One of the best parts of doing interviews for Kinsta Talks is getting to sit down with people I already know—but haven’t yet had the chance to really dig in with. That was the case with Kelsey Parks, a local friend, fellow WordPress Meetup organizer here in Durango, and the co-founder of Psyche Digital.
We recently sat down to talk about her journey into marketing, what she’s learned from years of working with startups, and how her agency helps founders build the kind of systems that don’t just survive—they scale.
From Startups to Systems
Kelsey’s path into agency life didn’t begin with marketing degrees or a traditional agency climb. It started with startups—and with chaos.
“I got completely addicted to the unemployable startup founder,” she told me. “The oddballs in a warehouse, making cool things happen from thin air.”
After stints in D.C. and China—where she helped Chinese companies position themselves for North American markets—Kelsey eventually returned to Southwest Colorado and teamed up with her childhood friend (and now business partner), Kate. The two had stayed connected since the third grade, and they launched Psyche Digital together to serve companies during one of the most intense phases of business: the early growth stage.
Why Systems Matter
Kelsey works with founders who are often at a critical juncture—what she calls the “we’re going to make it or we’re not going to be here in a year” phase. Rather than overwhelm them with trendy marketing tactics, Psyche Digital focuses on something more sustainable: building repeatable systems.
One line really stuck with me:
“Another thing that’s important to startup founders is knowing that the work we’re doing isn’t going to be lost when they bring in their own marketing team.”
That mindset—treating systems as something founders can keep—feels like the kind of long-term thinking a lot of fast-moving businesses forget to prioritize.
On AI and Interns
We also talked about AI, of course.
Kelsey doesn’t see AI as a threat. She sees it as a tool. Specifically:
“I think of AI as part of my workforce—more like an intern in my workforce.”
That framing resonated. Use AI to gather ideas, generate outlines, or even write drafts—but then let your experts take it from there. It’s not about replacing creativity. It’s about removing bottlenecks.
Meet Her at the Meetup
In addition to running an agency, Kelsey co-hosts the Durango WordPress Meetup with me. She’s been instrumental in building a welcoming space for folks working with WordPress across the Four Corners.
If you’re a local and haven’t joined us yet—now’s a good time. We meet monthly, and our conversations are always lively (and occasionally spicy—like Kelsey’s favorite Sichuan food from her days in Chengdu).
Watch the Full Interview
You can watch the full interview on YouTube here:
🎥 How Psyche Digital Helps Startups Build Systems That Stick
