Katie Bhreatnach still recalls imposter syndrome. Now General Manager of Customer and Regulatory Relationships at Airways New Zealand, Katie has since been recognised as an In House Leader by NZ Lawyer, which also named her an Elite Woman in 2021. Katie recently joined the College of Law New Zealand’s Board of Directors, and shared her journey from feeling like a terrified ‘pretend lawyer’ to leading the profession as one of New Zealand’s most prominent lawyers and senior executives. 

1. Congratulations again on being recognised as one of New Zealand's In House Leaders. What do you think contributed to your win?
   
   Starting out, I recall being terrified of sharing the same courtroom or on the other side of the table from real lawyers, even though I was just as qualified as they were. I had massive imposter syndrome. But I stuck with it and there was a day I realised that I wasn’t a pretend lawyer anymore, but actually a real one.  Since then, I’ve been lucky that people have given me opportunities and have faith in me to do things, and it’s just grown from there.  I am grateful to all of them – and that includes all the people that have been willing to work with me as well – you can’t lead people if they don’t want to be led by you.
   
   
2. What was your first job in law? What led you to your current role?
   
   I started out my career working in a large firm. For me it was a fantastic way to get a good grounding in the practice of law. At some point I was working with a number of key clients, and as I became increasingly closer to their business and the strategy of business, I realised I had found my home.
   
   
3. Where do you work now, and what is the most rewarding aspect of your role
   
   I have had a pretty broad career since moving in-house – having worked for a multinational, ASX100 listed company and a State Owned enterprise, in sectors as diverse as FMCG, food, telecommunications and aviation. 
   
   I am currently an executive at Airways, where I hold the roles of General Counsel and General Manager Customer and Regulatory Partnerships. Our cross functional team has a great culture which we have built together and invest time in. Outside of my executive role, I am also a co-founder and director of a start up called Atua Matua – we are working on building matauranga maori into machine learning and the internet of natural things.  It's pretty exciting.  As well as the College of Law, I am also a director on the Trusts Arena, Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and St Mary's College in Ponsonby. The most rewarding aspect of all of my roles is the many and varied people I work with in different capacities – I constantly inspired and learn from them.
   
   
4. What achievements are you most proud of in your career to date?
   
   I’d say there are two things, although they are linked.  First, I constantly strive to learn more.  From undertaking my LLM at Trinity, studying the advanced management programme at global business school INSEAD, or even taking learnings when things have gone badly, I try to seize every learning opportunity, big or small.
   
   I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I’m proud of that. What brings me the greatest joy is seeing people who work for me grow, develop, and rocket off into their stellar futures.
   
   
5. As a new member of the College of Law's Board, what do you hope to contribute to the College of Law community?
   
   It’s a great honour for me to join an organisation with such a rich history. The College of Law has done so much for the progression and quality of the legal profession in Aotearoa, and I’m honoured to be joining an esteemed Board.  It is an exciting time for the College of Law as it grows and diversifies.  It also feels like Covid has been a disruption accelerator, and the sort of offerings the College of Law has are what many of us are going to be leaning into.