Kittie Kan: opening doors in global marketing

Kittie Kan is making her mark as a marketing manager in Hong Kong. Her journey from UTS College to global brand leadership shows how the right skills and mindset can open doors in a fast-changing industry. Whether she’s working for a global toy giant like Mattel or a world-leading provider of English language tests, Kittie’s story is a great example of how a strong foundation can lead to exciting opportunities in multiple industries.

More than ten years ago, Kittie completed a diploma of communication at UTS College before transitioning into UTS to complete a degree in communication, majoring in public relations.

She says the course not only taught her theory and practice but also helped develop crucial communication and creative skills. “All the soft skills I learned are among the most valuable assets I now have,” Kittie says. “My degree at UTS helped open the door to the world of communication.”

Studying alongside a diverse group of students was a highlight. “We worked in groups on projects and presentations,” she explains. “This gave me a great chance to network and learn how to collaborate.”

During this time, Kittie also spent three years interning at a Chinese-language radio station in Sydney. “I was a part-time program host and marketing assistant at 2ac Chinese Radio,” she recalls. “I never dreamed I would have my voice on air!”

The world is full of excitement and opportunities. Grab the chance.

After graduation, Kittie joined a busy events marketing agency, gaining broad experience across the field. After a year, she moved to a more focused in-house marketing role with a global brand.

She began at Faber-Castell, the German manufacturer of colouring and writing instruments, in a junior role and worked her way up to an executive position over eight years. “I’m very grateful to the company because they really shaped my working style and gave me proper training and opportunities,” she says.

Kittie took on the role of senior brand manager at Mattel, a global leader in toys and family products. In this fast-moving industry, she was responsible for translating global brand strategies into local market execution in Hong Kong.

“The toy industry is facing intense competition with children’s growing focus on digital devices,” she says. “I needed to react quickly to new products and trends to meet the expectations of Hong Kong consumers.”

Her time at Mattel sharpened her skills in agility and local market insight, working with a vast portfolio of well-known brands.

You can open doors to whatever you want. There are good opportunities. Just don't be afraid to ask.

More recently, Kittie moved to Pearson, a world leader in English language testing and educational services. Based in Hong Kong, she now leads brand management for Pearson’s English language assessment products.
In this role, Kittie combines her marketing expertise with a passion for education and communication, helping connect learners with trusted assessment tools around the world.

Her advice for career success is simple but powerful: have courage. “The world is full of excitement and opportunities. Grab the chance,” she says. “You can open doors to whatever you want. There are good opportunities. Just don't be afraid to ask.”

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