Kate Del Fante | “20 Women, 20 Stories”
Kate Del Fante
3 words that your friends would use to describe you?
Outgoing, Confident, and Fun
What is your big, audacious dream? (that sometimes keeps you awake at night) If you are already living it, please share.
I truly am living my dream. I remember 13 years ago when I went into private practice, all I dreamed of was having the freedom to design buildings on my terms with lovely clients, to continue to live the wanderlust life and to share that with a family of my own.
I have that all now and even threw in an unplanned return to showjumping to top it all off .
I cannot ask for more.
Actually, maybe an early retirement living between the bush in Botswana and an Italian seaside home. 😋
Can you share how your journey in your current career began, and what drew you to it?
I wanted to be an architect since we built a home when I was 11 years old. I remember running through the foundation trenches with my Dad and him taking me through the whole process, I was captivated.
My Dad himself had studied an Engineering Architecture combo degree in Rome before going into civil eng side.
I lost my Dad in a tragic accident just before my 16th birthday, which probably motivated me more to fulfill my promise to him. He’s always with me in my thoughts and intentions
In architecture, I love the mathematical and scientific enmeshed in the creative process. A non-creative career would never have been an option for me,
but the technical side of architecture is what gives me the balance and mental stimulation I crave. Every design challenge has a solution!!And I love that!
We all have different versions of what success means to us. What does success look and feel like to you?
Success to me is measured in freedom.
Freedom is different for everyone, it can be creative freedom, financial freedom, and emotional freedom.
For me it’s all three.
The complete freedom to work when and where I want to, only on projects that inspire me and to by very selective in curating the people I choose to work with, limiting this only to those who share a passion and vision and truly appreciate the art of architecture.
Also the freedom to step away from it all when needed and most of all, freedom to say no to things that don’t align with my purpose and soul.
What does your morning routine involve? Please share how you start your day.
I would love to say I have a diligent 5 am club morning routine. But my life is definitely not that structured or rigid.
I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of girl.
But my husband brings me coffee in bed every morning, and that is my one cherished morning ritual
that means everything and does everything for my mindset.
What is the thing you enjoy doing the most, (not business related and why?)
I am a competitive showjumper and an enthusiast wildlife photographer. Both are for my soul, both are just for me.
I think women so easily lose their identity in motherhood and their careers, so finding the things that set your soul on fire and are your personal brand is essential to happiness.
Horses are and always will be my happy space, it’s something that brings an indescribable energy and healing to my soul whether just on a quite beach ride,
standing in the stable hugging a horse or the adrenalin in the show ring.
Going to the bush has always been my form of meditation. It’s where I find true peace and the ability to quieten my mind while I immerse myself in the energy that is Africa.
The African bush is my true passion in this life. Wildlife photography is a natural extension of both my love of the bush and my creative eye, and welcome shift of focus for me in the creative realm.
I love expressing myself in a creative space that is just for me, away from clients and deadlines.
This is creative freedom for me and gives me a chance to observe light, detail, colour in inspiring ways that translate into architectural inspirations later.
Is there a woman who stands out for you, who really inspires you? This can be someone in your close circle,
or someone you don’t know personally, for example an author or podcast host, or other.
My top 3 are Kelly Wearstler, Victoria Beckham and Glennon Doyle
Kelly epitomizes everything I aspire to be. She is the Haute Couture of interior design, her work is unmistakably her own genius. She is an innovator and a pioneer.
Her style, attitude, and way of being is unapologetic, groundbreakingly innovative, and inspiring.
She lives, breathes, and oozes design and creativity in everything she does, alongside being a Mom, wife, and uber-cool human.
A one-woman powerhouse of creativity and feminine superpowers.
VB is not dissimilar, also a one-woman powerhouse, she redefined and reinvented herself, not happy to hide in her man’s shadow or her pop legacy.
Her fashion brand is chic, elegant, and just the epitome of minimalist, attention to detail advanced design, and unrestrained by trends.
Her creativity, business drive, wicked sense of humor, family values, and again super juggler of Mom, Wife,and boss babe all inspire me greatly.
Glennon Doyle’s book ‘Untamed’ changed my life. My style icon is Gitta Banko. The queen of cool.
What is a personal mantra or quote that motivates you?
“Learn the rules like a pro,
so you can break them like an artist.” Pablo Picasso
What is one thing you wish more people knew about you?
Although I’m very outwardly confident, I actually suffer from debilitating anxiety, especially, socially.
What personality characteristic/s do you love about yourself?
My humour, my passion and my empathy.
What is your greatest strength, and how has it helped you in your journey?
My ability to adapt and change, and walk away from what doesn’t serve me. I think that comes from a lot of courage and a very strong sense of self.
What does self-confidence mean to you, and how have you cultivated it?
I think we all suffer from imposter syndrome and self-doubt. I think self-confidence is the ability to live and breathe through those moments with kindness to yourself,
a bit of humor,r and then to back yourself anyway. There is a very fine line between arrogance and confidence.
It lies in sharing energy rather than thinking you’re better than everyone.
What are you most proud of, in your business and/or personal life?
I have fought through many personal hardships in life, losing both my brother and my Dad at a very young age,
and battling with the aftereffects of that on a shattered family and broken support system.
I am extremely proud that I have made this life for myself without the emotional backing of family, parental support, or a strong network,
and while I certainly had an educational foot up in life financially, I am proudly a self-made woman that never gave up!
If you could share one piece of business advice for someone starting out, what would it be?
Set firm boundaries, don’t undersell or underestimate yourself. No one can afford to have bad clients who drain your resources, clear that space for quality people.
Your personal branding is more than what you do professionally, people want to work with people, and your passions and life experiences outside the office matter. A lot.
What is a piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
Stop wasting time and energy on seeking acknowledgment and praise from people not willing to give it. You are enough. You will find your people.
If you have a website link, please share it.
www.delfantestudio.co.za
How did you feel being photographed? And what feelings emerged when you saw your portraits for the first time?
I loved working with Monica, such a talented person with incredible energy and aura, an amazing human and inspiring lady.
I still cannot believe where I am in my life and what I have achieved, so this really marked a proper milestone for me and made me stop and be grateful.
Kate, Kirsten, and I had the best day in the studio! Thank you Kate for your beautiful energy and ideas – everything on the day flowed, and your portraits are going to look incredible in your album (and the magazine!)
Hair and makeup: Kirsten Murphy