A career in media rarely follows a straight line, and for Kate Cox \u2013 Australian Community Media (ACM) publisher for Explore<\/em>, The Senior<\/em> and Content Solutions<\/em> \u2013 some of its defining moments have come from rolling the dice.<\/strong><\/p>\n From editing The Sun-Herald<\/em>\u00a0 after initially turning down the job to growing Explore<\/em> into an award-winning travel media brand, she has challenged convention and championed regional Australians as an influential, often overlooked travel audience.<\/p>\n In her words, \u201cNever Too Much\u201d means pursuing ambition without apology and recognising that strong leadership is as much about empathy as it is conviction.<\/p>\n Here, Cox reflects on the mentors who shaped her career, the importance of making room for family alongside professional ambition, and why backing yourself should go hand in hand with creating opportunities for others.<\/p>\n It\u2019s an interesting theme. I\u2019ve always been a pretty excitable personality so for me it means resisting that instinct to dial down my enthusiasm, ambitions or ideas in order to make other people feel comfortable.<\/p>\n When I believe in something, I throw myself into it, whether that\u2019s a story, a new business idea, a team or a travel experience. I love people who care deeply about what they do, and I don\u2019t think we should ever apologise for that.<\/p>\n But I also think there\u2019s a misconception that taking up space means being the loudest person in the room. Some of the strongest leaders I\u2019ve worked with are also the most compassionate.<\/p>\n They listen hard, they bring people along and they create opportunities for others to shine.<\/p>\n As women, we can sometimes feel we need to choose between being ambitious and being likeable, or between being decisive and being kind. I think (and hope!) that we\u2019re moving beyond that.<\/p>\n We can be unapologetically passionate, back ourselves and lead with empathy. In fact, I think empathy is one of the greatest strengths a leader can have.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been lucky enough to work with some extraordinary women throughout my career. The ones who had the greatest impact on me were the ones who were confident enough to back their own judgement, generous enough to share their knowledge and secure enough to champion other women.<\/p>\n Publishing titan Pat Ingram was a wonderful mentor when I was a magazine editor. I still draw on her insights and wise counsel and so admire everything she achieved in an extraordinary career through enormous change.<\/p>\n She\u2019s also a fabulous raconteur with a wicked sense of humour. I work with remarkable women every day. Explore<\/em> editor Sarah Maguire is the best in the business and our commercial lead Sarah Dasey is ridiculously connected and a passionate advocate for regional audiences.<\/p>\n My leadership team across Explore<\/em>, The Senior<\/em> and Content Solutions<\/em> is entirely female, and there are so many inspiring women throughout ACM.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth pointing out that I\u2019ve been enormously supported by men throughout my career, champions of my adventures and progression even when I wasn\u2019t entirely sure I was ready myself. That includes my ACM MD, Tony Kendall, an excellent media mind and generous mentor.<\/p>\n I initially said no to becoming editor of The Sun-Herald<\/em>. It was a huge job, with huge KPIs, and I had two little boys at home. I couldn\u2019t quite see how to make it all work.<\/p>\n I\u2019m so glad I was talked into it and made changes at home. It was one of the best decisions of my career.<\/p>\n Editing a Sunday newspaper back then was the best job going around. Now I think I once again have the best job going around and saying yes has been such an important part of my pathway.<\/p>\n Taking on the challenge of launching and growing Explore<\/em> into a national, multiplatform travel media brand has been enormously exciting. We weren\u2019t just launching a publication; we were rethinking how to reach and engage a valuable travel audience that had been overlooked by much of the industry.<\/p>\n To see the brand recognised this year with two global INMA awards and named Media Brand of the Year at the Mumbrella Travel Marketing Awards has been enormously rewarding.<\/p>\n But I love building things. I love bringing talented people together around an idea, challenging the way things have always been done and seeing what\u2019s possible when a team believes in something.<\/p>\n And we really do believe in Explore<\/em>\u2018s audience. Regional Australians aren\u2019t a niche \u2013 they are enthusiastic travellers and one of the most engaged, influential, commercially valuable travel audiences in the country.<\/p>\n According to recent CBA iQ data, they spend 16 per cent more on accommodation and 25 per cent more on cruises per capita than metropolitan Australians. Yet much of Australia\u2019s travel journalism is still created through a city-centric lens.<\/p>\n Stop negotiating against yourself before anyone else has even entered the conversation!<\/p>\n Women can be incredibly good at talking themselves out of opportunities. We convince ourselves we\u2019re not quite ready, don\u2019t tick every box or should wait until the timing is perfect.<\/p>\n But most interesting opportunities in life come with an element of uncertainty. If you wait until you feel completely ready, you might never make the leap.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve learnt that passion, curiosity and a willingness to learn can take you a long way. You don\u2019t have to know everything, and it\u2019s worth being honest about that.<\/p>\n Be honest about the non-corporate side of your life, too. Looking back, I missed too many school graduations, awards ceremonies, sporting events and performances. It really used to drive me nuts that the mother\u2019s day-type events were in school hours but the father\u2019s events were after hours!<\/p>\n I think this is changing. I wish I\u2019d had the courage to loudly announce I was leaving work to attend those occasions. It would have been better for my family and a much better example for the parents in my team.<\/p>\n I\u2019d also say that ambition doesn\u2019t have to come at someone else\u2019s expense. Some of the most rewarding moments in my career have come from helping other people grow and succeed.<\/p>\n So, back your instincts. Ask for the opportunity. Pitch the big idea. Say yes. And hold the door open for the next woman.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always been excited by new opportunities, although that doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019ve always felt completely confident.<\/p>\n Imposter syndrome is real, for men and women, but I\u2019ve also discovered that acting braver than you feel can be effective!<\/p>\n Even after years in leadership, there are still moments of self-doubt. A big presentation, a difficult decision, a new opportunity or a conversation where you know you\u2019re going to have to challenge the status quo.<\/p>\n But feeling nervous doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019re not ready. I try to remind myself to trust my experience and my instincts, to over-prepare, but also \u2013 and this is so important \u2013 not to take myself too seriously.<\/p>\n A little perspective and a sense of humour can go a long way. And I always come back to the people around me.<\/p>\n Leadership isn\u2019t about having all the answers or proving you\u2019re the smartest person in the room.<\/p>\n It\u2019s about bringing out the best in others and giving people the confidence to try something new.<\/p>\n So my advice to myself is pretty simple: back yourself, stay authentic, be kind \u2013 and roll the dice!<\/p>\n A big pair of headphones. I travel a lot on my own and they\u2019re something of a security blanket, but not just on the plane.<\/p>\n They\u2019re brilliant for exploring somewhere new. I can listen to directions without looking like a lost puppy, or wander unfamiliar streets with a favourite playlist or local podcast in my ears.<\/p>\n There\u2019s something quite liberating about having your own soundtrack in a strange city.<\/p>\n Once I\u2019ve found my feet, I\u2019ll take them off and soak up the real sounds of a place \u2013 the conversations, the traffic, the markets, the music.<\/p>\n I love exploring solo, but that doesn\u2019t mean I don\u2019t occasionally need a little moral support from Spotify!<\/p>\nWhat does \u201cnever too much\u201d mean to you personally? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Who was the woman who showed you it was okay to take up space? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the trip, the role, or the moment that felt almost too big to reach for? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
What would you say to the woman who\u2019s still convincing herself to ask for less? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
What do you tell yourself in the moment before you step up? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the one travel item you can\u2019t live without? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/WIT-26-SPONSOR-BLOCK-0909-3-601x1024.jpg\"\/)
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/travelweekly.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/WIT-26-SPONSOR-BLOCK-0909-3-601x1024.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n