Kathleen Curran

I have been a global leadership and talent development specialist and an equitable ecosystem transformation specialist for 30+ years. Originally from the US, I have lived and worked internationally for over two decades. Throughout my career in global business leadership development and strategy, I have partnered closely with leaders in Global 500 organisations as well as local enterprises, designing, facilitating, and coaching to facilitate individual and organisational global mindset, high-performance and goal achievement in multicultural contexts, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, global corporate purpose and strategy and functional operations alignment, and distributed team and leadership alignment, all with the aim of closing the strategy and execution gap. In particular, my leadership development experience includes BP, FedEx, Hewlett-Packard, ExxonMobil, Credit Suisse, Olam Int’l, Alstom, NXP, SPX, Johnson Space Center/NASA, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, International Flavors and Fragrances, Discovery Channel-Asia, Cemex, Nidec, Cisco and Salesforce. My coaching, facilitation, and consulting spans industries and levels of leaders - from emerging/early career leaders to those transitioning to new/senior roles, to C-Suite leaders. For approximately 2 years, I was Business Director and Consultant, APAC, for a Leadership Coaching corporation, building new and existing clients and developing analytical tools and methods to measure effectiveness of our inclusive leadership initiatives. Since returning to the US in 2017, I have been an adjunct professor in the University of Houston Downtown MBA program, teaching leadership, business ethics, and strategic communication.

I love Vision shaping, Global talent and leadership development, Staying relevant amid global complexity, and Strategy coaching for global leaders. Therefore, I love to work with leaders at all levels at the intersection of leadership, global competency development, and strategy. This leads to my most favorite question I ask clients: Are you a global organisation with HQ in the US or are you a US company operating globally? The answer doesn’t matter as much as the clarity of strategy, mindset, alignment and direction, leadership practices, processes and outcomes that just chewing on the question reveals! I love working with leaders, teams, and organisations who want to develop ethical, high impact, future-readiness with self-awareness and ability to lead learning-oriented, collaborative, global high performing teams. I am switched on by helping to expand their capacity + capability to be truly global leaders, teams, and enterprises.

My work is underpinned by a blend of methodologies, theoretical frameworks, and philosophies that collectively shape my approach to leadership development: Firstly, I draw upon Kegan's Constructive Developmental Theory of Adult Development, which provides insights into how individuals evolve and grow throughout their lives. I also incorporate the GrowthEdge coaching process developed by Garvey-Berger, which is enbedded in Kegan's work and emphasises personal and professional growth. Systems thinking guides my understanding of the interconnectedness and complexity of organisational dynamics, helping me to design holistic and effective leadership interventions. Furthermore, I integrate Dweck's concept of Growth Mindset, which fosters a belief in the potential for growth and learning, both individually and organisationally. A fundamental pillar of my work is Global Strategy, inspired by Govindarajan and Wang's model of dimensions of global strategy. This model underscores the importance of understanding global dynamics, including presence, supply, capital, and mindset, in shaping organisational success in an interconnected world. Central to my philosophy is the recognition that mindset plays a pivotal role in shaping individual and organisational behaviors, perspectives, and values. By fostering a global mindset, I empower leaders and teams to navigate diverse environments, leverage global resources, and drive sustainable growth and innovation.

I choose to work with LIW because it embodies qualities that resonate deeply with me: high quality, innovative, cutting-edge, and fun. At LIW, I've found a supportive community who share a sense of pride and belonging. Every interaction with LIW, whether it's a conversation, an opportunity, or a connection, inspires me and provokes new insights. We are continually learning and growing in this vibrant environment. LIW's commitment to bringing out the best in everyone aligns perfectly with my values. As I engage with LIW's ethos, we are empowered to become a source of inspiration, cascading the best to others and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

I'm known for accepting individuals as they are, fostering an environment of inclusivity and acceptance. My passion and high energy are often described as contagious, inspiring others to fully engage in the learning process. My participants would likely describe me as a "global spider with an edge" because I thrive on connection, community, and caring. One participant mentioned that I have the ability to transform a "vanilla program into a double fudge nut crunch experience," indicating my knack for making learning engaging and memorable.