In the run-up to the inaugural TBE Awards this October, we’re profiling our expert panel of judges.
After working with lots of different businesses over her 20+ year career in finance, Kat realised that she gets the most satisfaction (and therefore does her best work) when partnering with people who have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and understand that they need support to get them there.
Her ultimate goal is to positively impact businesses through her work, always with an eye on how she can impact the wider community. She loves working with entrepreneurs with a mix of ambition and a sense of purpose.
This was the motivation behind Fractional Finance, which she launched in 2023. Fractional Finance provides a complete finance team to businesses, on a fractional basis, giving them all the benefits that come from having experienced finance professionals working in a business but under a model that makes sense for their size and trajectory.
Outside of work, Kat loves Reformer Pilates, Yoga, and exploring all things ‘woo-woo’.
Why did you agree to be a judge on the panel? How will your professional experience help you in the judging process?
I was a judge for the Techies over the last few years, and being part of the panel is great fun. I love hearing the different perspectives that each of the judges have from reviewing the entries. I naturally tend to focus on the numbers and data but love to read the personal stories too. During my time working in Corporate Finance, I read a lot of documents where businesses were selling themselves, so I’m now practiced in looking past the gloss to assess the substance underneath.
Why are these regional awards important for the business community?
Just going through the process of entering an award is really valuable. It gives you a chance to reflect on all the great achievements you and your team have had. Being shortlisted or winning is brilliant for team morale and a way to celebrate your collective success. There isn’t really any downside to putting in an entry.
It also gives the wider business community a chance to come together and celebrate the collective success of the region. It’s really important to shine a light on the wide variety of achievements across the area.
What are you hoping to see from the entries?
The first thing I like to see is that people have put the effort into the application, and thought about what we would like to see as judges. We’re reviewing a large number of applications, so the ones that stand out are those that can quickly show us what they have done, specifically in relation to the award category they are entering. Videos always go down well with me, as it’s a chance to get a better feel for the people involved, and this all needs to be backed up with objective data.
As you are sponsoring the Using Tech to Transform Business Award, what does this category mean to you?
I wouldn’t have been able to create the business I have without technology. It has solved problems, it has created efficiencies and it has formed the basis of services we offer to our clients. Having experienced the benefits of technology for my business, I’m passionate about other companies using tech to transform their business or their customers’ businesses.
What are your thoughts in general on the business community brought together by The Business Exchange?
I’ve made some of my best business friends through The Business Exchange and I know that I’m not alone in that. Whenever I can get along to the in-person events, I really do feel like I’m spending time with a community, to share successes and to support each other to achieve more.
To find out more about the TBE Awards and to enter visit: www.tbeawards.co.uk
