We’re excited to spotlight Katie Hawkins, a senior manager at Jabian. Katie is a true rockstar who has been with us for several years, leading teams and driving growth clients. Her hard work, dedication, and expertise have made her an invaluable asset to our organization, and we’re honored to have her on the team.
Let’s dive in and learn more about Katie!
Q: Where did you join from and what brought you to Jabian?
A: Prior to joining Jabian I was at Capgemini for six and a half years. I decided I wanted to pivot my career away from IT implementations/delivery and more toward management consulting, which is how I found Jabian! There were many things that brought me to Jabian, but the main factors were the variety of projects and offerings, the culture, and the firm’s passion for giving back to the local community.
Q: Are there any moments, people, or advice that have influenced your experience in a positive way at Jabian?
A: Kalle Wood has been an amazing career developer and friend since I joined Jabian over two years ago! Knowing that she genuinely cares about me as a person and that she is consistently looking out for me has truly impacted my Jabian experience in a positive way. There have been many times when she has helped me overcome imposter syndrome struggles and self-doubt, which I think many women in the workplace can relate to. I am always learning from her and am very grateful to have her as a mentor!
Q: What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
A: Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions! I learned early in my career that asking questions didn’t make me look ignorant, but rather it demonstrated that I was thoughtful, willing to learn, and cared enough to want to understand. Asking good questions at the beginning of a project is also a great way to initiate building trust with clients.
Q: What are some challenges that remain for women today?
A: I think everyone, but especially women (including myself), find it challenging to integrate and balance all aspects of their lives. There are so many facets of life to manage – professional, family, social, spiritual, financial, physical health, mental health, hobbies, etc. I know I often find it overwhelming, especially since 40-plus hours of the week are focused on the professional side.
One hot topic I have been fascinated by recently is the concept of women often being responsible for carrying the ‘mental load’ of households. Even if there are multiple heads of the household with full-time jobs, women often (not always, of course) are the ones performing the mental project management. For example, they may be the one who remembers to purchase the birthday gift for an upcoming party, monitor and buy more toilet paper before running out, create and manage a chore to-do list, leave the fence gate open for the upcoming pest control appointment, etc.
There are many interesting articles available around this ‘mental load’ topic that explain the concept further, but I often think women are consistently project managing their professional work and their personal lives which can be an arduous challenge.
