In this episode, we speak with Katie Traxton, marketing executive and talent agency owner, who explains how she has navigated challenges in a male-dominated career, and her advice for others facing similar challenges.
Having held global roles at Formula E, BMW MINI and Volkswagen, Katie has had a remarkable career – and has navigated challenges and championed inclusivity every step of the way.
From growing up in Chigwell as the first in her family to attend university to her fast journey into leadership, Katie has worked hard to be at the forefront of conversations around diversity, age discrimination and gender equality. She’s a proud member of the Women in Advertising and Communications Leadership group, where she works to keep inclusivity high on the agenda.
‘In my experience, nine times out of 10, it’s been assumed that I will not be adding value to a room….if I dwelt on the unfairness of that, I just wouldn’t have got anywhere.’
She says: ‘As a rule, I’ve learnt to see the beauty in being underestimated and then being able to overdeliver against those expectations. In my experience, nine times out of 10, it’s been assumed that I will not be adding value to a room.
‘There’s then been shock, horror, surprise and it’s been massively to my benefit that I have been able to add value. It’s been assumed that my male colleagues will be adding value to the room, whether they do or they don’t.
‘If I dwelt on the unfairness of that, I just wouldn’t have got anywhere.’
She adds: ‘I also do think there’s an element of privilege to be able to pave the way for other people. So one of my things is, so long as my mental health is not being damaged and I’m not being caused harm, if I can suck it up and press on, then that is the fastest way for me to get into a position of influence to be able to change things for people who come through.’
In this episode, we’ll dive into Katie’s journey, the challenges she’s faced and the advice she has for those breaking barriers in their dental careers.
You can watch on Youtube and listen on Spotify.
You can listen to other episodes below:
- Former England rugby player Heather Fisher: ‘I found freedom in the pain of training hard’
- Why you need to prioritise intimate relationships over your dental careers
- Why dentists need to watch out for scams – and how they can build healthy financial habits
- Royal Marines veteran Mark Ormrod: ‘I want to go beyond my story of being a triple amputee’
- How to start running with dental therapist and running influencer Ewan Heritage.
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