Introducing …
Let’s Meet a Chapter Member …
Each eNews, we introduce you to one of our wonderful Chapter Members, through a Question & Answer type interview article. Therefore, in the hotseat this edition, is Kara Cox, who is a Community Builder at St Kevin’s College in Oamaru.
How long have you been working in Educational Advancement?
I have not been working in the Educational Advancement space for very long – I started my role as Community Builder at St Kevin’s College (SKC) in January 2023. I am an old girl of the college, so it has been great being back on my old stomping ground and seeing how the school has progressed over the last 20 years.
What is the achievement you were most proud of?
I think something I am most proud of while I have been working at SKC, is the brand development I have worked on with the Assistant Principal and Communications Coordinator. Through strategic planning, creative innovation, and consistent messaging, we have cultivated a strong, recognisable brand identity that resonates with our community. I thrive in a creative space so being able to use my design, photography and videography background has been very rewarding – we have had some schools reach out to us around our branding and socials, so that has been very encouraging.
What is the greatest moment of learning in your career so far?
I think my greatest learning so far is not to compare yourself or your role to others.
SKC is a small college that had never had anyone work in the Alumni and Fundraising space in the past and when I started, I fell into the trap of comparing our college to larger, well-established colleges with many successes and who had been working in this space for years. We thought we were going to get out there straight off the bat and the Alumni would flood in – I have held events that weren’t well attended by Alumni, and we have broached ‘asks’ to which we were declined when we thought we had nailed it. It’s easy to look at other colleges, schools and organisations who excel in this space and think, ‘what am I doing wrong?’ I have learnt over the last 18 months that I need to instead, focus on our unique strengths, vision, and the incremental progress we have made – celebrate small wins and view challenges as opportunities for growth.
What is the most impactful book you’ve read or podcast you’ve listened to?
I am not much of a reader, but do love listening to a good podcast while out on a long run. Lately I have been listening to The Dom Harvey Podcast series, Runners Only, where he interviews various Kiwis who have had their lives impacted by running. The Dave Letele (Buttabean Motivation) episode was an extremely inspirational story about hard work and determination. The work Dave does for communities is amazing and shows that negative cycles can be broken with the right support.
What are three tips or words of advice you have for new members and/or those new to Advancement?
Soaking up information is crucial. Talk to as many people as you can – I was very lucky to receive support from some wonderful members from this group who work in the Advancement space in Christchurch colleges, as well as mentoring from Fundraising specialists in Christchurch, Barrer and Co. This is a very supportive industry, and everyone is willing to help build you up.
Immersing yourself in your community is extremely important and enables you to gain a deeper understanding of its unique challenges and strengths, build authentic relationships, and foster trust. This engagement helps you identify opportunities for meaningful contributions, encourages collaboration, and enhances your sense of belonging and purpose within the community.
As I stated earlier on, I have found it is key to not compare your school to others – set realistic, incremental goals and celebrate each milestone. Your journey, with its unique obstacles and achievements, is valuable and is the foundation for future success. Remember, all larger schools, colleges and organisations once started where you are now, and their journey to success was built on perseverance and learning from early-stage experiences.
What do you do in your spare time?
In my spare time I like to keep active by running, boxing and playing sport, although I do think my days on the netball court are numbered at the age of 37. My husband and I have five dogs, so they also help me keep active and we love to spend time with our pets on our lifestyle property just out of Oamaru.
I also keep busy running my own Wedding Videography business, Kara Jane Visuals. Over the summer season I average around 20 weddings around mid to lower South Island. This was my full-time job for a few years but as a real people person, I missed human interaction in my day-to-day life when working from home so decided to start scaling back on the weddings (which hasn’t really happened yet) and seek another career which was more people focused.
Thank you Kara Cox! It’s been wonderful to get to know you!