Barron's June 2019
K.C. Cavenaugh - Chief Communications Officer at Bacardi
Worldwise: Bacardi Senior Executive K.C. Kavanagh’s Favorite Things
By Fang Block June 12, 2019
If I were to buy a piece of art, it would be by... New York artist Jennifer de Klaver. Her work is a hybrid form of abstract expressionism with a gradation of blacks, blues, and white, which seem inspired by the dramatic ocean near where she lives and works. I have visited her gorgeous studio in a former commercial garage on the East End of Long Island and the artist is as intriguing as the art itself. She is not a painter by training but worked as a creative director for companies like Target and West Elm. She had the courage to make a career pivot to pursue her passion for art and within just a few years had her first exhibition at Sotheby’s.
K.C. Kavanagh was a veteran senior executive at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, responsible for developing integrated campaigns for the hotel giant and its 11 brands, when it was acquired by Marriott International in September 2016.
For the next chapter of her life, she was presented with two opportunities, one with a Fortune 100 tech company in San Francisco, and the other with Bacardi, the world’s largest family-owned spirits company that was founded in 1862 in Cuba and is now headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
“One of my favorite ex-CEOs gave me great advice when I was choosing between two new jobs: Always take the job that is going to be the most fun,” Kavanagh says.
“Life can get heavy and stressful, and I truly believe that laughter and fun and great times—even and especially at work—are moments that matter. ” —K.C. Kavanagh
“I decided to go with my gut,” she says. “Life can get heavy and stressful, and I truly believe that laughter and fun and great times—even and especially at work—are moments that matter.”
That, of course, resonates with Bacardi, whose mission is to bring people together to celebrate the moment that matters.
So, in the fall of 2016, Kavanagh joined Bacardi, as a senior vice president and chief communications officer, overseeing both the global and internal communications for the company’s 200 brands and labels—including Bacardi, Havana Club, Grey Goose, Patrón, Bombay Sapphire, and Martini & Rossi.
Her job necessitates spending a lot of time in bars and restaurants, building relationships with bartenders, owners, and customers. “Ironically, working for a spirits company has made me drink less or on occasions not drink at all, but drink better and smarter,” Kavanagh says.
Kavanagh, 50, grew up in Chicago and worked many summers as a lifeguard around Lake Michigan. Now living in Bermuda, she enjoys spending time at the beach with her family, boating or snorkeling. She shares with Penta a few of her favorite things.
My favorite neighborhood in the world is... the Gold Coast neighborhood in Chicago. The shopping on Michigan Avenue rivals any high street in the world and there are buzzy restaurants at every turn. If you’re lucky enough to visit Chicago in the summer, do not miss a run along the lakefront followed by an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River and then a lazy afternoon lounging on Oak Street Beach with the city’s stunning skyscrapers as your backdrop.
The one thing in my kitchen I can’t live without is... my simple citrus squeezer, which brings me irrational joy. Lemon juice is my go-to for marinades and salad dressings, and of course, I need to squeeze lots of limes for my two favorite cocktails, an Original Bacardi daiquiri and a Patrón tequila paloma —they always impress and are both delicious and refreshing drinks for summer parties and barbecues.
If I were to buy a piece of art, it would be by... New York artist Jennifer de Klaver. Her work is a hybrid form of abstract expressionism with a gradation of blacks, blues, and white, which seem inspired by the dramatic ocean near where she lives and works. I have visited her gorgeous studio in a former commercial garage on the East End of Long Island and the artist is as intriguing as the art itself. She is not a painter by training but worked as a creative director for companies like Target and West Elm. She had the courage to make a career pivot to pursue her passion for art and within just a few years had her first exhibition at Sotheby’s.
The best book I’ve read in the last year is... Bowling Alone by Harvard University professor Robert Putnam. The book uses the demise of bowling leagues—despite the fact that more people are bowling than ever—as an example of growing apathy for civic and social life in America. And it’s not just bowling—bridge clubs, PTAs, VFWs, charity leagues have all seen a drastic decline in participation. The book is ever relevant, as we think about today’s “crisis of connection” as more people spend more time alone and less time socializing than any time in modern history. It also predicts the polarization of our society today, because social and civic clubs were “neutral ground” for people of different politics and world views.
A passion of mine that few people know about is... living in Bermuda, I have become much more sensitive to the perils of plastics in our oceans. My kids and I stroll the beach each night and usually fill at least one large garbage bag of random plastics. At Bacardi, we have a relationship with Lonely Whale that is an incubator for new ideas to drive change and protect our oceans. They have inspired my family and I to make small changes to eliminate single-use plastics in our day-to-day life.
The one trip I've taken that I would love to do again... the legendary Cala di Volpe hotel in Sardinia, Italy. The resort was built in the 1960s by the Aga Khan to entertain his friends as they yachted through the Mediterranean each summer. Although it is a hot spot for European jet setters and royalty, there is not a trace of glitz or gold. It is the perfect blend of understated luxury, charm, and beachy glamour that lets the gorgeous beaches, mountains, and impeccable fresh food take center stage.
The next destination on my travel itinerary is... South Africa. Next month, the Global Leadership Team from Bacardi will do two days of safari at Kruger National Park followed by several days of meetings in Cape Town—so a hybrid of work, pleasure, and team building.
The thing that gets me up in the morning is... a morning run. My routine rarely varies—wake up by 5 a.m., pour a quick cup of coffee, and hit the road for a run with my dog Lucy. Two years ago, I committed to a daily one-mile running streak. It’s a perfect goal—even if it’s a travel day or I’m slammed with meetings or I just wake up feeling groggy, I can always muster a mile. The beauty of setting this sort of goal is that over time it “normalizes” exercise. This summer I plan to up my goal to 5K per day to see if that “tricks” me to increase my total weekly mileage.
The restaurant in my hometown that I love to take a visitor is... the Pink Beach Club at the Loren Hotel, which is just down the road from our house. It overlooks the you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it turquoise water on Bermuda’s beautiful South Shore in a perfect beach chic open air dining room with lots of rattan, sisal, and candles. The cocktails and food are divine, and it is the perfect kickstart to a glorious beach getaway.
A person who inspired me to do what I do is... my father. One year, in my early teens, he gave me Peggy Noonan’s memoir about her time working with Ronald Reagan as his speech writer. My dad was not a fan of President Reagan, but he thought Peggy was brilliant. Because I was a teenager, I rolled my eyes and tossed the book aside. But somewhere it must have stuck in my mind and to this day I love speechwriting and bringing people’s stories to life.
If I could have a drink with anybody, anywhere, it would be... I just binge watched the final season of Veep on a long flight home from Shanghai and I literally cried at the end— don’t know what I am going to do without President Selina Meyer and her band of madcap misfits. So, at this very moment I would adore to have drinks with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Aside from being the funniest person on the planet, she seems like a great mom and wife. She also strikes me as kind of swanky, so I’d invite her to the legendary King Cole Bar in New York City for a classic Grey Goose martini or two (but never three!).