Building trust through honest conversations with Kat Cooke | The EX Conversation

In this episode of The EX Conversation, Kaz sits down with Kat Cooke, Head of Internal Communications at SCC, to explore what it really takes to build trust inside an organisation. From creating space for honest feedback to handling difficult conversations head-on, the discussion focuses on how transparency and two-way communication shape culture in practice — not just in theory.

Kat Cooke shares her journey from journalism into internal comms and how that background influences her approach today — acting as a “journalist inside the business” to surface real stories and ask the questions others won’t. Together, they unpack what makes communication feel authentic, how to avoid overly managed messaging, and why a “family-like” culture isn’t always a negative when it’s grounded in honesty and mutual respect.

This episode will resonate with EX and internal communications leaders trying to move beyond top-down messaging — especially those navigating employee trust, engagement fatigue, or the challenge of creating safe spaces for open dialogue. If you’re thinking about how to make communication feel more human, more responsive, and more real, there’s plenty here to take away.

🎧 Enjoy the episode and thanks for listening.
Episode timeline

00:00 – 02:20 | Introducing Kat Cooke and her journey
Kat shares her career path from journalism into internal communications and how she landed at SCC.

02:20 – 03:30 | The “boomerang” career move
Why Kat returned to SCC and what made the opportunity to shape strategy compelling.

03:30 – 05:30 | Why journalism skills matter in internal comms
Finding stories, building relationships, and creating content that connects with employees.

11:20 – 13:30 | The case for two-way communication
Why internal comms should be a conversation — not just information pushed out.

13:30 – 16:00 | Making transparency real (not performative)
Practical examples including anonymous Q&A with leadership and open forums.

16:00 – 18:30 | Creating authentic leadership communication
Shifting away from staged town halls toward more natural, unscripted dialogue.

18:30 – 20:30 | Acting as the ‘voice of employees’
Building trust by representing employee concerns and asking difficult questions.

20:30 – 23:00 | Rethinking “family” as a workplace culture
Why disagreement and honesty are part of healthy, supportive teams.

25:30 – 27:40 | Returning to a familiar culture
Kat reflects on rejoining SCC and the impact of long-term employee relationships.

28:30 – 30:00 | Career advice: say yes to more opportunities
Why taking risks earlier can open doors and accelerate growth.

31:00 – 32:00 | Taking perspective in fast-paced roles
The importance of stepping back and recognising the value of your work.

32:00 – 34:30 | EX Room 101: what needs to go
Kat’s take on poor grammar and why small details shape perception.

34:30 – 37:00 | Feeling human at work
The role of personal conversations, empathy, and psychological safety in EX.

About The EX Conversation

The EX Conversation is a podcast series from Unily that brings together employee experience, internal communications, and digital workplace leaders from across industries.

Each episode features an open, practical conversation with people on the frontlines of EX: sharing what’s working, what’s hard, and how they’re navigating complexity in real time. No hype. No scripts. Just honest perspectives and hard-won insight to help EX leaders learn from each other and move the workplace forward.

Catch up on the full series: https://www.unily.com/resources/podcasts

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