Transformer: More than meets the eye.
I started my career as a Footwear Developer for Mathers, part of the Colorado Group. I had studied the Advanced Diploma of Fashion at TAFE and designed shoes for three inhouse brands – Giovanna, Brass Plum and Gino Nicci.
A chance meeting with the new Marketing Manager in the lift saw me transition into the world of marketing, and I never looked back. I learnt on the job and Dahlas was a wonderful mentor.
“I was lucky to recruit Kate as my Marketing Assistant at Colorado Group and immediately recognised her as not only a creatively brilliant person, yet also a sound strategic thinker, a clear communicator, and a brilliant organiser. I have seen her progress in her career to be somebody that can be relied upon to deliver through thick and thin, using focus, commitment and initiative that always goes above and beyond the task at hand. If you’re fortunate enough to work with Kate in any capacity you are indeed blessed. She’s a star.”
– Dahlas Fletcher
With more than 15 years experience in retail and marketing I have had a wonderful opportunity to seek out new opportunities and new ways to grow my skills – franchising, strategy, customer experience, 1-to-1 communication, digital marketing, the best sales and marketing integration.
I have also consulted extensively across various industries, providing marketing and business expertise and strategic insights. I have worked with small and medium businesses, not-for-profits and large companies building strategy and processes while also learning new business sectors.
And I have done all this with my keen fashion sense and love of shoes. I can advise you on the best turf for your yard, the most appropriate shoes for an interview, the best base notes for a fragrance, how handbags get made, where to get the most gorgeous embellishments, how to be fitted to the right mattress and the vital importance of education.
Strengths
ENERGY
My energy for delivering outcomes is deep and infectious. It enables me to build teams, drive strategy and engage stakeholders to deliver consistently positive results.
Kate is a fantastic problem solver and a planning and follow through guru whose energy and enthusiasm are contagious. The drive, ideas, experience and passion Kate brings to work are irreplaceable. The two words that describe Kate the best are passion and professionalism.
Peter Maddock, Corporate Business Solutions
FINDING SOLUTIONS
As a marketer with a strong tactical and strategic background and a builder of large and diverse teams, I remain focussed on finding solutions and empower any team I lead team to do the same.
Kate’s attention to detail is second to none as is her single-minded approach and capacity to get things done. Her knowledge of marketing, digital/web solutions and all things design related is excellent. Kate is all about colour, colour, colour……and outcomes too!!
Guy Elliot, Sleepy’s
BUILDING PEOPLE
The core of any successful business is people. I build the right team, coaching and mentoring people to reach their potential personally and professionally by creating an environment in which people are challenged, recognised and rewarded.
Kate’s background in retail marketing meant that she was able to drive strong results in terms of enquiries and the resultant sales for the Careers Australia network. She successfully built out a team to support the strategy and direction of the business in both the B2B and B2C realms, increasing both capability and quality of output. The results she and the marketing team delivered were fantastic and I look forward to continuing to work with Kate to drive even greater success.
Neil Tavender, Careers Australia
CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Inherent in the development and implementation of strategy is the ability to effectively manage change – within a team, an organisation and the marketplace. My strength in this space enables businesses to quickly adjust and capitalise on these strategic changes.
Throughout her career I have seen Kate deliver consistently strong results, often off the back of large change in marketing, communication, processes and strategy. She has demonstrated her capability in ascertaining what is required and building strength and support within organisations to see this effected. She has successfully implemented both change that she initiated and strategic requests of the broader business, including executive and board-driven shifts.
Bill Jeffrey, The Perfume Connection
Rugby Union
The thing that really sets my heart racing and brings me out in full voice is rugby. Even though I was born in New South Wales, I can’t support the Waratahs. I have supported the Sunnybank Dragons for more than 20 years, the Queensland Reds (through thick and thin), the dual-championship winning Brisbane City NRC and the Wallabies.
I like to think of myself as a very successful spectator – I am an all-in-on-the edge-of-my-seat-don’t-talk-to-me-now sort of fan. I love the forwards (flashy backs, who are they?!), the grit and determination of a pick-and-drive, the awesome power of a rolling maul. A meat pie from a prop is a thing of beauty.
I have extended my love of watching rugby into writing about rugby. I write match reviews, articles and opinion pieces for fan websites and news syndicates, including Green and Gold Rugby, Brisbane Times and the Queensland Reds.
The grunt and the savagery of rugby (some of things I love most) is best summed up by the actor Richard Burton:
Rugby is a wonderful show: dance, opera and, suddenly, the blood of a killing.
Photo credit: Chloe Krause
Entertaining
A house full of interesting (and hungry) guests, the perfect playlist, dynamic conversation and perfectly planned courses with complementary flavours is a favourite pastime. Much of my entertaining is done with military precision. I have an annual poker night and the to-do list is methodical with the lists broken into what is done weeks out, days out, and the day of. Right down to making sure my lipstick is downstairs in the kitchen ready for touch-ups.
I enjoy drawing subtle hints and reminders of flavours through each of the courses; the table setting either matches the food or clashes with the food. I might have a really clean palette planned, but the tableware clashes in styles and colours.
A night of homemade pizza might mean brown paper on the table, fresh potted herbs and pencils for everyone to draw with to create an artwork to remember the evening.
One of my favourite dishes is a tomato and nectarine salsa: nectarines, tomatoes, salt and pepper, mint, lime and a little sugar. Fresh and light, it goes beautifully with pork fillet.
“Be stubborn about your goals.”
– anonymous