Letting kids be kids
How Katherine helps children
stay safe in the digital world
As a teacher, Katherine Howard witnessed the early stages of digital technology and its impact on student learning. Since then, tech capabilities have skyrocketed, transforming the way we live, work and learn. Katherine is a strong advocate of digital tech in a child’s learning. But she also knows that without boundaries, the risks are significant. Our Training Lead ensures children’s safe use of tech while accelerating her career with people who care.
Bridging the digital divide
Depending on your age, you may (or may not!) remember a time when you listened to music on your portable CD player. Emails were still a novelty, and homes were filled with the blips, bleeps and static-crash of dial-up internet connections. Smartphones, tablets, video streaming, virtual reality - these things weren’t part of our everyday lives before the 2000s.
Katherine Howard remembers this time. Like most of us, she didn’t grow up with digital tech, social media or constant connectivity - unlike young people today.
This generational tech divide poses real challenges for schools and families. But as Smoothwall’s UK-based Training Lead, Katherine is helping to bridge this gap.
“Smoothwall is the leading provider of online safety tech and training,” Katherine says. “It’s the ideal place for me to support more children - not just in the UK, but potentially worldwide.”
For Katherine, digital tech is an empowering learning tool. But it also comes with risks. Online bullying, exposure to adult content, privacy issues, and screen-induced sleep problems can affect a child’s social and emotional development. That’s why Katherine is dedicated to supporting parents, schools and communities to ensure their children remain safe online.
“I am a firm believer that tech is a positive thing,” Katherine says. “The benefits outweigh the negatives, but I think we have a long way to go to equip young people with the digital skillsets they need to navigate these environments. School staff and parents don’t necessarily understand the capability of tech as well as children do. For kids, it’s in their DNA. They’ve been brought up with tablets and smartphones. But for most adults, we didn’t touch one until our 20s or 30s. Tech is a massive enabler, but we need to make sure young people are safe using it. And that’s at the heart of everything we do at Smoothwall.”
Work with purpose, alongside people who care
Taking ownership, making things happen
Katherine has seen first-hand how digital tech has transformed the way children learn, live and communicate. Starting her career as a primary school teacher in the early 2000s, Katherine enjoyed working in schools, but after several years, felt a slightly different calling. A move into the tech safety space led to significant professional growth.
Drawing on her insights as a teacher, Katherine worked for a local authority in Salford to identify ways digital tech could improve young people’s lives. Her passion for digital creativity came to the fore as the BBC’s 21st Century Classroom Manager and Education Consultant. Keenly aware of the growing need for online safety in schools, Katherine then worked as a Senior Education Consultant before joining eSafe Global in 2019 as Digital Safeguarding Specialist.
A respected provider of proactive monitoring solutions, eSafe was acquired by Smoothwall in 2021. This move has strengthened our ability to provide cutting-edge digital safety products and training to schools, families and communities around the globe.
For Katherine, the move has enabled her to make an even greater impact on children’s lives.
“My whole career has focused on safeguarding young people - that’s what matters to me the most.”
No two days are the same for this compassionate self-starter. With purpose and heart, Katherine leads the delivery of Smoothwall’s safeguarding training and consultancy services. She liaises with schools, colleges and local authorities to nurture and protect children on their digital journeys.
“Our workshops are completely bespoke - it’s all fresh and tailored to each customer. I spend a lot of time talking to customers, understanding their issues and needs, and then delivering to clients directly. Being able to help them and knowing I’m making a difference gives me immense satisfaction.”
Connection with people who care
At Smoothwall, Katherine feels valued for who she is. She’s respected for her insights and expertise and encouraged to challenge the status quo. In turn, she relishes being part of a supportive, nurturing team that cares about growing and winning together.
“The people I work with are amazing. The value of team collaboration is something I truly feel at Smoothwall. That care element - making sure customers are happy and get what they need - has been a big driver in my career, and it is absolutely paramount at Smoothwall. It really is a positive environment for change development.”
When Katherine isn’t delivering online safety training, she’s keeping up with her four-year-old son or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. She says Smoothwall’s flexible work options ensure she can spend quality time with her family. Katherine also values the opportunity to be part of Qoria's Employee Security Incentive Plan.
“The share scheme is a real incentive to get involved in the company,” Katherine says. “Not only do you feel part of the business, working towards a common goal, but as a stakeholder, you have some ownership of the business, as well. I feel involved professionally and personally. That’s a big positive from my point of view.”
And if you’re looking for a career with purpose? Katherine says at Smoothwall, there’s plenty of opportunities to make a real impact on children’s futures.
“If you’ve got drive and passion, you can achieve anything in this organisation. You just need to be authentic about empowering parents and schools to help children thrive. It’s a genuinely supportive culture - people care about you as a person. The company’s very much got a family feel to it, and I think that’s compelling.”