Awkward and Proud: Cat Dunn Of Cat Dunn OBM On How Embracing Your True Self Can Be Your Social Superpower
An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
Find your People: Your close circle should celebrate, not diminish, your individuality. We can spot a fake from a mile away and having that energy in your close circle will drain your energy and take your time away from the genuine people in your life who are craving your connection.
In a world that often pressures us to fit in, embracing quirks and authenticity can become a unique advantage. Leaning into what makes you different, even if it feels awkward, can foster genuine connections and unlock personal empowerment. In this series, we would like to explore how embracing one’s true self can transform social interactions and become a powerful tool for building meaningful relationships. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Cat Dunn.
Cat Dunn is an experienced and award-winning Online Business Manager (OBM) specialising in supporting visionary coaches and creatives. With a focus on scaling businesses and providing streamlined systems, Cat helps entrepreneurs turn their dreams into actionable steps. Her strategic thinking ensures businesses reach their target audience and capitalise on their strengths. Cat’s expertise allows entrepreneurs to spend more time in their genius zone, scale their business, and impact more people. She is also a Mentor to Virtual Assistants (VA) looking to elevate their careers to OBMs and is creating a powerhouse community of Australian-based OBMs, called the OBM Motley Crew.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?
I’m originally from the UK where I spent 14 years in corporate, honing my skills in communications, marketing, and project management. I relocated to Australia and it was during the pandemic when I realised that my skills could be transferred into setting up my own business. A friend told me about Virtual Assistants (VA) and I started working with a VA coach before setting up my own Virtual Assistant business. I realised that I was more strategically minded and learned about Online Business Management (OBM) and quickly transitioned into an OBM. Three and a half years later, I’m also mentoring VAs who want to become OBMs, delivering masterclasses and workshops on streamlining systems, and speaking on stages.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person that you are grateful for, who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
I’m lucky enough to have support from several communities in my personal and business life. I joined a personal development community who helped me to realise I was in an abusive relationship at the start of my business journey. With their support, I eventually left the relationship but my business ground to a halt. My VA community then rallied together as I re-built my business and revenue. My speaking and PR community have helped me find the courage to start sharing my story and creating opportunities for myself rather than waiting to be asked. I’ve also created my own community of Australian-based OBMs so we can connect and share our experiences, struggles, and wins.
You are a successful leader. Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
Resilience: Leaving my abusive relationship meant that I was unable to focus on my business and clients and, as I started to heal, I had to focus on the possibilities of what I could achieve and not on what I thought I had lost.
Adaptability: Business needs can shift quite dramatically very quickly, and I have to be able to respond to my clients’ needs as well as my own. As someone who’ve moved countries, shifted careers, and changed my business, I know the importance of being able to move and adapt.
Go-getter: Action taking is my superpower and I move quickly. If there’s a need that I can fill, then I’ll do everything I can. An example is creating my OBM community. I couldn’t easily find other OBMs like me, so I created my own community.
Ok, fantastic. Let’s now turn to the crux of our interview. Can you recall a moment when embracing your awkwardness led to a meaningful personal or professional breakthrough? What shifted for you in that experience?
I was recently picked to be a speaker at an event. I spent weeks writing and practising my talk and, at the event, I was halfway through when my mind went completely blank. I started admonishing myself and shame took over me. The audience were amazing, cheering and clapping for me whilst I scrabbled to grab my notes so I could continue. The perfectionism was only in my head, and no one in the audience cared. Afterwards I received so many messages from women saying they were inspired by authenticity and ability to keep going. Now I use this experience as an empowering moment because I’m not perfect and that’s okay. I’m going to keep speaking and showing others what’s possible when they embrace their authentic selves.
Many people feel pressure to ‘fit in’ socially. What advice do you have for someone struggling to be their authentic self in a world that often rewards conformity?
