On 7th March, K2 celebrated International Women’s Day. For us, however, one day just wasn’t enough!
Keen to shine a spotlight on as many of the business’ wonderful women as possible, we developed a campaign titled The Women of X Annos, which refers to the K2 women who have been part of the K2 Family for ten years or more. This campaign features a series of written and video interviews through which we explore the personalities, the roles and the formative experiences of K2’s longest standing female employees. Today, we introduce you to Katie Perez, our bubbly, vibrant and adventurous Compliance Manager.
What’s your name, your job title, and how long have you worked at K2?
My name is Katie Perez. I am K2’s Compliance Manager and I have worked at the company for over 10 years.
As a member of the X Annos community, what motivates you to keep working at K2?
There was a point quite a few years ago when we were eating lunch as a group and I thought to myself, I wouldn’t want to miss out on this. I was having fun with my coworkers; it didn’t feel like work and that feeling has stayed with me ever since. We work incredibly hard at K2 and have a lot of accomplishments to show for it! At the same time, we enjoy each other’s company and celebrate each other’s achievements both inside and outside of the workplace.
What does gender inclusivity mean to you?
Equal opportunities and equal protections for both men and women, including women in leadership, at every level within a company.
What advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles in the business world, based on your own experiences and insights?
Say yes to opportunities as they open up for you. You never know what saying yes to something will do for you or your career. It can be scary to jump into the unknown, but it can also lead to the most rewarding thing that’s ever happened to you.
How has K2 supported your career growth over the last 10+ years?
K2 has always allowed me to jump into things in order to learn, and this support over the past years has really helped me grow professionally. One such jump enabled me to get my CRP accreditation. I can boast that I’m the first person at K2 to have got their CRP while working at the company!
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career journey, one which has led to a real sense of fulfilment for you?
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, moving to Houston literally changed my life. When I first started at K2, I was in our Pittsburgh office and there was some discussion about whether I should move to Houston or remain in Pittsburgh. In the end, the decision was left to me, and I called my Dad to ask his opinion. He said to me, what is it that’s keeping you in Pittsburgh? Looking at it from that perspective, the decision was simple: I left and moved to Houston, where I helped to establish the Houston office.
With K2, I’ve seen 4 offices in 2 buildings. I’ve changed my position several times: Senior Client Services, Client Services Manager, Client Services Operational Lead, and Compliance Manager. In Houston, I’ve learned skills that I wouldn’t have been able to learn in Pittsburgh, e.g. surveying and QC-ing. I’ve been on assignment to Romania. And on the personal side, as a result of moving to Houston, I met my husband, bought a house, and adopted a dog!
How do you think that K2 is challenging the Status Quo in the global mobility industry?
When I first started at K2, it always seemed like we were the small fish in a big pond. There were these huge competitors who were lining people up, getting them through their relocation, and then moving on to the next group of people, like a factory. Meanwhile, at K2, we focused on our core values: flexibility and a high quality of service for both client and assignee. Over the years, that focus has led us to great things. Following the pivotal period that was the pandemic, we’re starting to see that other RMCs are aligning themselves with our core values, treating each move as the unique experience that it is – something we’ve been doing since 2002!
What do you think the future would look like if we had more female leaders?
I believe representation does matter. Seeing female leaders will lead to more female leaders. I look at the world and see Prime Ministers who are female; I hope that one day we will see a female President!
How can more companies foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for women?
For me, there are two co-dependent answers to this. I believe companies should look to create a workplace that ensures equal protections for both men and women. The women I know want to be treated equally and be represented in the workforce in positions of leadership. Having more women in leadership will lead to the second part of this answer which is women inherently carry more societal pressures and expectations on a day-to-day basis than men, which affects our mental load. Other women understand this strain and so women in leadership can help create the supportive environment that is needed, one that includes flexible working and parental leave policies.
