Biz Extra

20 Questions: PR Queen Kate Shaw, Director, KTPR, takes the spotlight for our weekly Q&A

Kate Shaw: "How would I like to be remembered? Someone who didn’t take herself too seriously, was kind and full of integrity."

By Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: March 26, 2020 | Updated: 26th March 2020

Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

Her favourite place in Dorset is a beach hut in Alum Chine, she loves a well-made spaghetti carbonara, names Sebastian Coe as her childhood hero and would like to share a lift with Michael McIntyre (and if he’s wearing Paco Rabanne men’s aftershave… well, better use the stairs!)

Kate Shaw, Director, KTPR, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat.

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: I should probably be detailing some incredibly interesting, high-brow programme to showcase my intellect and sophisticated taste. However, I need to let you in to my guilty secret…I love Coronation Street. I think the script writing is just great, there’s so much comedy in it. As they say, you can take the girl out of the North but you can’t take the north out of the girl! 

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: Michael McIntyre. I love his humour, he makes me laugh out loud.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: Achieving success for my clients, it gives me genuine pleasure and pride. I love the variety of my role and the diverse mix of clients. I’ve attracted a wonderful bunch of people that I thoroughly enjoy working with and, most importantly, have much fun working with too.

Q: And the worst…?

A: It can sometimes be a bit lonely being just myself in the business and not being part of a team in an office. However, my job by its nature is pretty sociable and I’ve built up a good network around me and have regular meet ups with friends and colleagues for daytime coffees and chat. I also have a handful of what I call my ‘amusing email banter friends’, who keep me smiling thoughout the day with random funny messages. Special mention to Jamie Lane at Saffery Champness for his relentless Ab Fab PR bashing!

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Sebastian Coe. I did a lot of running in my youth at the time that Seb was enjoying his trail of success, smashing world records every other week. He was at Loughborough University and occasionally trained at Notts AC where I used to train. No coincidence that one of my first boyfriends was a complete double of Seb Coe!

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Paco Rabanne men’s aftershave does funny things to me! Anyone using…beware!

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: Down at a beach hut at Alum Chine, cooking supper early evening with a glass of wine, in the company of my husband and good friends and listening to, and watching, the world go by.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Always trust your gut instinct, invariably it will be right. Try and choose to do what you enjoy doing, not what you think you should be doing. Have fun in your work.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: I’m cringing slightly as I write this – David Soul: ‘Don’t Give Up On Us Baby’ (really, what was I thinking. Young romantic fool!).

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Anger is quite a strong emotion. I’d rather say that dishonest and disingenuous people annoy me.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: I have a hugely eclectic taste in music, which ranges from pop to jazz, to swing and classical. I particularly like golden oldies such as ELO, Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind & Fire.  I love my Spotify playlist which I blast out in the car on journeys, singing badly to myself. Music can be so uplifting and change your mood in an instant. A particular ‘up-beat’ favourite at the moment is ‘Straight Ahead’ by Kool & The Gang.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: A genuine passion for the business, drive, likeability, a sense of humour.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: A well-made spaghetti carbonara hits the spot for me.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: Sponge pudding with oodles of treacle.

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: I love the varied life style. Beach runs, cycling, beach bbq’s, stunning scenery. I particularly love the people too. I’ve found that a lot of people have consciously made the lifestyle decision to relocate to Bournemouth so it tends to attract an entrepreneurial type of person with a passion for life and the area in which we all live. I’ve made some fabulous friends in Dorset.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: In normal times I would make public transport free for the week…just because I could!

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Other people who get frustrated and cross for no particular reason. Life’s too short.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: Biarritz in the South West of France. I have two brothers who have homes in the area and I love the town – it’s glamorous, beautiful and quirky and the Atlantic coastline is amazing. It’s also very close to northern Spain and the Pyrenees, so a great place to base yourself for a varied holiday. It’s also a rugby town and, as a huge rugby fan myself, that’s a good thing going for it too.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Living a very contented life, as I do now, having lots of fun with family and friends, with many holidays to France and Spain and continuing to learn French and maybe giving Spanish a go too.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Someone who didn’t take herself too seriously, was kind and full of integrity. A tune for my funeral – Edith Piaf’s, ‘Je Ne Regrette Rien!’ Not exactly true but I like the sentiment.

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