Meet the Team: Kate Cowley

In this Meet the Team article, we hear from Kate Cowley, a Manager in the egaming team in our Isle of Man office.

Kate joined Affinity in November 2021 and has worked in the corporate services industry since 2009.

Please introduce yourself…

I am a manager on the administration team, mainly managing eGaming and crypto clients. I assist our clients in everything from day-to-day payments, applying for and then maintaining their IOM gaming licenses, to being a Director on the company’s and everything in between. As a Manager, I also support my team members with their portfolios of clients, providing guidance and support and helping them progress their careers within Affinity.

Please share with us your career background…

I have worked in the CSP industry since 2009 (I’m showing my age now). I started working with e-gaming clients in 2017, and it has been a great experience to see how this sector has grown from strength to strength.

I went to university without any idea of what I wanted to be when I grew up and came away with a 2.1 degree in Media and Popular Culture. Although I don’t work in an industry related to my studies, I learnt a lot about being responsible for my own studies and work ethic and learning at a higher education level.

I have gone on to gain Foundation and Practitioner Certificates in Project Management (Prince 2), a Specialist Certificate in Money Laundering Risk in Betting and Gaming (ICA) and a Certificate in Leadership & Team Skills (ILM).

Please share with us a little more about yourself… how would you describe yourself in five words?

Caring, resilient, fun, kind and hard-working.

What do you enjoy most about your job and the company?

I love that no two days are the same! You might be reviewing new software and games one day and the next you are looking at crypto vault storage solutions, it’s so varied and in an industry which is ever evolving it is exciting to be part of it. I also love working with people, and in my role as a manager, it’s exciting to see my colleagues progressing, gaining confidence and learning new things.

Affinity recognises that work/life balance and morale/wellness of their staff is of the utmost importance, and as a working mum with 3 kids, that is something very important to me too. I’m also very lucky to work with very lovely people and we really do feel like a team.

Do you have any daily non-negotiable habits or hobbies you enjoy?

I have to do some form of exercise every day, be it a high-energy HiiT class or just a walk with our dog, Busby, but moving my body is very important for my mental health as well as my physical.

I also love to sing anytime, anywhere! Be it in my kitchen, on karaoke or the Gaiety Theatre stage, it brings me so much joy (although my neighbours may disagree). I have been very lucky to be able to perform in a few shows at the Gaiety Theatre, the highlight being Annie in Annie Get Your Gun.

What’s the best part about living on the Isle of Man?

I honestly think there is nowhere better to be than the Isle of Man (although we may not have as many sunny days as I would like!). Be it at the beach or walking through the hills, I feel very lucky to live here.

I also couldn’t think of anywhere better to raise a family. My children have so much freedom as it is such a safe place to live, and for me, that is priceless.

Please share with us your aspirations… what are your current professional goals?

Now that my children are growing up a little, I feel I can now give more focus to my career, and so I want to continue to progress as a Manager and to further my knowledge in the crypto/blockchain industries.

What are your current personal goals?

Having previously finished the Parish Walk twice and earning 2 bronze certificates, I would like to try and beat my previous PB and get a silver certificate, and at some point, I would like to run a marathon.

What is one thing on you dream of doing that would be on the bucket list?

Skydiving – I have never done it, it absolutely terrifies me, but I would love to do it one day.

If you want to know more about our corporate services in the Isle of Man, visit our company page here.

Plus, you can follow our LinkedIn for regular updates on our team here.