CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards - Finalist Q&A with Kate Danks Global Director of Channel Marketing at Coro

Kate Danks talks being a finalist at this year's CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards

Why do you think awards like the Women & Diversity in Channel Awards matter?

Awards like the Women & Diversity in Channel Awards are crucial because they directly address the under-representation of women in the IT sector. They provide visibility for individuals who are actively working to make the industry more inclusive and serve as role models for future generations. By highlighting the achievements of women and other diverse groups, these awards demonstrate that talent and success can come from all backgrounds, helping to combat unconscious bias and prejudice. They also celebrate those who champion diversity and foster a more positive and supportive workplace culture.

What would winning this award mean to your company?

Winning this award would be a massive credit to my company, Coro, and the entire channel. It would validate Coro's commitment to building a company where a diverse workforce can thrive. The recognition would shine a spotlight on our success in building a channel marketing strategy from the ground up, proving that our approach to partner engagement and strategic growth is effective. It would also showcase our company as an employer that values and supports women in leadership roles, which is vital for attracting top talent.

What would you say is your company’s proudest achievement over the past year?

Over the past year, Coro’s proudest achievement has been our ability to disrupt the cybersecurity market and lay robust foundations for growth. The company’s platform was built from the ground up to address the significant cybersecurity gaps in the mid-market and SMB segments, which are often neglected by traditional security vendors. By providing a simplified, all-in-one platform for lean IT teams, Coro has made comprehensive and effective cybersecurity accessible and easy to manage, a major achievement in an industry known for its complexity.

What have been the biggest challenges of 2025 so far and how have you overcome them? How have your people helped with that?

The biggest challenge has been ensuring our rapid growth is matched by intentionality. Growth can create complexity, but my focus has been on scaling in a way that doesn’t just keep up with demand but builds long-term strength. That’s meant prioritising clarity, efficiency, and accountability in how we run campaigns and support partners. What’s made it possible is the incredible team I work with. They bring creativity, drive, and collaboration that transform ambitious goals into tangible results.

How do you think the channel has changed over the past year and what changes do you think it still needs to make?

The channel has continued to evolve with a greater focus on data-driven marketing and strategic partnerships. There's been a clear shift from simply "marketing to" partners to "marketing through" and with them, requiring a deeper level of collaboration and accountability. The channel still needs to make further changes to become more inclusive and diverse. While progress is being made, the industry must continue to actively champion women and other diverse groups in senior leadership roles and combat the "boys club" mentality to attract and retain the best talent.

What do you see as the main opportunities for the channel in the coming year? How do you plan to capitalise on those opportunities?

The main opportunity for the channel lies in solidifying the foundation for sustainable, long-term growth. Coro is uniquely positioned to fill a significant gap in the SMB and commercial market, which is often targeted by cyberattacks but lacks the resources for complex enterprise solutions. We plan to capitalise on this by helping partners better serve these customers with a simplified, all-in-one cybersecurity platform. My strategy is centred on defining a compelling partner value proposition and ensuring our programs are executed with meticulous attention to detail and a focus on fostering deep, mutually beneficial relationships. We'll enable our partners to be successful, ultimately making comprehensive cybersecurity accessible for everyone.