Interview with Kate Solly, Sales Director at CAPI

Discover valuable insights in this episode of Tonka Talks as we chat with Kate Solly, Sales Director and Marketing Manager at CAPI, an Australian family-owned bottled water and beverage company on the rise. Join the dynamic conversation between Kate and Michael as they explore strategies to enhance meeting efficiency, CAPI's impressive growth in the past year, and Kate's innovative approach to navigating life and hosting dinner parties during the COVID era.

Throughout the discussion, Kate reveals her passion for the wholesale industry, sharing her journey of creating opportunities and fostering growth with emerging businesses. Her robust professional background makes her a seasoned authority in the industry.

If you're a professional in sales and marketing eager for insights, this podcast featuring Kate Solly is essential listening. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives from a distinguished industry authority.

See below for a breakdown of the topics covered.

·       (1:40 – 2:40) - Michael and Kate discuss her recent feature in the Australian Financial Review regarding CAPI's 40% sales increase over the past year.

·       (2:41 – 8:50) – Kate talks about her life, adjusting to post-COVID normalcy, her new dog Molly, taking things a bit easier, virtual dinner parties during COVID, and her favourite types of dress-up.

·       (9:00 – 15:00) – Kate shares her career journey before joining CAPI, including her experiences in retail, call centres, and self-improvement while working.

·       (18:19 - 22:03) – Kate elaborates on her fashion career at SABA, and the first time she met Michael at a Senior Managers Program, and her unique perspective on the commercial industry, retail, and wholesale.

·       (23:30 – 25:37) – Managing workplace meetings and innovative feedback methods.

·       (25:55 – 27:30) – Exploring the distinctions between State and National Manager roles.

·       (28:00 - 30:22) – Kate's role at Elwood, a family-owned business, and her accomplishments in wholesale, buying, and planning. Emphasising the advantages of being a generalist in a small business.

·       (30:30 - 35:00) – Kate's international role at T2 as Retail Operations Manager, involving store launches in London, the USA, and online expansion.

·       (35:18 – 37:15) – Kate's early career role model and her current leadership style.

·       (37:46 - 49:15) – How Kate secured her position at CAPI, her inspiration from working with the founders, and the uniqueness of CAPI's natural beverages.

·       (50:21 - 51:38) – Wrapping up with Michael asking Kate for advice on helping teams reach their targets and managing leadership without feeling overwhelmed by sales goals.