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Bio:
Kate is a highly effective consultant and coach who has achieved significant success in the technology industry. She is a dynamic individual and extremely knowledgeable in the areas of project management, general management, strategy development, information technology, leadership development and team building. Before establishing a State of Texas certified Historically Underutilized Business [HUB] in the consulting arena, Kate had acquired over 20 years of experience with large corporations [IBM, Dell Computer, American Management Systems and Allied Signal.] Before launching her own company, Kate was the Texas State Executive for American Management Systems, a public-sector focused systems integrator. There, she was responsible for the market development and project delivery of all public sector business for Texas state and local clients. Previously, she held executive positions with Dell in Public Sector Marketing and Global Services, and with IBM. During her 15 years at IBM, her wide-ranging responsibilities and accomplishments included introducing innovative server solutions for small businesses globally and cutting-edge Internet strategies. She completed a Master's Program from George Washington University, and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (magna cum laude) from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. She received global management and business administration training from the Thunderbird School of International Management and the Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute. She acquired formal computer science training from the University of Houston and internally from the IBM Corporation. She was also a Teaching Fellow and Faculty Advisor in the Doctoral Program at the University of Pennsylvania and a Fulbright-Hays Scholar at the University of Augsburg, West Germany. Kate is a frequent public speaker and is a certified Project Management Professional [PMP]. She is also an alumnus of Leadership Texas 2002.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Kate contributed as a volunteer to the eGovernment subcommittee of the State of Texas ?eTexas? efforts in the 77th Legislative Session assisting the State Comptroller and the State CIO. More recently, she actively contributed to Texas? efforts to lead and set the standard for the nation in Homeland Security. In 2002 and 2003, she was the vendor project manager for Cyber Terrorism and Bio-Terrorism efforts piloted by the State of Texas as major Homeland Security initiatives. She also coordinated her efforts with those of the City of San Antonio during their ?Dark Screen? cyber terrorism effort in 2002 and 2003.
Community involvement:
Active Volunteer for Mobile Loaves & Fishes ? a non-profit organization that cares for the homeless.
Person most admired:
Difficult Question:
a. Mother Teresa ? for her incredible strength and perseverance in the help of others.
b. Abraham Lincoln ? for his incredible strength and perseverance that led to a historic change of our country?s culture and diversity acceptance.
c. All the powerful women who went before me to build an enterprise and to demonstrate impeccable integrity in the process.
Favorite book:
I am an avid reader and have no single favorite book. I have a stack of them.
Steven Covey, Peter Drucker, Jack Welch, Michael Porter, J Collins and others have shaped my thinking about business.
What I enjoy most about my work:
You need to pursue a path that maps to your intrinsic talents. I am an entrepreneur by brain topology. I have tested out as an entrepreneur every time. So I enjoy my work because it fulfills my potential. I love to build, create, innovate, collaborate and produce results. Entrepreneurship is the only arena to do all that and not be weighted down by mindless corporate B.S.
Greatest accomplishment:
Mastering 20 years of corporate success so that I had the knowledge, breadth of experience and relationships to go out on my own.
Greatest challenge:
Two challenges compete for first place:
(1) Managing cash flow as a startup where costs are immediate and revenue follows.
(2) Balancing business development and project delivery as a consulting firm.
Advances I envision in my field over the next 10 years:
More improvements in technology to bolster productivity for small businesses.
More of an equal level playing field for women-owned businesses.
Strategies to maintain balance in my life:
Ruthless time management and prioritization. Otherwise, you are overwhelmed, spin out of control and deplete yourself and your closest relationships.
Advice for emerging entrepreneurs:
Look before you leap! Many folks believe that they are ?ready?, but indeed they are not.
You have to have many of the critically proven success factors for entrepreneurship as well as a base of experience. It?s not a cop-out for lacking corporate savvy and skills.
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