Round Table Discussion: People-First Culture

People-first cultures are a powerful business strategy if you want your business to succeed, perform well and grow. But how do you build one?

In a round table discussion led by Opencast’s Chief People Officer, Cate Kalson, we’ll delve deeper into what people-first cultures are, the benefits of building a business with a people-first culture, and the elements which contribute to a successful people-first culture.

A fast-growing technology company based in Newcastle, Opencast pride themselves on the qualities and skills of their people while Cate herself is playing a leading role in helping to address the region’s talent shortage.

Our round tables are shaped by your views and experience, so while we hope to cover the topics above, we may discuss other related subjects during the session.

Following the discussion, we’ll go behind the scenes of one of the North East’s fastest growing technology businesses with an exclusive tour of the Opencast offices.

About Our Host

Cate Kalson is the Chief People Officer at Opencast, a technology consultancy headquartered in Byker, Newcastle. Opencast deliver services for enterprise clients across the UK with a particular focus on UK government, healthcare and green energy. With 500 people nationwide, Cate leads on Opencast’s people strategy, social impact and operational people functions. She is focused on the sustainable growth of Opencast and in particular, on its employees and broader societal impact.

Before joining Opencast in 2021, Cate worked for global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman and set up its Newcastle office, building out a data and analytics service for its European client base. Starting out as a life sciences researcher with a PhD in microbiology, Cate then learned about business as a management consultant, leaning into tech as a digital product manager at Booking.com and Sage before moving into leadership roles.

Cate has always focused heavily on building capability, recruiting and developing teams. She is passionate about creating training pathways, inclusion and diversity, and helping people into tech careers from a range of backgrounds, as well as collaboration across the tech industry. Outside of Opencast, she is a director of Dynamo North East and a Trustee at The Alnwick Garden.

The small print - Due to limited capacity round table discussions are exclusively for entrepreneur members. Guests or substitutions are not allowed.