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Overview
From a very serious corporate career in marketing to creating a business based on fun RedBalloon, this is my journey. In this blog I share what it takes to be an entrepreneur and what I have learned - warts and all. I am also the author of 'I want what she is having' which chronicles the first five years of building of a fast growing business.
Very proud to be awarded National Telstra Business Womens Award for 2008 in the Nokia Innovation Catogory
RedBalloon Team Blog
Where I’m Speaking
My presentations to company events are not listed because those engagements are not open to the public. Contact Kate on +61 2 8755 0034 for more details on speaking.
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- on my way to Keri Keri, via Auckland Auckland, from Sydney Sydney about 1 day ago from web
- is amazed how many people are drinking alcohol at 8am in the morning in the airline lounge about 1 day ago from web
- It is not the storms you meet in life, but the way you set your sails... about 1 day ago from web
- Saw this at the gym this morning 'To make your dreams come true, first thing to do is wake up' about 1 day ago from web
- Doh - got the first call on my new iphone 4 - could not hear a thing... had forgotten to take of the plastic wrap. about 1 day ago from web
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Tag Archives: Corporate Gifts
A big end of financial year blunder
Many businesses are busily planning for the new financial year. We are no different. We have our heads down, reviewing our performance, gathering data and imagining what next year will be like. And the team of course is who we are counting on to deliver the plan. (Business is a people sport after all.) As [...]
Posted in Reward & Recognition Also tagged Business Leadership, Employee Engagement, Recognition and Acknowledgement Leave a comment
Generosity Gene – TEDx 24 March 2010
Some weeks ago I shared my challenges in preparing for a presentation for the TEDx Darling Harbor event. I ended up delivering what was on my mind - what drives my, that is what I want to change. The presentation could be no more than 18 minutes, (which is a challenge in itself) and also [...]
Posted in Gift Experiences Also tagged Business Leadership, Female Entrepreneur, Gift Experiences, Professional Speaker 3 Comments
Super Saver….
My colleague Sarah joined RedBalloon on April Fools Day in 2004 – she is fast approaching her five year anniversary. With any special occasion it gives us a moment to reflect. I’m sure Sarah could share much better than I about the changes she has experienced at RedBalloon…and the ones she has championed. She was [...]
An Amazing Experience
This is my ninth RedBalloon Christmas... And so far it has been the most exhilarating. The numbers are way up on last year. All the planning, preparation and investment means that things seem to be going smoothly. No chaos. The team has it all in hand. We are so much bigger now that there are [...]
Posted in Gift Experiences Also tagged Business Growth, Business Leadership, Employee Engagement, Female Entrepreneur, Gift Experiences 1 Comment
Employer Worst Gifts ever
Given that Christmas is fast approaching.. most businesses have organized what they are giving their people now, but sometimes I shake my head in disbelief as people share with me how thoughtless or simply dumb some employers are about giving a gift. People have worked harder this year than they have in years – and [...]
Posted in Input Please Also tagged Activities and Events, Employee Engagement, Fun at work, Recognition and Acknowledgement 3 Comments
Taking fun seriously.
I participated on a business owners panel last night for the PricewaterhouseCooper Private Clients area. Russel Howcroft asked each of the panelists questions about what we'd learned and how we viewed the economy. Each of us reinforced the importance the people around us. To have a successful brand it is determined by our people moment [...]
Posted in Lessons Learned Also tagged Business Growth, Business Leadership, Business Vision, Employee Engagement, Fun at work 4 Comments
I’m accused of leading a ‘Namby-Pamby’ management revolution
I received the email below yesterday, just after RedBalloon for Corporate hosted a Webinar on Employee Engagement for 250 people. I didn't receive the email until after the event. But I assume that this person was commenting on the session. Alas the email was not signed and was sent from an unknown email... so I [...]

Something to do on a Monday