Pitch Please

In this episode, we bring on Kate Bergsma, Partner Development Manager at Microsoft to talk about emotional intelligence (EQ) and why employers are spending more time looking for people with great EQ. We dive into what EQ is, and whether or not it is something you are born with or can develop over time. Kate also breaks down how it differs from IQ. Throughout this episode, we share examples of how one can be using or developing their EQ in both personal and work life. We also highlight how it has become even more important over the past 2 years of unprecedented times with COVID. You may even be using your emotional intelligence and not realizing it. If you are curious about how to assess your own EQ then make sure to listen to the full episode! Speaker Bio: Kate Bergsma | Partner Development Manager - Microsoft Known for her passion, creativity, and dedication, Kate Bergsma is a veteran Microsoft sales and marketing professional committed to the small and medium-sized business segment. In her role as Microsoft Canada’s Partner Development Manager, she empowers Microsoft’s national Indirect Provider partners, and their channel of 1000s of resellers, to grow their businesses by helping Canadians with technology solutions. Over a 25-year span, Kate has held diverse sales and marketing roles at Microsoft, at agencies, as well as being an entrepreneur herself. Along the way, she has earned several awards including a Canadian Marketing Association Gold Award and an International Association of Microsoft Partners award. Because of her extensive experience and training, she is often called upon to mentor and deliver talks on empathy and emotional intelligence in the workplace – to help others build skills for more effective communication and teamwork. Kate and her husband are parents of three active children and are active in the community. Bergsma has sat as President of Volunteer Hamilton’s board of directors, lecturer, guest speaker and judge at McMaster University’s Business Case and other marketing competitions. As well as several television and podcast appearances. She has a degree in Rhetoric and Professional Writing from the University of Waterloo.