Overview
Kate Carman is a strategy and change leader with two decades of experience guiding executives, teams, and organizations through pivotal transitions. Her work spans leadership development, organizational design, and enterprise-level transformation, with a focus on aligning strategy, talent, and culture in high-stakes environments. She has worked across sectors, from Fortune 500s and federal agencies to startups and social impact organizations, helping clients navigate complexity, sharpen focus, and move forward with intention.

Approach
Kate is known for combining structured frameworks with deep contextual awareness. She integrates neuroscience, systems thinking, and narrative tools to surface patterns, clarify priorities, and enable strategic decisions. Her coaching and advisory work has supported CEOs, senior leaders, and emerging talent alike. She has helped scale consultancies, prepare founders for succession, and design coaching programs that improve leadership performance by 20 to 30 percent. Whether guiding a national strategy for a major federal infrastructure initiative or modernizing COVID protocols for a 700-person utility, Kate brings a grounded, forward-looking approach.

Experience
Prior to founding Ochre Way, Kate held senior roles at Korn Ferry and Sapere Consulting. She led multimillion dollar leadership initiatives, developed global programs for senior executives, and launched new service areas to expand market reach. Earlier in her career, she directed sustainability campaigns and helped transition her family ranch into one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading grass-fed beef operations. She began her career at Human Rights Watch, working alongside Nobel Peace Prize recipients, where she gained early exposure to the complexity and impact of large-scale change initiatives.

Education
Kate holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment, where she focused on green business and innovation, and an undergraduate degree in English and Political Science from Oregon State University. She is certified in Brain-Based Coaching through the NeuroLeadership Institute, Prosci Change Management, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architecture.