Catriona Walkerden ─ technology marketer with deep ties to IT company and top global partners…
April 14, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Updated October 2022
Catriona Walkerden
Vice President, Global Marketing
Logicalis
(Previously — National Marketing Lead
Logicalis Australia)
Are you looking for a technology marketing leader with a passion for the channel and an advocate for women in IT? We know the lady — Catriona (Cat) Walkerden!
Cat is currently the marketing lead for Logicalis Australia, where she and her team are responsible for the profitable growth of their brand in the Australian market. She has spent the last 20 years as a technology marketer, telling the stories of some of the most innovative technology companies on the planet such as Logicalis, Optus, Cisco and Oracle. She has served as the marketing lead on one of the largest not for profits addressing gender diversity in IT in Australia, and is a continued advocate for women in IT through mentoring and other programs.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman, Cat Walkerden!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
On a career break year while living in Buenos Aires, I was a ghostwriter of people’s online dating profiles. It felt a bit weird though and didn’t pay well so after a few weeks I decided it wasn’t for me!
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
I’ve done my fair share of international travel for work over the years, but for the past ten years since being in Australia I’ve been focused on the local market, the furthest I tend to fly is from Sydney to Melbourne which suits me just fine!
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Extracto De Rana (a blended/juiced frog) in Arequipa, Peru. It was disgusting and whilst I won’t go into details for the faint of heart. The frog is very much alive at the beginning of the process.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I had a moment 10 years into my career when I went to an event promoting women in technology. The speaker was really inspiring and woke me up from a bit of a career slumber to being deliberate about my career choices and take my career into my own hands.
I also learned that for everything you get from a network like that, you should give back twofold to others starting out on their journey.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I didn’t have a mentor until I was well into the second decade of my career, I wonder how it would have worked out if I’d tapped into that magic earlier, but better late than never!
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
It would be” trust the process” and “enjoy the ride”. As Steve Jobs said, you can only join the dots in retrospect, so embrace the opportunities, work or otherwise that you feel drawn to.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
It’s a huge honour to be able to help someone on their career journey, and I’ve done both formal mentoring programs for a number of years as well as informal, and just encouraging people (particularly women) who may not be able to see where their strengths are yet to step into their power.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
I was recently involved in rolling out the first truly global cloud go-to-market program for the Logicalis group, which was very exciting as this solution set the stage for many others which will follow.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I’m currently studying Product Management online with RMIT to learn more about agile product development and strategies to manage the product lifecycle in a digital and very fast paced world of change.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
My greatest business challenge is the same as my personal challenge, hours in the day!
