Kate Harper, Executive Coaching and Leadership Development: Bio

Kate Harper, MS, PCC

Professional Certified Executive Coach
Master Certified Inspired Learning Facilitator
Expert in Leadership and Team Development
Background in International Business and Distributed Organizations
Former Innovative Senior Leader in Technology Industry

I am a leadership development expert and executive coach committed to helping leaders and teams gain the perspective, confidence, and skills they need to lead effectively. I excel at creating a compelling space for inner shifts that lead to new insight, new behaviors, and results. Clients remark on my ability to quickly get at what is most important while tapping each person’s unique abilities. With hands-on business experience with a passion for people my work is practical and powerful.

Professional Experience

For more than 20 years I have been working with leaders and teams to achieve their business and organizational objectives while fully expressing their individual and collective strengths. I have a broad background in executive and leadership development, emerging leaders, global distributed work teams, and high performance leadership teams.

I started my professional life with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in computer science. Soon I was leading large global software development projects for Apollo Computer and Hewlett-Packard. Following my work at H-P, I helped found Peritus Software Services where we created a unique teaming methodology with guaranteed productivity improvements that was sold and implemented around the world and is still in use today. I was part of the leadership team that grew the company from 5 to 500 people with a successful IPO. Following Peritus I was director of development at NetAge, world experts in virtual teams, delivering innovative methodology and tools for global distributed teams. Our pioneering work with Shell Chemicals Global Finance team was featured in the Harvard Business Review.

Since 2002 I have been coaching and developing leaders as the principal of my own business.

Learning and Education

I hold a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College, a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois, and a certificate from Le Cordon Bleu London Culinary Institute. I am a Professional Certified Coach and member of the International Coach Federation, a graduate of the Masters Coaching Program through Coach For Life, and a Master Certified Inspired Learning Facilitator and founding member of the nonprofit Foundation for Inspired Learning.

Personal Background

I live in Groton MA with my husband, two daughters and two dogs. I practice mindfulness meditation and yoga, love to dance, sing, travel, cook and eat great food. I love sharing great food with great friends. I am on the board of the Wingprint Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports women to make a difference, and a faculty member of The Magic Parties, Inc where I teach workshops on living with passion and purpose. My passion and purpose: inspiring those who inspire others.

Read more about me in my personal story.