An Interview with Cate Davis
Progressive Sales & Marketing
Growth Initiatives/SE Region Lead
What made you decide to attend the annual meeting?
My dad! He (Joe Davis) was one of the first members of WISE, and he brought me to the meeting as an introduction. He’s always talking about how impactful the organization is – both as a place to make connections and as a community of mentorship and support. Given all of the great things I’ve heard about WISE over the years, it was really a delight for me to experience an event first hand.
What were your
expectations going in? My dad prepared me to expect a supportive, warm and
educational experience that emphasizes inclusion. Having spent the better part
of a decade working for Disney, a company that truly values inclusion and
diversity, I have experienced firsthand how these values strengthen teams (and
its members). I was excited to see what WISE was all about!
What did you take away from the meeting? WISE (and its members) truly walk the
walk when it comes to educating and promoting the development of working cultures
that emphasize diversity, inclusion and community. I am so looking forward to
getting more involved.
Was there a particular contact that you
were happy to make?
Going in, I knew the organization had representation from every facet of the industry (which is invaluable), and I met some wonderful women, who I know will be excellent resources. That said, one of the areas that I am very excited about getting involved with is the student program. I think it’s fantastic that WISE is not only a place of community for those in the industry, but extends the invitation to future participants. I have a passion for mentorship and a desire to help (and learn from) the next generation, and really enjoyed getting to know the students at my table. In fact, I’ve even continued dialog with one of the students beyond the meeting. Very exciting!
Did the speaker make you think differently about your work or your personal outlook? A lot of what Jonathan highlighted about diversity, inclusion and equity are principles I practice every day. Everyone can benefit from everyone else’s gifts, and no one can succeed alone. What I took away, however, is that just because I practice these principles does not mean everyone does. Moving forward, I will speak up more about how important these principles are. It’s everyone’s responsibility to change corporate culture at large.
Is there something in particular you hope to get out of participating in WISE activities or being a member?
This was my first introduction to WISE, and I’m just getting my feet wet in the industry. That being said, I am very excited about the various networking opportunities with WISE and hope the dialog generated from contributing to these events will lead to excellent connections and development opportunities. I cannot wait to learn more from this passionate membership base that clearly shows up to support one another.