Alumni Stories
Even better than the Real Thing: From Canberra to Coca-Cola
Kate Mason’s 30-year journey from the University of Canberra to being the Chief Transformation Officer of Coca-Cola, a board member of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and an advocate for women in business demonstrates a tenacity that can’t be shaken.
You know Kate Mason is a busy woman, when your 9am phone interview call isn't the first meeting she's had that morning. Chatting about her last visit to Canberra, Kate reflects back on her time at the University of Canberra with a fondness in her voice.
"I graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secretarial Studies. It probably doesn't exist anymore!" she says. "It was a really helpful business stream incorporating accounting and law."
After moving to London, she fell into HR after being mistaken for the ‘HR lady’. From then on, she worked her way up in HR roles, before a stint at GE as the training coordinator.
It was love that saw her move to Brisbane and then back to Canberra, where she worked in a number of roles for Queensland Rail and Austrade. She spent a year as the HR Consultant at Austrade before working for four years as the Global HR Development Director. It was this big step that catapulted her career into the global market.
Moving her young family to Singapore, Kate set up her own consultancy company TST Learning – Tomorrow's Skills Today.
She spent 12 years with the giant global investment company, covering Singapore, Sydney, New York and Zurich in Global HR roles. Wanting to focus on her family, Kate retired from the role and returned to Australia in 2011.
Always Coca-Cola
Returning to the workforce, Kate was headhunted by Coca-Cola Amatil in 2014 for the HR Director position, overseeing 10,000 employees. In 2016, she was offered her current role as Chief Transformation Officer.
"It's a little busy, but it's a great role about building the next chapter for Coca-Cola," she says.
Kate joined a group of seven in the Executive Team – as the only female member – focused on building and implementing new strategies.
Handling everything across the company to ensure consistency and efficiency, Kate is the driving force behind the cultural change of Coca-Cola, transforming it from the inside out.
For Kate, leadership is a fundamental part of HR: "We need to be focused as leaders of a business. You need to deliver today, but there must be a plan and a focus on tomorrow," Kate says. "I'm very big on leaders thinking with their heads and with their hearts."
Creating a sisterhood in business
An active supporter of women in business, Kate is the Vice-President of the International Women's Forum (IWF), a group working alongside the UN in the promotion of women's rights and empowering female leaders.
"I absolutely believe that women can and should have it all," Kate says.
They should be able to be a business woman; they should be able to be a mother, a friend, a sister. I believe in the right to choose, and to choose the role that you want to play.
According to Kate, it’s a constant juggling act: to have quality in the workplace you need to have quality at home as well as a strong support network.
"Connect with women and together you will grow as leaders. Have a fabulous group of women to give you that leg up," she says.
Starlight Foundation
Outside of the office, Kate has a number of passions to keep her grounded and balanced. She talks about her children with a deep love, as well as her work and admiration for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
For Kate, her involvement with the Starlight Children’s Foundation stems from her personal experiences. As a mother of three, and growing up with a sibling with a disability, she knows firsthand the effects it can have on a family. She has been involved with the Starlight Children's Foundation for many years, proudly sitting in the Chairman role for two years.
She hopes to be more involved in working towards a future where all children have equal opportunities at the start of life.
"They are the future of our country," she muses. For university students, she recommends taking any opportunities as they arise.
"Calm that inner voice, and don't doubt yourself. Seize opportunities as they come," she says.
When you're in the workplace, bring your best possible A-game. Do you deliver? Do you look to help others? Do you take on more responsibility? Be known as someone who can deliver and is passionate.
"Amazingly, the opportunities will fly."
Words by Stephanie Cossetto, images courtesy of Kate Mason