Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Dubow.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up watching my mom mix horticulture and storytelling, she founded Garden Media Group when she put me on the bus for kindergarten. I watched her turn ideas into campaigns, press hits, magazine cover stories, and speaking on stages around the country. My first job was in marketing in New York – learning how media works, how trends are spotted, and how to form strong relationships.
When I came back to Garden Media, I slowly moved from observing to leading, first doing speaking engagements alongside my mom, then developing strategy and client work, and eventually stepping into the role of leading in 2020. Since then, I’ve focused on evolving the agency beyond traditional PR into a cultural insights and storytelling partner for the major brands of the horticulture industry.
Today, my work sits at the intersection of trends, media, and consumer behavior, helping brands in gardening and beyond stay relevant, visible, and connected to how people actually live.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. Like most people’s journeys, it’s been a very real, evolving path with plenty of curves, bumps and pit stops.
Working in a family business adds a layer most people don’t talk about openly.
One of the complicated parts was working so closely with my mom. She built Garden Media Group from the ground up, so she has deep expertise, strong instincts, and a very clear vision of what works. Early on, I didn’t clearly know how to step into a leadership role while still respecting that foundation.
There were moments where it was hard to separate “daughter and mom” from “colleagues and co-leaders,” especially when we had different perspectives on direction or pace of change. I had to learn how to advocate for my ideas clearly and confidently, while also listening and understanding the experience behind her point of view. That balance didn’t come naturally at first—it took time, a lot of honest conversations, and a willingness on both sides to evolve how we worked together.
Another challenge was stepping into leadership in a business that already had a strong legacy. When working in a family-founded company that’s so respected, there’s a natural pressure to “do it right” while also figuring out what your version of leadership looks like. I had to learn how to honor what was built before me while also not being afraid to evolve it.
And the final challenge has been modernizing an industry that can sometimes move slowly. A lot of my work has been about translating gardening into culture, making it relevant to new audiences, new media, and changing consumer expectations. That’s exciting, but it also means you’re constantly pushing against “how it’s always been done,” which takes persistence.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Garden Media Group is a second-generation, women-owned PR and marketing firm that specializes in the home, garden, and lifestyle space. At our core, we help brands understand where culture is going next, and then position them to show up there early and meaningfully.
What we do goes beyond traditional PR. Yes, we secure media coverage and build brand visibility, but our real specialty is trend forecasting and cultural storytelling. Every year, we publish our annual Garden Trends Report, which has become one of the most widely referenced industry resources in horticulture. It doesn’t just track gardening, it tracks how people are living, what they value, and how those shifts show up in the garden, home, and retail space.
We’re known for translating a very traditional industry into something modern, relevant, and emotionally resonant. That means helping plant brands, retailers, and manufacturers move from “product-focused messaging” to culture-driven storytelling in wellness, sustainability, design, or lifestyle.
What sets us apart is that we sit at the intersection of data, media, and intuition. We don’t just react to trends…we help define them. Our team blends PR expertise with deep industry knowledge and a strong creative point of view, which allows us to turn insights into campaigns that actually move markets, not just generate coverage.
I’m especially proud that we’ve been able to evolve the agency without losing its roots. It still carries the credibility and relationships built over decades, but it now speaks fluently in the language of modern media; social, digital, creator-driven, and culturally aware storytelling. We’ve also stayed intentionally women-led and collaborative, which shapes how we build relationships with clients and how we approach creativity.
At a brand level, I’m most proud that Garden Media Group is seen not just as a PR firm, but as a thought leader in the industry. Clients come to us for visibility, but they stay because we help them understand where their business is going next, and how to grow into it.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Podcasts
* WorkLife with Adam Grant
* A Bit of Optimism – Simon Sinek
* How I Built This – Guy Raz
Business / Leadership Books
* Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
* Think Again – Adam Grant
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gardenmediagroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenmedia
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenmediagroup
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/garden-media-group
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GardenMediaGroup
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@gardenmediagroup
