Unreasonable Team

Kate James

Former Executive at Pearson, Gates Foundation, Citi, & Standard Chartered Bank

Kate is an Unreasonable Board Member and Mentor. Kate has participated in 5 programs, including Unreasonable Impact Americas 2018, and has advised over 68 Unreasonable companies.
Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on where I can make the biggest impact. When the offer came to join Pearson in 2014, I jumped at it - the opportunity to make a real difference at the world’s learning company. I wanted to help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges and believe that access to quality education is part of every solution.
As Chief Corporate Affairs & Global Marketing Officer, I lead our efforts to promote and protect the Pearson reputation and build an innovation-driven culture. This included oversight of communications, brand and global marketing, media and investor relations, government and regulatory relations, research and insights, the Pearson Affordable Learning Fund and our broader vision to be a sustainable and responsible business.
Before coming to Pearson I was Chief Communications Officer for the Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation, leveraging the foundation's voice in support of the organization’s global and domestic initiatives. And before Gates, I held leadership roles in the financial services industry including heading communications globally at Citibank and leading the advocacy and sustainability practice at Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to that I spent nine years at GlaxoSmithKline .
Now I am fortunate to have an opportunity to take some time out to think about what next and how hopefully I can continue to have an impact and make a difference.
I sit on the board of Vital Voices Global Partnership, empowering women in business, civil society, and politics, The National Audubon Society, dedicated to conservation and the environment, the Pearson Digital Advisory Network and have just recently agreed to join the Board of World Reader championing digital reading in underserved communities.
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