ABINGTON, Pa. – Khamila “Kitty” Barnes graduated from Penn State Abington in 2011 with a degree in integrative arts, providing a solid foundation for many career paths, particularly those that are creative, innovative and entrepreneurial.
But after becoming a mother in her senior year of high school and becoming the first in her family to graduate from college, Barnes chose the safe path, including six years at Comcast Business, where she received regular promotions.
It all made sense, she said. Until it didn’t.
“I thought businesses were the path to security, but my life was unbalanced and I really struggled to adapt,” she said.
Barnes has had an affinity for entertaining and cooking throughout her life, and combined with her outgoing personality, she earned a mixology certification while working in the corporate world. This led to sporadic part-time jobs, but she didn’t have enough fine dining and event space experience to hire her.
Barnes began trying to monetize her mixology skills by hosting Zoom happy hours during the pandemic, but she quickly became frustrated.
“My husband encouraged me to start my own business, so on November 6, 2021, I applied for my business license and left corporate life. I wanted to make people laugh and introduce them to new drinks,” she said.
Barnes – who named her business Kitty on Top – responded quickly. Her customized beverages and carefully crafted homemade syrups attract notable corporate and non-profit clients who count on her to take their events and team building activities to the next level. For private clients, her work contributes to unforgettable weddings and birthdays and she teaches small groups the craft of cocktail and mocktail preparation.
Her team of seven supports her at around 14 events per month. She makes her own simple syrups, which she describes as “a tiring process.” It takes a full day per batch, so there is no cross-contamination.”
It’s been nearly three years since Barnes founded Kitty on Top, and despite major media coverage in the Philadelphia area, she admits that entrepreneurship is still scary.
“I grow my business with a lot of blood, sweat and tears. “I have to remind myself almost every day that ‘you’ve done this before’ – if I don’t reach out to prospects, my business won’t change,” she said.
More than a decade after graduating from Abington, Barnes returns to campus to share the lessons she learned at the Student Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and at Penn State Day, an annual open house for prospective students .
“I want them to know that college is extremely important, even if you make a career change later in life. It’s also important to get involved on campus because it helps you find your own identity. Why not get to know people from different backgrounds at the start of your studies? When I got to Abington I thought, ‘Let’s go!’ ” she said.
Barnes, who chose Abington because it was close to home and her aunt was a graduate, was one of the founders of the campus dance team. Today, she realizes that her passion for art, English, writing, psychology, and especially teaching theater in Abington supports her work as a mixologist and businesswoman.
“I’m definitely an accidental entrepreneur,” she said.
About Penn State Abington
Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and impactful education that leads to the success of a diverse student body. She is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st century public higher education at a premier research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers bachelor’s degrees in 25 majors, accelerated master’s degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.
