Welcome to Hyve Journeys – where we bring to life how people grow their careers at Hyve.
Kat hasn’t followed a set route to event leadership, she’s built one. Moving from content to product development to event leadership, she has taken on new challenges and invested in her development along the way.
In this edition of Hyve Journeys, Kat reflects on taking ownership of your career, embracing change and being open to where new opportunities might lead.
Can you tell us about your journey at Hyve so far — how did it begin, and what’s brought you to where you are today?
In a nutshell, my Hyve journey has taken me from content curation to product development and now event leadership. But first, let me take you back to where it all began…
I joined as Head of Content for Breakbulk. The role was a perfect match for someone passionate about content, events and, yes, shipping and logistics! I then moved to CWIEME before deciding to join Hyve’s Product team as a Product Manager for the newly launched meetings programme. It was my first move outside content, and I was able to combine my research skills and customer insight with a whole new understanding of the technology behind one of Hyve’s core products. It brought together three things I love obsessing over: products, people and markets.
Then came the next chapter, Mining Indaba. I joined as Project Director, taking on another new sector, another new team and a completely new challenge. From there, I progressed to Product Director and then Event Director, the role I hold today.
It hasn’t been the most conventional or linear career path, but that’s exactly what I’ve loved about it. Each move has stretched me, taught me something new and brought together different parts of my experience to prepare me for what came next.
How did Hyve enable or encourage you to take that next step in your career?
I’ve been fortunate to work with some truly inspiring leaders who have challenged me to think bigger and follow what genuinely excites me. They gave me the space to explore different parts of the business and the support to take each next step, even when it pushed me beyond my comfort zone.
A real turning point was joining the 2024 Future Leaders cohort and working with the programme’s incredible coaches. It gave me the time and headspace to think seriously about where I wanted my career to go.
When I first joined the events industry, there was a long-held perception that Event Directors had to come from a sales background. Hyve sees it differently. The business recognises that strong event leaders can bring a whole range of experiences and perspectives to the role. My own journey is proof that there is no single route to becoming an Event Director.
What’s been your proudest achievement or most memorable moment at Hyve?
That’s a tough one, just one? I’m going to cheat slightly and choose a proudest achievement and a most memorable moment.
My proudest moments have always been about people. I’ve had the privilege of working with, managing and mentoring some brilliant colleagues, and nothing makes me prouder than seeing them achieve their goals and grow in their careers.
Delivering the Opening Ceremony at Mining Indaba 2024 is hard to beat. With last-minute changes to two Presidential speakers, the team had to adapt quickly under pressure to deliver the ceremony. It captured everything I love about events: the teamwork, energy, unpredictability and ability to pull off something extraordinary, whatever gets thrown at you.
What advice would you give someone looking to grow within the company?
Two things: stay curious and never stop investing in yourself.
First, look beyond your own event, team or market. Hyve is full of brilliant people, brands and ideas, so get curious about what’s happening across the wider business. Get involved, build connections and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward. Those conversations can help you grow in your current role and open opportunities you didn’t know existed. You never know where one conversation might lead.
Second, become your own Learning and Development Director. Creating a clear personal development plan has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today. It has helped me visualise where I want to go, identify what I need to learn and seek out the experiences that will help me get there.
How were you supported during your promotion and growth at Hyve?
My career at Hyve hasn’t been a solo journey. I’ve had managers, leaders and colleagues who have advocated for me, challenged me and asked the all-important question, “What can I do to help you achieve your career goals?”.
That support became particularly meaningful when I returned from maternity leave earlier this year. As I found my feet again and thought about the next stage of my career, having people who continued to see my ambition, advocate for me and support my growth made a real difference.
I’ve learnt that you have to be the captain of your own career. Hyve has given me a brilliant support network, but I’m still the one steering the ship. You need to know what you want, be willing to ask for the support you need and, when the opportunity comes, be ready to jump on board. Of course, there was always going to be a shipping reference in here!
If you had to sum up your Hyve career journey in one word, what would it be — and why?
Evolution. My journey has taken me from content to product to event leadership, and from supporting teams to leading them. Each chapter has pushed me to learn new skills, explore unfamiliar sectors and discover what else I’m capable of. And the evolution isn’t finished yet.