Meet Kate Haughton, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and E-Commerce at Fusion Worldwide. Kate leads Fusion’s brand, marketing strategy, and digital experience, powering the momentum behind our fast-growing e-commerce platform.
With deep expertise in global marketing, Kate is passionate about building and leading high-performing teams, mentoring talent, and ensuring the customer’s voice is at the center of everything. She thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution, turning bold ideas into measurable business impact.
In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, we sat down with Kate to talk about her career, the role of women in leadership, and what it takes to drive real change.
Q: Can you describe your role at Fusion Worldwide and give us a glimpse into a typical day?
I lead the development of our e-commerce product and the marketing that powers it. I keep us aligned on the strategic priorities that matter and create a team culture where people feel genuinely empowered to try things—test, iterate, optimize, and share what they learn so we all get better together. My role is that blend of creativity, data, and constant adjustment. We make decisions based on what we’re seeing in the market, what the numbers tell us, and what’s actually moving the business forward.
One thing I’ve grown to love at Fusion is the lunch hour. I never used to take one, but here, everyone steps away from 12:30 to 1:30, and it’s given me permission to do the same. It’s my hour to reset, walk along the harbor, breathe, and come back grounded and ready to dive back in.
A typical day at Fusion is fast-paced, dynamic, and hands-on. There’s always a ton to do. Coaching, problem-solving, rolling up my sleeves, and keeping the team moving. It’s an environment I thrive in, especially during supply constraints when the trading floor is buzzing and the sales, marketing, and product teams are working together to make things happen.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being part of Fusion Worldwide, and how does the culture here support women?
What I love most about Fusion is the energy and the ownership. If you see a better way to do something, you’re trusted to run with it. That level of autonomy is rare, and it makes the work meaningful.
Fusion also genuinely supports women. We’re trusted with real responsibility, given space to lead, and recognized for the results we deliver, not for fitting a mold. When you do great work here, people see it. And when you’re ready to grow, there’s room to grow.
It’s a place where you can show up as yourself, contribute, and build something that matters. That’s what keeps me here.
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally, and how does the theme ‘Accelerate Action’ align with your vision for the future?
International Women’s Day makes me think about the women I lead every day. Most of my team is women, and coaching them often feels like talking to my younger self — saying the things I wish someone had said to me sooner. The truth, delivered with care. No surprises. Clear feedback, early and often, with real tools to grow.
This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, fits. Progress doesn’t happen by hoping for it — it happens by investing in people, removing barriers, and having the honest conversations that actually move someone forward. That’s how I lead, and it’s how the women before me led when they changed my life with their honesty.
What I want for every woman is simple: to feel supported, seen, and equipped. To have leaders who tell the truth kindly, coach in the moment, and champion their growth, not someday, but now. That’s the kind of action that creates real momentum, and it’s the reason I love the work I get to do.
Q: What advice do you have for other women striving to break barriers and accelerate their careers?
My biggest advice? I’ve learned most of it the hard way — so consider this the shortcut. 😉 Remember this: your inner critic is a liar. The limits you feel are rarely real. Trust your capability over the noise in your head and take the shot before you feel “ready,” because progress beats perfection every time. Use your words, even if they come out messy and imperfect. Truth lands because it’s real, not rehearsed. Advocate for yourself with clarity and confidence; closed doors open a lot faster when you know your value. And lift as you go: share what you’ve learned, tell the truth with kindness, and help the next woman see her potential sooner than you saw yours. Do these things with consistency and courage, and your career will move faster than you think.
Q: If you could encourage one actionable step for individuals or organizations to take on this International Women’s Day, what would it be?
If I could encourage one action this International Women’s Day, it would be this: look for the talent that isn’t raising its hand. It’s there. It’s always there. Sometimes it just needs a nudge or someone saying, “I see you. Come in. We need your perspective.”
For individuals, that means noticing who isn’t speaking and inviting them into the conversation with intention. Not as a gesture, but because their ideas make the work better.
For organizations, it means asking harder questions: Who’s consistently overlooked? Whose potential isn’t being tapped? Where are we unintentionally making growth harder? Who’s our diamond in the rough that we’ve missed?
And for women leaders, it’s simple: use your voice to make room for someone else’s. Pull up a chair, open a door, share the mic — whatever it takes.
Real progress doesn’t happen by applauding potential; it happens when we develop it. When people feel seen, backed, and given a real shot, they rise. And when they rise, the whole place gets better.
Kate’s Words of Wisdom: Don’t Be Like Teflon — Let the Right Things Stick.
International Women’s Day reminds me that women aren’t here to quietly move through our careers. We’re here to lead, influence, and drive the business forward. And one lesson I learned early is this: you can’t make meaningful impact if you’re afraid to let anything stick.
Early in my career, a female boss told me to “be like Teflon.” Her message was: don’t react, don’t take things personally, just let everything slide off. And I nodded, not because I agreed, but because I didn’t feel brave enough to challenge her. That’s the part that stayed with me. Not the advice, but the fact that I didn’t feel confident saying, “I respectfully disagree, and here’s why.”
She meant well, but here’s the truth:
You can’t learn if you’re “like Teflon.”
You can’t evolve if you’re “like Teflon.”
And you certainly can’t inspire if you’re “like Teflon.”
If nothing affects you, nothing shapes you. And if nothing shapes you, nothing changes. Trying to be “like Teflon” strips away the best parts of your leadership: your instincts, your honesty, and your courage to say what others won’t with both clarity and conviction.
That’s why, as a leader now, I work hard to create a very different culture for my team. And honestly, it’s a huge part of why we perform at such a high level. I want my people to feel safe challenging me, asking hard questions, and bringing forward a different perspective than mine. Not despite the reporting structure, but because of it.
So this International Women’s Day, my message is simple: Don’t be “like Teflon.” Let the things that make you stronger shape you and LET THE REST GO.
Fusion credits its strength, endurance, and success to its people. Meet more of the team on Our Team page.
Are you interested in a career at Fusion? We’re always looking for talented people to join our team! See open roles here.