You Don't Know What You Don't Know

Katie Kolben, Agent - Alternative & Factual, Independent Artist Group

Want weekly exclusive brand storytelling content like this direct to your inbox? Subscribe to the Brand Storytelling Newsletter.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved bringing people together and being creative. Growing up, I would enthusiastically jump in with both feet when it was time to plan the yearly USY Convention (IYKYK). I got giddy over discussing themes, strategy, outreach and committee organization when I served as the Prom and Social Chair at my high school.  I organized countless camp reunions and volunteer events during the school year and, of course, threw the occasional house party when my parents were away. I was always looking for an authentic reason and an attention-grabbing way to bring people together.  It wasn’t just about widening my own network though- It was about the spark ignited when new connections found common ground. 

As a longtime unscripted TV and documentary agent, I am genuinely enthusiastic about the continued momentum into brand storytelling. By connecting award-winning production companies, filmmakers, talent, and showrunners with established brands, all parties get to expand their reach and in turn, their impact. Brands can leverage agency buyer and distributor relationships, utilizing their collective network to drive reach and revenue. Whether it’s a competition series, documentary feature, new social experiment, recognizable format or any of the other myriad of unscripted sub-genres, opportunities are limitless with an aligned brand partner. 

But growing pains are a real thing. Brands, Brand Studios and Agencies of Record need to look beyond their traditional relationships to find the next great collaboration. Imagine a broader network developed through a wider creative lens. Take a shot on that cold call or LinkedIn message. Find time to chat with someone you have never imagined taking a meeting with. Closed doors need to be opened because so much is happening beyond the comfort of our four walls. 

I was out to dinner with my four-year-old daughter and at the end of the meal, we both opened our fortune cookies. Mine read “Your perseverance will be a key to achieving your goals.” Over the last few months, I’ve spent a fair share of time pushing myself into new territory. Stepping into new rooms with unknown faces. Getting on intro Zooms and grabbing coffees (remember when people used to regularly meet IN-PERSON). While many may find the idea of this horrifying, I find it exhilarating.

When we stop challenging ourselves, professional atrophy can set in. 

Growing our business requires being open to unconventional connections and a willingness to nurture new relationships. These relationships are the path to new shared experiences, the development of emotional connective tissue, and a stronger bottom line.

You don’t know what you don’t know, you know?

---

About Katie Kolben

Katie is currently an Alternative & Factual Television Agent at Independent Artist Group in New York. In 2024 she was named to Realscreen’s “Factual Under 40” list, recognizing exceptional executives & creatives in the non-fiction space. Prior to her time at IAG, Katie spent over a decade at ICM Partners, growing a stellar roster of clients that include award winning Showrunners, Directors, Documentarians, Talent and Production Companies. Before beginning on her agency path, Katie was a Page in the prestigious NBC Page Program in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. She also had the unique opportunity to intern for The Miss Universe Pageant, traveling to Mexico City, Mexico and Nha Trang, Vietnam. Katie graduated from the University of Rochester with a double degree in Film & Media Studies and Religion (because her parents told her she couldn’t just watch TV for a living – joke’s on them). She currently resides in Greenwich, Connecticut with her husband, two children and dog.