About us
The Passionate PA is owned and run by Kate Chastey – 28, happily married, a wealth of experience within all sorts of businesses and has more Passion than you can shake a stick at!
Kate started her working life in London doing work experience as a personal assistant for a TV celebrity and Interior Designer. She worked on tasks such as book launches, public appearances, office organisation, supplier management and even got to demonstrate her creative streak. It was the experience that kicked off her passion for getting things done.
Whilst doing a degree at Bournemouth University in Advertising and Marketing Communications, Kate landed her first job before the final exams had even begun. In true Kate fashion – the only option was to embrace all the opportunities and just ‘crack on’ with being a part-time Account Exec and full-time student. At this full service advertising agency in Southampton Kate spent two years specialising in recruitment advertising for both local businesses and national household names. The experience was priceless as this was also where her love for business blossomed. With small businesses everybody mucks in, and that is exactly what Kate did – from the mandatory tea duty to the high flying pitches to global brands, from getting the Director’s kid to school when she was sick to attending London award ceremonies – it was a job with a difference and a great time for learning.
At just 22 the very independent young lady decided she wanted to see Australia before making any firm roots so she packed her bags and off she flew – on her own, to the other side of the world, with no real plan and not a huge amount of money! She worked as an au pair for one of the most influential doctors in Queensland, a wine waitress in a ‘Mafia’ style Italian restaurant and a crew member on a cruise ship but successfully managed to steer well clear of the fruit picking. She also did all the travelling anyone could possible do in a VW camper with a German girl that became her best friend.
Upon her return to the UK, the reality of life hit – no money, no job, no home (Parents had just retired to a small holding in West Dorset!!). Kate then spent time temping as a Store Fit Coordinator for Toys R Us which progressed into a role organising everything from floor plans to printed signage… she was right back to her ‘take charge and get things done’ workaholic self in no time. After spending nearly a year putting new stores together, Kate moved to one of the country’s leading In-Store Promotions companies working on the Procter & Gamble account. With responsibility for everything from creative ideas, to print management, to pan European distribution of point of sale marketing materials, to the daily invoicing – making things happen was her job, on a massive scale.
However, as with all great things, there had to be an end. That end only came when Kate met Sarah Howells, the founder of The Passionate PA, and to be honest, fell in love. In love with the personality behind the brand, the idea that there was a way she could work as hard (if not harder!) than she was already but have much more control over the financial and personal rewards. Joining The Passionate PA gave Kate the opportunity to bring together all of her experience and really make a difference to local Dorset business.
So, Kate became the second Passionate PA in July 2009 and was moving into what she thought would be the greatest time of her life – growing a business with one of the most determined, inspirational, wonderful people she’d ever met. Fate had other ideas though. Sarah was fighting cancer and at Christmas time was told it was terminal. Sarah made the incredibly hard decision to sell her business to Kate and in doing so allow the brand and business to live on and flourish. So, just one month after giving up her secure, sensible job Kate had become the proud new owner of a business – it wasn’t quite the plan but it’s turned out to be the best decision she ever made. The business is a success with great clients and work she loves.
You can read more about Sarah Howells on the ‘More About’ pages.