Rising Stars: Meet Madison Montgomery of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Montgomery.

Hi Madison, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My background has always lived at the intersection of storytelling, performance, and people. I grew up deeply involved in the arts, particularly theatre, and that foundation shaped the way I understand people and presentation. Performing arts teach you not only how to communicate, but how to connect — and that has influenced every part of my career.

Over time, I expanded into branding, marketing, and artist development, where I realized there was a real need for branding that felt authentic to creative professionals. A lot of artists are incredibly talented, but struggle with how to package themselves professionally without losing who they are in the process and getting stuck with a label that feels reductive. That became something I was passionate about solving.

That eventually led me into artist branding and rep book building — helping performers develop materials that not only look polished, but truly reflect their voice, strengths, and story. I love helping people bridge the gap between artistry and industry. My goal is to give the people behind the table a snapshot of the artist in front of them, using their authentic voices.

Alongside my branding and PR work, I’m also the founder and Artistic Director of Creative Artists Theatrical Studios (CATS), which has become one of the most meaningful parts of my career. I built the organization around the idea that artists at different stages of their journey have so much to offer one another. Our productions bring together adult professionals, emerging artists, and younger performers in collaborative spaces where mentorship and creative growth happen organically.

I’ve also become very passionate about encouraging artists to invest in themselves — in their training, their presentation, their confidence, and their long-term goals. Creative careers can feel overwhelming or uncertain at times, and I think a lot of artists underestimate the value of their own potential. I love helping people recognize that their passion deserves to be taken seriously and nurtured professionally.

At this point, my work has really become a blend of the performing arts, branding, mentorship, and creative development, which feels incredibly fulfilling to me.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road — but I think most creative careers aren’t.

One of the biggest challenges has been navigating industries that are constantly evolving while also trying to stay authentic to myself. Creative work can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be unpredictable. There were periods where I had to rebuild, pivot, or reimagine what success looked like for me personally and professionally.

I’ve also had to learn how to balance passion with sustainability. When you genuinely care about your work and the people you work with, it’s easy to overextend yourself. Learning boundaries, learning the business side of creativity, and understanding my own value were all important lessons.

Another challenge has been that a lot of what I do doesn’t fit neatly into one box. I have experience in the arts, PR, branding, artist development, and entrepreneurship, and for a while I worried that being multidisciplinary would make it harder to define myself professionally. Over time, I realized that was actually my strength. Being able to understand both the creative and strategic sides of the industry allows me to approach things differently.

I think every obstacle ultimately helped refine my perspective and made me more intentional about the work I choose to do now.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work primarily focuses on artist branding, rep book building, and professional development for creatives. I specialize in helping artists, and performers build a cohesive, authentic brand that translate both creatively and professionally, and stretches from their book to their performances.

A large part of that includes book building and branding — helping artists create cohesive books and audition packets while still remaining personal and authentic. I’m very interested in the psychology behind presentation and storytelling: how artists communicate who they are from the moment they step into the room, and leave a meaningful impression when they walk back out. I’m also very excited to be creating some additional networking and performance opportunities for the artists I work with in the near future!

Additionally, I teach private voice and drama lessons and work with students on college audition and preparation coaching, which has become an incredibly rewarding part of what I do. I love helping young artists build confidence in themselves and develop the tools they need not only artistically, but professionally. Watching students grow into their own voices and step into opportunities they once thought were out of reach is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career.

I’m also incredibly proud of my work with my theatre company, Creative Artists Theatrical Studios (CATS), where I serve as founder and Artistic Director. One of the things that makes the organization unique is the way we intentionally structure collaboration between seasoned performers and younger or emerging artists.

I wanted to create an environment where mentorship feels natural and creativity flows in both directions. Younger performers gain guidance, professionalism, and confidence from experienced artists, while seasoned performers reconnect with discovery, playfulness, and the passion that first brought them into the arts. There’s something really powerful about creating spaces where artists at different stages can genuinely learn from one another.

I think what sets me apart overall is that my work is never just about presentation. Whether I’m coaching, directing, branding, or mentoring, my goal is always to help people feel more connected to their own potential and more confident sharing that with the world.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I think pursuing any creative career requires a certain level of risk tolerance. There’s rarely a perfectly “safe” path in the arts or entrepreneurship, so at some point you have to decide whether you trust yourself enough to pursue the things you genuinely care about.

For me, some of the biggest risks involved stepping outside of traditional career paths and building something more personalized and multidisciplinary. It would have been easier to stay inside one lane, but I knew I wanted a career that combined the arts, branding, and investment in a way that felt authentic to me.

Building a constantly evolving organization like CATS also comes with risk because you’re investing time, energy, resources, and belief into something that depends heavily on community and vision. But I’ve found that the most meaningful opportunities in my life have usually existed on the other side of uncertainty.

I don’t think risk-taking means being reckless. For me, it means being willing to evolve, to bet on yourself, and to pursue opportunities that align with your passions even when there’s uncertainty involved.

A lot of my perspective on risk also ties into the idea of self-investment. I think artists sometimes wait for permission before fully committing to themselves or their goals. Whether it’s investing time into training, building professional materials, pursuing creative opportunities, or simply believing that their work has value, those choices matter. I’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when artists start viewing themselves and their futures as worth investing in.

Ultimately, I think calculated risk is necessary for growth. Most of the things I’m proudest of came from moments where I chose possibility over comfort.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Madisonemontgomery.com
• Instagram: @mady_kat
• Other: https://linktr.ee/mady_kat