Overview
Kate Carman is a strategy and change leader with more than fifteen years of experience guiding executives, teams, and organizations through pivotal transitions. Her work spans leadership development, organizational alignment, and enterprise transformation. She focuses on clarifying strategy, strengthening communication, and aligning people and structures so leaders can navigate complexity and move forward with purpose. Kate has supported clients across sectors including Fortune 500 companies, federal agencies, regional governments, startups, and mission-driven organizations.

Approach
Kate is known for combining structured frameworks with the ability to read context and surface what matters. She integrates neuroscience, systems thinking, qualitative research methods, and narrative tools to identify patterns, clarify priorities, and support effective decision-making. Her coaching and advisory work has supported senior executives and emerging leaders through succession, strategic shifts, and rapid organizational change. She has designed and delivered leadership programs, guided multi-agency initiatives, and helped organizations strengthen communication and alignment in high-stakes environments.

Experience
Before founding Ochre Way, Kate held senior roles at Korn Ferry and Sapere Consulting, where she led large-scale leadership initiatives, developed programs for global executives, and helped expand emerging service areas. Earlier in her career, she worked in sustainability and organizational development, including helping transition her family’s ranch into a leading grass-fed beef operation in the Pacific Northwest. She began her career at Human Rights Watch, supporting a team of advocates recently recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize, where she received formative mentorship in the complexity of global systems change and its profound life-changing and life-saving impact.

Education
Kate holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of the Environment, where she focused on green business, innovation, and environmental history. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from Oregon State University, where she was the inaugural recipient of the College of Liberal Arts Award for Leadership in Social Change. She is certified in Brain-Based Coaching through the NeuroLeadership Institute, Prosci Change Management, and Korn Ferry Leadership Architecture.