Canvas Rebel Feature: Meet Katie Savarise

Below is an interview from Canvas Rebel, a media company whose mission is to create a space for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to learn from their peers through the magic and power of storytelling. You can read the original post here.

We recently connected with Katie Savarise and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Before I started NOVA, I held a full-time position at Uber, where I led the Global Event Operations team. It was a secure role, offering top-tier benefits and competitive compensation. I had the chance to travel internationally, collaborate with well-known brands, and work alongside an incredibly talented team. Despite these highlights, I felt a persistent urge to leave and create something of my own—a business that would reflect my values and vision. I believed I could leverage the experience I had gained over the years at Uber to build something meaningful and distinctly ‘Katie.’ So, in the summer of 2022, I took the leap and called my boss to let him know I was leaving to start my own company.

“When I started out, I had no clients, no LLC or formal company, and no clear plan for what I would build—but I believed in myself enough to take the leap. Once I made the decision to leave Uber and start my own business, I was fully committed, with no turning back. I believe that simply saying out loud, ‘I’m starting my own company,’ set everything into motion.”

In the following weeks, I focused on speaking with mentors, establishing an LLC, and drafting a deck outlining the services NOVA—the name I chose—would offer. Each conversation helped me refine my vision for the business and better understand the unique value I could bring to different organizations. Knowing my passion lay in the sports industry and recognizing my strengths in project management, I set out to identify a clear market need to fill. Every day, I reached out to experts in the field, potential partners, and prospective clients, pitching NOVA and gathering valuable feedback along the way.

Within a few weeks, pitching NOVA became easier as my confidence grew and I refined my message. I’m deeply grateful for my mentors, who supported me through those early calls. As my pitch improved, I secured my first contracts and tackled each new challenge—from business development to invoicing and insurance—step by step.

Today, with a team of four working on large projects nationwide, it’s amazing to think it all began with a single idea and the choice to leave a stable job. I believe that committing to steady progress each day, rather than aiming for giant leaps, made all the difference.

Katie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I grew up immersed in sports, with my dad working as a stadium operations executive. From a young age, I watched him design ballparks and manage their daily operations, which sparked my passion for the industry. I studied Mechanical Engineering in college, and while I enjoyed solving problems and building systems, I discovered my real motivation lay in managing complex projects. So, after graduating, I pursued an MBA in Sports Management with a focus on project management.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, I co-founded a startup after business school, developing mobile point-of-sale systems for sports venues. This experience taught me the ins and outs of building and running a young company, and we successfully grew the business to the point of acquisition.

Afterward, I needed a break from the startup grind, so in 2015, I applied for an operations role at a little-known company at the time—Uber! I spent over seven years there, eventually building Uber’s Global Event Operations team. We traveled the world, figuring out how to make Uber work at large events and venues. I spent more time in parking lots than I ever anticipated, but I also had the privilege of building an incredible team. This experience solidified my desire to create my own company, with my own team and brand—and that’s how NOVA was born!

NOVA is a woman-owned project management consulting company that leverages my past experiences to provide unique support to venues nationwide. We specialize in venue renovations and large-scale developments in stadium districts. What sets us apart is our deep understanding of the fan experience, innovative solutions to long-standing challenges, and expertise in transportation logistics. Clients choose us because we integrate seamlessly into their teams, offer tailored support for each project, and are dedicated to helping them reach their goals. We are a team of problem solvers who consistently strive to exceed expectations.

Alongside our exciting project portfolio, I’m incredibly proud of the integrity and dedication of my team. We approach each project as if it were our own, always pushing for excellence—whether it’s meeting tight deadlines, developing unique solutions, or implementing new technology. I’m continually impressed by their work. Our clients return for repeat projects, a strong indication of the value NOVA provides.

On a personal note, I’m 36 and live in Florida, though I grew up in Chicago. I have a German Shepherd named Mamba and three horses—Cisco, Spring, and DJ—that I ride competitively.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

It was important to me to own 100% of the business, so I made a deliberate choice not to take on any investors. This was challenging, but it’s something I’m very proud of. Instead of seeking outside investment, I focused on growing and scaling NOVA based on customer revenue. For the first year, I worked alone to keep expenses low, which was tough but allowed me to build a solid customer base before hiring. As projects increased, I gradually brought on team members as consultants, always tying team growth to revenue growth to ensure sustainable expansion. Today, I have four full-time team members, and our revenue supports this growth.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

NOVA’s best source of new clients has been referrals from existing customers and mentors in the industry. The sports world is a close-knit community where reputation is everything, making it challenging for a young company to gain traction. Having spent most of my career in stadium-adjacent industries, I started NOVA with a strong network of friends and advocates, which has been invaluable. I’ve been diligent about nurturing these relationships and actively seeking introductions to new projects, making referrals our primary source of new clients. By consistently delivering excellence and reliability, NOVA has earned a reputation that encourages clients to recommend us for other projects in the industry