Katie Fay builds FlowDeck Studios around ethical livestream commerce

Katie Fay, co-founder and owner of FlowDeck Studios in Los Angeles, is being recognized for building a livestream commerce business centered on transparency, creator well-being, and strong performance. Her work has helped brand campaigns generate more than $1 million in gross merchandise value as live shopping continues to expand. Why it matters: - Katie Fay is pushing a live shopping model that pairs sales performance with ethical operations, creator sustainability, and transparent leadership. - FlowDeck Studios is part of a fast-growing social commerce market where brands increasingly depend on livestream hosts, production, and account support to drive purchases. - Fay’s approach could influence how livestream commerce teams treat hosts, manage workloads, and build long-term client relationships. What happened: - Katie Fay is the co-founder and owner of FlowDeck Studios, a Los Angeles-based studio focused on livestream commerce. - Influential Women recognized Fay for her work in livestream strategy, on-camera hosting, and human-centered leadership. - Fay launched FlowDeck Studios about six months ago and has since helped scale livestream shopping experiences for multiple brands. - Fay has worked with ColourPop Cosmetics, Beauty Creations Cosmetics, Anker, GNC, Neuro Gum, and Goli. The details: - FlowDeck Studios offers livestream production, brand partnerships, creator support, and account management services. - The company’s livestream campaigns have generated more than $1 million in gross merchandise value. - Fay says FlowDeck’s operating model emphasizes transparency, sustainable workflows, and creator well-being alongside commercial results. - Fay’s career path included culinary arts studies at The Art Institute of Michigan after leaving high school. - She later worked in event management at Continental Services inside the global headquarters of American Axle & Manufacturing in Detroit. - Fay relocated from Michigan to Denver and then to Los Angeles before entering TikTok Live commerce. - Within a week of arriving in Los Angeles, Fay secured three livestream hosting roles. - Fay runs FlowDeck Studios with partner Michael Castro, who brings finance and account management experience. - The business started with informal operations in rented meeting spaces, including local libraries in Santa Monica, before becoming a structured studio. - Fay is writing a book tentatively titled The Unexpected Benefits of a Mental Breakdown. - The book focuses on how difficult life experiences can become catalysts for clarity, redirection, and personal transformation. Between the lines: - Fay’s story blends entrepreneurship with personal resilience, and that narrative now shapes her brand as much as her commercial work. - Her emphasis on fair treatment and transparent pricing reflects a broader reaction against exploitative practices in creator-led media. - Fay’s leadership philosophy is rooted in the idea that supported people build stronger businesses. - She also sees fear, burnout, and reactive decision-making as major threats to creative work and team performance. - Her “count to 10 rule” guidance reflects a preference for pause, self-regulation, and thoughtful communication. - Fay’s comments on AI, creative ownership, and boundaries suggest she wants technology adoption without sacrificing control or trust. What’s next: - FlowDeck Studios appears positioned to keep expanding as brand demand for livestream commerce grows. - Fay plans to continue promoting transparent leadership, emotional well-being, and better working conditions for livestream talent. - Her book project could broaden her reach beyond live commerce and into personal development and storytelling. - Through her Influential Women profile , Fay is also building a public-facing platform around her leadership perspective. The bottom line: - Katie Fay is betting that live commerce can be both profitable and humane, and she is building FlowDeck Studios around that premise.