Kate Higham

Managing Director

In a year marked by global backsliding on DEI, Kate Higham stepped into the role of Managing Director at Born Social, determined to prove that inclusion, commercial growth, and creativity don’t just coexist; they fuel one another. When she joined, Born was a 25-person start-up. Today, it’s a 180-strong, B Corp-certified agency across London and New York, consistently ranked among Campaign’s Best Places to Work and Agency of the Year.

Under Kate’s leadership, inclusion has become foundational. She has embedded progressive policies across pay, progression, wellbeing, and flexibility; introduced full salary transparency; reduced Born’s gender and ethnicity pay gaps by more than 15%; and increased team diversity by 10% in just two years. She has also ensured that voices often overlooked are actively heard, implementing regular inclusion check-ins, the agency’s first microaggression policy, and a comprehensive inclusive language guide. At the heart is Born Ready, a paid 12-week trainee programme for underrepresented talent. In three years, it has expanded, taking on three trainees, receiving 450 applicants in 2025, and achieving an 80% retention rate. Its success has influenced the wider industry, inspiring initiatives such as the ‘Croud Sourced’ scheme. Beyond Born, Kate drives change through partnerships with Brixton Finishing School, Change the Brief, and We Show the Salary, and through her thought leadership on inclusion importance featured in Shots. Her impact shows what the agency of the future looks like: one where creativity is shared, opportunity is accessible, and belonging is built into the business from the ground up.