Influential Woman · Lighting
Kate Fosberg
Quick Quotes and Customer Care, The Lighting Group Seattle
Seattle, WA 98108
Her Story
About Kate
Kate Fosberg has been a part of The Lighting Group team in Seattle for 23 years now! She specializes in Quick Quotes and customer service, and she loves helping people figure out their lighting needs with a lot of patience and genuine care.
Kate actually had a bit of an unconventional start—she went to Paul Smith’s College for culinary arts and worked in food service and offices before finding her way to lighting. She learned everything on the job, fell in love with the work, and never looked back!
For Kate, a great job is all about the people. She credits so much of her happiness at work to her amazing coworkers and a company culture that truly supports its team. She’s a big believer that work should bring you joy, not stress, and she loves balancing behind-the-scenes data with chatting directly with clients. Guided by her Christian faith, Kate brings a lot of heart, warmth, and dedication to everything she does.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kate
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success is truly a team effort! I attribute it all to having wonderful coworkers, amazing customers, supportive industry contacts, and, above all, God. I couldn't do any of this without them.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
If you are able, do what you love—that’s the best career advice out there! Work is a big part of life, but it should never make you sick or take a toll on your well-being. Too many people suffer through jobs they hate, but you deserve a path that lifts you up instead of draining you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Your worth in this industry is equal to anyone else's. I used to doubt my own influence and wonder "Why me?", but I know now that my contributions truly matter. We all deserve a seat at the table. Don’t be afraid to start at the entry level, either—there is so much joy in growing with a company from the ground up!
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges right now is the overall economy and the uncertainty in the industry—especially with the building sector, tariffs, and everything else happening around us. It’s a tough environment. I also think a lot of younger people want to move up quickly, but they haven’t had the chance to learn the fundamentals yet. The opportunities are out there, but you have to be willing to get your foot in the door, start at the entry level if that’s where you need to begin, and keep learning and showing up. If you do that, you can go far. That’s really the heart of it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Patience and empathy go a long way. It has taken me a long time to realize that everyone is facing their own hidden pressures, which helps me always respond with kindness. At the end of the day, work is important, but making space for yourself, your faith, family, and friends is what truly matters. Obstacles appear to help strengthen and guide you to be a better partner and a stronger person.
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