I met Kate in December 2019 (pre-covid, relaxing in person at a coffee shop!); we were connecting to work on a model for Hive facilitator development. I was struck by her self-assurance and self-disclosure, anchored by a notable wealth of competence and experience.

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!