine Barrios, Fractional CMO and CRO of Autility and co-founder of a stealth startup, for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, and what it really takes to build companies that grow without losing their humanity. Scaling a company isn't just about strategy or metrics. It's about people: how they show up, how they grow, and the cultures leaders choose to create along the way. Katherine reflects on her journey to carving out a unique path in the tech startup and marketing space. Along the way, she's learned that the strongest teams aren't built through pressure, but through trust, authenticity, and a willingness to embrace discomfort as part of progress. Together, they explore how storytelling shapes company growth, why mentorship and advocacy matter more than ever, and how today's workplaces are evolving beyond hustle culture toward something more sustainable and human.