People spotlight: Leading with purpose - Kate Moonen's journey with Veolia

When Kate Moonen joined Veolia in 2019 in a contract role, she never predicted she'd become the company's Chief Marketing, Communications and Sustainability Officer. Yet, her story perfectly illustrates how identifying opportunities and driving innovation can create extraordinary impact for our customers, team and communities.

"I treated the role like my own, even though I knew it wasn't a permanent position," Kate reflects on her start as Head of Marketing Communications. 
 

This all-in approach has been a hallmark of Kate's leadership style. Under Kate's leadership, the team has evolved from a small marketing and communications function into a strategic powerhouse that now supports the ANZ business with sustainability services, brand building, reputation management, policy advice, and customer experience strategy. "I'm really proud of the value our team is bringing to our internal and external customers. It’s a real privilege to be able to help shape our brand at the end of the day," she shares.

Kate's philosophy reflects Veolia's innovative spirit: "You really are the maker of your own destiny," Kate emphasises.

 "It's rare that someone will tap you on the shoulder for a promotion. You have to identify what else you can bring to either support growth, or other business goals. The same applies for businesses generally - we should always be looking for opportunities to do better, to be better, for our customers."

Her journey hasn't been without challenges. Kate openly shares her experience with impostor syndrome when taking on her first Executive Committee role. "I had to become comfortable operating at a different level with people who were senior to me before and were now my peers," she admits. A pivotal moment came when her manager advised her to shift her thinking from "I'm just new to this" to "I am doing this."

For those looking to advance their careers, Kate's advice is clear: 

"Don't limit yourself to a job title or contract length. Every role is an opportunity to prove your value. Be proactive, identify problems you can solve, and build genuine relationships."

Under Kate's leadership, her team continues to drive Veolia's sustainability vision and brand forward, proving that taking chances on talent - and on yourself - can lead to remarkable outcomes.