Kate Louise Cole, Managing Director of HAVi Technologies Ltd, has built a remarkable career in commercial, supply chain, and operational leadership roles. Her journey began with a passion for improvement projects and making a difference. Early in her career, she was part of major change management projects, including a significant amount of international work. This laid the foundation for her development in organizations driving growth through change. Building a portfolio of skills across all business functions has been key to thriving in the fast-paced environments she has found herself in.
In her most recent role as Managing Director for a leading Health & Safety solution provider, Kate has led the way in innovation for hand health and the management of vibration exposure. Her leadership style, characterized by creating an environment for others to succeed, has enabled her to build high-performing teams and achieve sustained success. Kate’s commitment to authenticity and continuous improvement has positioned HAVi Technologies at the forefront of innovation and credibility.
Inspiration for Transitioning into Leadership Roles
Kate’s transition into commercial, supply chain, and operational leadership roles was inspired by her love for improvement projects and making a difference. “Early in my career, I was fortunate to be part of major change management projects, including lots of international work. This experience formed the foundation for my development in organizations and a love for driving growth through change.”
Building a portfolio of skills across all business functions has been key to thriving in the fast-paced environments she has found herself in. Kate’s passion for continuous improvement and her ability to adapt to changing circumstances have been instrumental in her success.
Driving Innovation for Hand Health and the management of Vibration Exposure
In this sector, the key is “doing the right thing.” There is significant regulatory ambiguity, and compliance is often seen as extremely complex. She has ensured that the company’s offerings align with the dual purpose of worker protection and compliance with legislation. Upon joining the business in 2020, she set out a plan to transition the business from a hardware-centric offering to an outcome-based proposition, selling compliance. In addition to meeting a market need, this approach has created a more sustainable business model, with recurring revenues rising from 2% of turnover in 2020 to almost 50% in 2024.
Recent innovations have focused on making it easier for clients to make better decisions, with the launch of the HAVi ActivIQ insight management toolset and the HAVRiskIndexTM, providing the market’s only single objective metric to compare risk across regions, teams, tools, and tasks. Additionally, under Kate’s leadership, HAVi Technologies was able to bring to market the world’s only HAV risk management solution certified for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. This opened up opportunities in the UK utility sector and the offshore Oil & Gas industry.
Building and Leading High-Performing Teams
Kate approaches building and leading high-performing teams by creating an environment for others to be successful. She believes that leadership is about passion and creating a network of experts who match her enthusiasm but not necessarily her view. Clear communication of the vision and expectations is crucial, followed by measuring progress with key metrics.
Flexibility is also essential, as market changes, legislation changes, and new data can influence the success (or failure) of a strategy this may require changes to the plan. Kate’s leadership style focuses on empowering her team, fostering open communication, and adapting quickly to changing circumstances to achieve success.
Achieving Sustainable Success
Kate has successfully led companies through significant revenue and operational growth by defining sustainable success and importantly, aligning it with the owners and stakeholders of the business. Understanding the current business and the people within it is key to sustainability. Identifying the levers that most directly affect profitability, such as good cost control, pricing models, and opportunities for a repeatable business model, is crucial.
Ensuring succession planning for key staff is also high on Kate’s list of strategies for success. She loves to promote from within and identifies high performers as early as possible. Kate’s focus on aligning business goals with stakeholder expectations and promoting internal talent has been instrumental in achieving sustainable success. Her strategic approach and commitment to long-term growth have positioned the companies she has worked with for continued success in highly competitive markets.
Balancing Professional Demands and Personal Well-Being
“Balancing professional demands and personal well-being is a challenge, but I believe it is essential for living a fulfilled life. Balance looks different for different people and can even vary within the same person at different times.” Kate’s most effective strategy is to be kind to herself. If she misses the occasional gym session or doesn’t achieve everything on her ‘to do’ list, she has learnt to accept it, refocus and move on.
It’s also important to stop and rest when feeling overwhelmed. Kate has worked hard on this over recent years and has seen an improvement in her resilience and performance. Listening to her body and being honest with herself and her teams has helped her maintain a healthy balance. By prioritizing self-care and setting realistic expectations, she ensures that she can perform at her best both professionally and personally.
Staying at the Forefront of Innovation and Market Leadership
To ensure HAVi Technologies stays at the forefront of innovation and market leadership, Kate constantly listens to market feedback and maintains regular dialogue with legislative bodies. “The company’s open culture makes learning and sharing information easy. HAVi Technologies has earned its position as the industry experts by delivering pragmatic solutions to compliance without unnecessary complexity.”
This framework for innovation will continue to guide the company’s efforts. Kate’s commitment to continuous improvement and staying informed about market trends and regulatory changes has been key to maintaining HAVi Technologies’ leadership position. By fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, she ensures that the company remains responsive to evolving market needs.
Insights for Aspiring Executives
Kate shares key insights for aspiring executives looking to make an impact in commercial and operational leadership. “Authenticity is crucial. I am at my best when behaving in a manner that aligns with my sense of self. Clear communication, the capacity to assimilate information, and the ability to inspire others are all magnified when I am being authentically myself”
Whilst she accepts that it took many years to develop the emotional maturity for her to realize this, it is something she always shares with others. As a transgender woman who has only recently started living her life authentically, the effect and impact of this authenticity are even more pronounced. Kate’s advice emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself and leading with authenticity. By embracing her true self, she has been able to lead with confidence and inspire others to do the same.
Long-Term Aspirations for HAVi Technologies
Kate Louise Cole is preparing HAVi Technologies for its next phase of growth and seeking investment to amplify the company’s messaging. There are emerging European and worldwide markets where the maturity of HAV risk management is low, but legislation and enforcement are increasing. Kate aims to see HAVi succeed in these markets with the same pragmatic and straightforward approach that has brought domestic success in recent years. By leveraging the company’s expertise and commitment to excellence, Kate envisions a future where HAVi Technologies sets the standard for HAV risk management globally.
