Kate Slater
Prior to becoming a freelance consultant, Kate was Director of Digital Engagement at Unilever. She led a full re-imagining and redesign of Unilever’s 48 corporate websites which completed its launch in 2018. Last year, she oversaw the creation of Unilever’s mould-breaking Take Action Hub – a new way to engage young millennials in what Unilever’s brands and partners are doing around sustainability. It inspires the social entrepreneurs of the future to get involved with projects around the UN’s sustainable development goals , has won industry-wide praise as well as several high profile awards.
Kate describes herself as ‘being on a mission to make corporate digital activity as bold, powerful and brave as the most exciting brands do. In a sector that’s constantly evolving, we’re always looking for better ways to tell a vivid story.’
Having started her career in TV in 2000, Kate was drawn into the early possibilities of the creative digital industries. Making the move from broadcast tv news to corporate production Kate says ‘It really was an exciting time. The internet was still in its infancy and many clients hadn’t yet thought about the potential of having an online presence. I loved pioneering and the desire to do something new and changemaking is still what drives me today.’
Kate joined Unilever in 2009. She says, ‘It’s an exciting place for those of us who are passionate about digital. Our mission is to make sustainable living commonplace. Digital is the driving force underpinning that’.
Kate point outs that success has come as a team and she is a passionate believer in providing opportunities for talented people from all backgrounds in the digital sector, backing apprenticeship schemes and speaking on diversity at industry events – unusually in digital, over half her team are women.
In 2019, Unilever has achieved 5th place in the Bowen Craggs Index of Online Excellence – an industry barometer of the movers and shakers in corporate communications. Over the last 18 months, Unilever has also won Gold at the International Business Awards for Best Website and the Digital Impact Award for Best Corporate Website - for a redesign of a global network of 48 sites in 28 languages which engage over 23 million visitors.
