Lights, Camera, Business

PROVO, Utah – Sep 25, 2020 – In 2005, when Cate Allen first entered the Whitmore Global Business Center (GBC)—then known as the Global Management Center—at the BYU Marriott School of Business to ask about receiving her global business certificate, her thoughts were focused on pursuing a career in international business. She had no way of knowing that the experiences that followed would help her in all facets of her career, including in her current jobs as an actress and radio show host.

From a young age, Allen felt an overwhelming desire to travel the world, particularly France. “I was born with a desire to speak French,” she says. “Somewhere deep inside of me, I felt a connection to that beautiful country. My mom always asked, ‘Where did you come from?’ because as a six-year-old, I was asking her if I could learn to speak French.”

Allen’s dream to visit France came true when she was a teenager. “I visited southern France when I was seventeen, and as soon as I stepped out of the plane, I thought, ‘Wow, this place feels amazing,’” she says. “I fell in love with everything—I loved the culture, the food, the buildings, and especially the people.”

Allen took a few business classes when she first started at BYU but realized she also wanted to expand her love for France. “I loved business, but I wanted to apply my knowledge of French and do business internationally,” she says. “There wasn’t an option to major in international business.”

However, she soon found a solution: the global business certificate offered by the GBC. Receiving the certificate allowed Allen to combine her love of France with her interest in business by utilizing her foreign language skills and providing her with necessary tools to find success in the global business world.

In 2001, Allen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and communications with minors in business management and French. In 2007, she received a master’s degree in French studies as well as a global business certificate. Since then, she has worked internationally in multiple countries, primarily France and Belgium.

Allen believes that the global business certificate from the GBC, combined with her own hard work and determination, opened doors for numerous international work opportunities. “In 2018 I was working with Delta Airlines, and I was chosen out of two thousand employees to go on a business trip to Japan,” she says. “I had an amazing time there, and I learned so much. Obtaining the certificate and gradually acquiring more international business experience was incredibly valuable in establishing my career.”

After working strictly in international business for several years, Allen’s career took an unexpected turn. In 2013, Allen, who now lives in Provo, was asked to host a radio show on KTALK Utah. She still hosts the program, which is called The Cate Allen Show.  “A radio show host was not something I had ever seen myself becoming, but I love it,” Allen says. “I experienced a complete career evolution. I have more than 100,000 listeners, and I get to talk about so many topics that I’m passionate about, from politics to women in business.”

While continuing her role on the radio show, Allen also decided to pursue a career in acting. She has since starred in several films and commercials. Her first role was in the 2013 film Scoot & Kassie's Christmas Adventure, starring the late Luke Perry, an actor known for his role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills 90210.

“Starring across from Luke Perry was surreal,” Allen says. “I remember when I was young, I frequently invited my best friend to come over and watch the newest episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 with me. We were both in love with him. Then decades later, I got to be in a film with him—it’s still one of my favorite experiences.”

Allen also produced a short film collection available on Amazon Prime, called Life Hacks with Cate. Throughout a series of ten videos, she provides several tools for emotional and physical healing. “I wanted to share techniques that can help others with stress and anxiety,” she says. “The videos are all under five minutes, and you can watch them while sitting in your living room.”

Even in her new role as an actress, Allen finds ways to utilize her business skills. “I don’t think many people recognize how important business skills are in the entertainment industry,” she says. “With my particular background in international business, I’ve applied various aspects of my knowledge and skills to my acting career.”

One of those specific skills is learning how to work with a diverse group of people. “When you work on a film, you interact with so many different types of people, often including people who aren’t originally from the United States,” Allen says. “Having knowledge of other cultures is an invaluable skill. I’ve even spoken French in a few of my roles.”

Whether she is working in an office or in front of the camera, Allen believes that respect for others is the most important element of business. “No matter where I am or who I am working with, I think every person deserves to be treated with respect,” she says. “Even if we’ve grown up on different sides of the country or even the world, we all matter, and we are all equal. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my international business career is that you have to bring everyone’s views to the table, because every single person has something important to contribute.”