Create connections with people who “get” you. There will be so many people out there who have similar beliefs, values, and interests that will allow you to be 100% yourself and celebrate you for your uniqueness. I’m lucky enough to have a core group of businesswomen where we support each other. In my personal life, I’m also a huge horror and rock music fan and I’ve found soulmates through these interests because not everyone “gets” it.
How do you think embracing your quirks and imperfections can enhance connections with others, especially in professional or high-pressure settings?
Clients don’t hire me only because I’m great at setting up systems and planning their launch, they hire me because they feel like they already know me. When people stumble into my world, what they see if what they get and they either like it or loathe it. That’s great because none of us are for everyone. Two core values of mine are honesty and communication and during stressful periods of business such as launches, my clients know that I’ll keep everything on track and be open when issues arise so we can address them.
What role does vulnerability play in transforming awkwardness into a superpower? Can you share a time when showing vulnerability opened doors or strengthened relationships?
Vulnerability is how we build connections and trust. Being vulnerable is showing others that you’re genuine. I wear vulnerability on my sleeve and bring it into all aspects of my business. I’m an open door on my socials and with my audience. I mentor women and share when my business isn’t going well or am dealing with a toxic client or have been scrolling for jobs because business feels too hard. I do this to create a connection with my mentees, to show them that I’m not perfect and not every day is great because that’s not real and it’s not me. This allows us to have genuine conversations about how I can support them and their business to get them results that work for them — not everyone else.
What are “5 Ways To Embrace Your True Self”?
- Celebrate Your Story: Own who you are and what you’ve been through — the good and the bad — as it’s what makes up who you are. You may think that it’s not interesting or don’t want to draw attention to yourself but there is someone out there in your audience whose life will be changed from hearing it.
- Stop the Comparisons: Socials is a highlight reel — it isn’t real. The key is to keep your focus on your growth and your goals and priorities. You get to create a life and business that suits who you are and where you’re going. There’s so much fakeness out there and you’ll lose your way if you follow the wrong direction.
- Laughing at Yourself: Having a sense of humour defuses awkwardness and makes you approachable. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. Self-deprecation makes you more relatable and allows you to be free of others’ expectations of how you “should” be or show up.
- Set Clear Boundaries: You have to stay true to who you want and what you need to truly be your authnetic self. People pleasing is a sure-fire way to bury yourself and your needs whilst others reap the rewards of taking from you. You’re here to do great things and the word ‘No’ is a full sentence — start using it.
- Find your People: Your close circle should celebrate, not diminish, your individuality. We can spot a fake from a mile away and having that energy in your close circle will drain your energy and take your time away from the genuine people in your life who are craving your connection.
Do you believe that celebrating awkwardness can inspire innovation and creativity? How has staying true to yourself influenced your approach to problem-solving or leadership?
My “awkwardness” led to thinking outside the box and becoming an action taker. I see a gap in the market, I’ll create an offer; no one is inviting me to be a speaker? I’ll build my own stage. Staying true to myself has made me a leader who isn’t afraid to try new approaches and mentoring other women to own their own awkwardness and using it to drive their business.
How can our readers further follow your work?
You can follow me on Instagram at @catlouisedunn and visit my website at catlouisedunn.com
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Dr. Bharat Sangani is a cardiologist and entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dallas, Texas. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, he specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and hypertension. In 1999, Dr. Sangani founded Encore Enterprises, a national real estate investment firm. Under his leadership, the company has executed transactions exceeding $2 billion, with a portfolio spanning residential, retail, hotel, and office developments. Known for his emphasis on integrity and fairness, Dr. Sangani has built Encore into a major player in the commercial real estate sector. Blending his medical and business expertise, Dr. Sangani created the Life is a Business mentorship program. The initiative offers guidance on achieving balance in health, wealth, and relationships, helping participants align personal and professional goals. Now based in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Sangani continues to practice cardiology while leading Encore Enterprises and mentoring others. His career reflects a unique blend of medical expertise, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to helping others thrive.
Awkward and Proud: Cat Dunn Of Cat Dunn OBM On How Embracing Your True Self Can Be Your Social… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.