Kersten Catella is a leadership coach and consultant who has spent her career turning difficult workplace experiences into practical, humane solutions. A Danish–South African who built a career in the UK, Kersten specialises in helping women — especially those working in foreign or male-dominated environments — find their voice, set clear boundaries, and lead with integrity. Her story matters because it’s rooted in real setbacks and hard-won strategies that can help our 5M+ Humans of Fuzia community navigate careers with confidence and purpose.
What first inspired you to pursue leadership and coaching?
I was treated poorly early in my career — not out of malice so much as entrenched, old-fashioned ways of working. At 23 I promised myself that if I ever had influence over someone’s career, I would never let them feel the way I had felt. That promise has driven every career decision since: choosing organisations aligned with my values, modelling better behaviour rather than shouting about it, and building structures that let people do what they do best.
How did those early experiences shape the way you manage and lead others?
They taught me to be calm, steady and unapologetically principled. I insist on ownership: if someone asks me to override a specification, I ask them to sign off — I won’t take the blame for a choice I didn’t make. I coach people to remain authentic, to be proud of how they behave, and to face difficult situations without becoming defensive or taking on other people’s anger.
What practical advice do you give women working in foreign or male-dominated environments?
Be authentic and keep a line in the sand — know what you will and won’t accept. Trust your intuition: if something feels off in a job or interview, ask questions and don’t ignore that feeling. If you’re stuck in a culture that won’t change, find a way out while you still have a job. And if you get emotional — crying included — don’t apologise for it. Emotions are valid; take a pause, collect yourself, and respond with intention.
How do you help teams move from problem-spotting to real solutions?
Stop endlessly documenting problems and start presenting workable solutions. I encourage teams to try different approaches, own the outcomes, and learn from them. Women bring a long-term, people-centred perspective that builds sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes. My role is to bring structure where it’s needed, put people into roles that play to their strengths, and help teams implement processes that scale.
Can you share an outcome that shows your approach works?
I joined a family-run business where everyone did everything. We introduced structure, aligned people with what they loved and were good at, and within a few years turnover rose dramatically — what started as a £3 million business grew to £12 million while I was there. Later, the group reached much larger scale. Structure and clarity let people excel; revenue followed naturally.
What is your core message to women building their careers?
Keep it simple and be truthful to yourself. You don’t need the loudest voice in the room. You need consistency: keep setting your standards, be honest, and act with integrity. Reputation is the most valuable currency — choose honesty over a short-term cover-up every time. When you face hard choices, be brave enough to own them and to have the difficult conversations.
How do you support someone who’s made a mistake at work?
I tell them to be honest with the customer or the team. If you owned a decision and it went wrong, say so, explain your intentions, and be prepared to rectify it. You’ll preserve trust far more by owning a mistake than by trying to hide it. I’ll support you through that call — honesty will usually keep the relationship intact and protect your long-term reputation.
“Be proud of how you behave every single day. You don’t have to be the loudest voice — just be true to yourself, set your line in the sand, and keep moving forward.” — Kersten Catella
Connect with Kersten Catella
Kersten Catella | LinkedIn
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