Kate was my mentor and leadership coach. I will always- present tense included – consider her a mentor extraordinaire who rocks.

What impact has Kate had on you?

Kate had a profound impact on my life. She nudged me into the dark corners of myself in the name of self-discovery, efficacy, and empowerment… and at the same time she presented doors for me to go through and explore. She not only listened to the broad range of social, behavioral, and organizational roadblocks that I had (or perceived,) but she also gave me insight into each of these facets…all the while calmly helping me unpack each one, in a judgement-free, ultra safe zone.

What is unique about the way Kate works?

It is difficult to “articulate Kate” without using a series of analogies. As a mentor, She is Balance, personified. She is pristinely unassuming and deeply impactful at the same time. She can be a tour de force, or very subtle. I say “subtle” because she has such an organic gift for guiding others, but without all the hype and ego.

Her coaching carries you along with a sense of confidence and hope, as though you are on a ship or a plane. The incremental forward motion is so significant, you don’t feel the velocity until bam, you realize you’ve traveled 1000 miles and crossed 15 “states.”

What would you say to someone who is considering working with Kate?

The hours I had with Kate were priceless. Many people say they want to get from point A to point C, but remain stuck. Many mentors just shout out “you got this!”

Then, there is Kate, who fiercely equips you with tools that guide you through manageable, actionable steps. She helped me construct a dream from bits and pieces and bring it to whole fruition.

Kate is a true ally, a remarkable coach and mentor.

The communication we had prior was excellent and clear. Kate followed through on all requests and was truly amazing to work with on booking. Kate is an excellent listener and really wanted to know about our audience and their needs. We attributed Kate’s gifts to the great success of our event!

I’d hire Kate again in a heartbeat!

Earlier this year we again connected as part of a team planning a Brené Brown event for Ellevate, a women’s networking group, and again she demonstrated command and vulnerability in corralling our diverse panel. (Unfortunately that event WAS postponed indefinitely by the pandemic!)

This fall I have had the pleasure of taking an online class that Kate was offering at the Hive, on White Fragility — not a book study, though the book provided a jumping off point. I have admired Kate’s ability to create a brave space to stimulate open sharing, discussion, and sometimes intense dissent. I had the sense of being on a boat — the waves could get rougher and the sky darker as our group dug deep and got raw, but she could nevertheless adjust the sails and somehow make the wind die down for us to drop anchor and settle down to process and reflect. The balance of safety and risk, the combination of head and heart, the encouragement to connect with our bodies — all of these are what Kate brings to her interactions, and I’m grateful for our acquaintance and hope we have many more opportunities to connect and collaborate in the future!

Kate was my mentor that I met through the YMCA Bridging The Gap Mentorship program. Throughout the year-long mentorship, we first identified a goal to work towards and then met regularly to proactively work towards it through discussion and exercises. My goals developed over time as I did not have a clear idea in mind, however, Kate was flexible and patient enough to work through this with me. During our mentorship, she also helped me navigate managing a team of 20+ employees as a first-time Supervisor. On our last meeting, I remember feeling that we had come full circle as I had recently graduated college at 33 years old and was ready to move on to the next phase which was getting the job I wanted for Los Angeles City Council. Both were goals that we had set out to achieve. And yes, I did get the job!

What impact has Kate had on you?

The impact Kate had (and continues to have) in my life goes beyond words but I will make an attempt. Through her guidance as my mentor, she helped me identify my strengths as an individual so that I could then focus on using those strengths in the workplace and in my personal life. She has become a guiding voice in my head, always recalling her words of wisdom. Because of her, I have become a person who strives to be intentional and present in all endeavors. She taught me about owning my voice and my power, as a woman.

What is unique about the way Kate works?

Kate allows you to discover yourself and come to your own answers by posing questions that invite discussion, exploration, and introspection. She is a powerful woman in the most gentle of ways. She is always prepared and organized with a plan. She is clear, concise, and thorough with her words.

What would you say to someone who is considering working with Kate?

DO IT. Kate leaves an everlasting impact on anyone who has the good fortune to experience her. She will leave you better than she found you.