Cool Communication Job: Kate Bingham at Staging Connections
A 2006 graduate of the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, Kate Bingham is already putting to work the knowledge she gained while earning her bachelor's degree in business. As a marketing and international business major, her current position as marketing executive for Staging Connections (www.stagingconnections.com) complements her degree perfectly.
Kate loves her job’s diversity and dreams of traveling and working overseas, possibly in the U.K. Her curiosity about other cultures has inspired her to visit multiple countries and continents—her most recent vacation was to Thailand where she enjoyed the cultural mix of the small communities. While there, Kate’s adventurous spirit led her to pet tigers and ride an elephant—prime examples of her desire to experience new things both inside and outside of work.
Unlike most people, Kate enjoys her hour-long commute everyday, taking advantage of the time to wake up properly and ease into the day. When work ends, Kate loves to run along the beach to clear her mind, followed by quality time with her friends. Kate balances her demanding work schedule with time for her favorite activities.
Q: How long have you been in the communication profession?
A: I started working for Staging Connections in 2004 as a part-time assistant in human resources and as a crew member, helping set up for events. I moved into the company’s marketing and communication department in 2005, so I’ve been working in marketing and communication for approximately three years now.
Q: What made you decide to go into the communication field?
A: While enrolled in university, I knew I wanted to work in marketing. After I started working at Staging Connections, I discovered the communication side of marketing. Joining IABC and the Australian Marketing Institute also helped me expand out of traditional marketing and learn more about the communication aspects of the industry. The communication aspect makes marketing more dynamic and interesting.
Q: What does Staging Connections do?
A: Staging Connections is an event staging services company. We provide customers with technical, creative and design services for events. We work on all types of events, whether someone needs to plan a small conference or a black-tie dinner gala for 1,000 people, we can help.
Q: What exactly do you do at Staging Connections as a marketing executive?
A: I was recently promoted to the role of marketing executive after being a communications coordinator for about three years. My current role mixes marketing and communication, covering areas such as internal communication with staff, client communication, advertising, sponsorship, collateral and trade shows. I work on both the strategic and tactical sides of these areas.
Q: How would you describe a typical day?
A: I never really have a “typical” day since my projects always change, but my days tend to follow the same structure. I come into the office in the morning and drink my coffee while reading my e-mails, deciding what needs to be done urgently. Once I prioritize my tasks, I start on a combination of activities for each project. Sometimes I gather requisitions for a tradeshow or sponsor event or I call different offices in the company for newsletter content. Our marketing department meets each week to discuss the progress of our projects, so I attend that meeting on certain days. The meeting ensures that everyone knows what is happening within the department. At the end of the day, I try to get as much finished as possible before I walk out the door.
Q: What is your favorite part about your job? What is the most difficult aspect of your position?
A: The best part about my job is the variety it gives me. My position combines marketing and communication, and no day is the same. Every day I work on different projects and speak to different people. This is the biggest perk for me—talking to a variety of people, including staff, suppliers, clients or whomever. Constantly working with new people exhilarates me.
The most difficult aspect of my job is trying to juggle multiple projects at the same time. We have a small marketing team right now and the company continues to expand, so my workload never diminishes. I have to be on task everyday.
Q: What skills do you think are most important to do your job well?
A: Multi-tasking is definitely important. Being organized and coordinating multiple projects at the same time takes this skill. Communication skills are also essential. I need to be able to speak to people regardless of their position, opinions and culture. This last aspect is extremely important as our company moves international. I think some of these skills can be innate as some people are better suited for them, but you also pick up these skills on the job.
Q: Before you worked at your current company, what did you think of the events industry?
A: When I first started, the company was much smaller. I hadn’t heard of it. In general, I imagined the events industry to be extremely glamorous; that’s what attracted me to it. Now that I’m involved in the industry, I realize that there are glamorous aspects to planning events, but it’s definitely not as glamorous as I first imagined.
Q: How many other jobs have you held? What were they?
A: I worked at Woolworths, a large supermarket store, as a checker for five years before working at Staging Connections. I enjoyed working there because I socialized often with customers and co-workers. I learned about customer service, self-discipline and adhering to a set schedule, which prepared me for working full-time after university.
Q: Do you, or have you ever, had a mentor?
A: Everyone I’ve ever worked for and with has taught me something along the way and given me something valuable that has helped me in my career. Everyone has different styles and strengths that you are able to learn from.
Q: What is your ultimate career goal?
A: Eventually, I want to be an international marketing director. I want to work at a company with global business so that I can work with a variety of different markets and cultures.
Q: What is your role in your local chapter?
A: The IABC/New South Wales chapter is expanding quite rapidly and the range of events is broadening to cover a wide range of communication topic areas. I try to attend as many networking and seminar events as I can because they provide great opportunities to learn how other companies facilitate communication within their organizations.
Q: What do you like about belonging to your local chapter?
A: The variety of events that the chapter provides. Each event has a different focus with either a new industry, or a speaker with a different title. The variety of topics opens my eyes to people and roles that I didn’t know existed in the past.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “No regrets—because everything you have ever done has led to where you are today.”
I don’t remember where I heard this quote, but I love it because at this time in my life while I have all of these options available to me, I need to know that whatever I choose will be fantastic. Although I could have chosen another path, everything happens for a reason.
Q: Is there anything you wish you would have known coming out of university that you know now?
A: Seeing my classmates study overseas through exchange programs makes me wish I had done so. Studying overseas creates great opportunities to learn about other cultures before you begin working full time. I held myself back from pursuing this adventure because I was already working at Staging Connections and saw opportunities there. I was afraid to let that go. It was a difficult decision to make at the time, but I don’t regret it. I still have opportunities to travel, just through a different angle.
Q: Do you have any recommendations or advice for students thinking about entering the communication field?
A: Get out and speak to as many people as you can. Attend events with people in the communication field, like those put on by IABC. These events provide huge opportunities to meet people in the field and learn about possibilities in the field. Communication encompasses a broad field, so it’s important to find your way in and discover what aspect of the industry you like. You gain so much from educational events and networking, so get out and socialize.
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