Fellow Interview with Kathleen Saxton

We are delighted to bring you a Fellow interview with Kathleen Saxton, who was recently honoured as a Fellow of The Marketing Society 2023.

What’s your golden rule?

“To thine own self be true” – to live a life in the freedom of knowing you will never allow anyone or anything to tempt or allow you to betray yourself, means you are truly free.

Who has been your biggest influence?

I have been blessed and influenced by the most tremendous set of leaders, mentors, and confidantes across my career and each one has taught me, encouraged me, believed in me, and at times even saved me. From my first boss Theo Paphitis to Mark Chippendale and Susan Macateer, to the mighty PH&D, Tess Alps, and Fru Hazlitt, I mean, the best people on the planet. I was also blessed with a traumatic childhood that included being made homeless at 11 and suffering violence and neglect - I say blessed, because it influenced me at a very young age to fight to create a different life for myself and to become the woman, mother, friend, and partner I am today.

What is your most hated business expression?

“Rinse and repeat” – stop being lazy – make it better.

What’s the smartest business idea you’ve ever had?

To persuade Matt Scheckner to start Advertising Week Europe back in 2011 with me. It taught me how to partner, how to promote and how to dream bigger – and it ensured Lighthouse’s profile accelerated well – it was Marketing at its best.

Which leader do you admire most and why?

Irvin Yalom – taught me and the planet more about the human condition than anyone in my world.

What keeps you up at night as a marketing leader?

The sheer pace of change and how we master and translate that in a way we can all harness the goodness it will bring.

Why is being a member of the Society important for your career?

The Society is one of the rare and treasured places in my world where excellence meets humility and kindness. Everyone who joins quietly appreciates each other’s professionalism but understands we are also here to serve as friends, confidantes, guidance givers and to be and access the board we can’t afford. It is a reciprocal society and one I always feel welcomed in and honored to be part of.

Tell us something that’s not on your CV

I am (almost) a qualified dental nurse. Given I initially wanted to be a dentist, I served (completely illegally) as a dental nurse aged 15 and 16 for 2 years of my summer holidays for a local dentist – mixing fillings, taking x-rays, sterilizing instruments, and managing saliva control!

Published on 12 December 2023