Meet Kate Allan, a senior manager at Jabian. As a multi-faceted strategy and operations leader, she provides in-depth expertise across professional services, operations, strategic planning, continuous improvement, and project management.
Q: Where did you join from and what brought you to Jabian?
A: I joined Jabian following my graduation from the Executive MBA program at Georgia Tech. I was attracted to Jabian because of the quality of the people, both as professionals and change-makers in their communities; a great reputation and client base in Atlanta; and shared values between myself and the organization.
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
A: To me, International Women’s Day is about celebrating women, supporting women’s issues, and advocating for equity.
Q: In what ways women can support other women in the workplace? How have you experienced that at Jabian?
A: Women can support each other professionally by building connections with each other and sharing our experiences. For me, it is important to have a support network of women in common personal and professional phases of life, as well as have women role models who have encountered and overcome the challenges I face and can provide advice.
Q: What is one thing you would tell your starting-out self if you could? Is that advice still relevant for women starting in the field today?
A: I would tell myself to lead with confidence and challenge the imposter syndrome that often comes with new opportunities. One of my favorite books is The Confidence Code by Katty Kay & Claire Shipman. The book uses research and relatable storytelling to break down the confidence gap between the genders. It has changed the way I view self-assurance and helped me find my voice as an individual and a leader.
Q: What are some challenges that remain for women today?
A: We need to break down barriers for women to move into executive leadership and corporate board roles. That starts with building a pipeline of early to mid-career women that are enabled and empowered to build the skills and networks to prepare them for executive leadership in the future. Beyond business, we can look to further the representation of women in our government and drive for equity in healthcare, sports, and beyond.
