Kate Stewart, PhD, has 25 years experience helping organizations develop, evaluate, and implement strategic plans and processes. Her work focuses on transforming threat into opportunity by leveraging organizational collaborative strengths.

She brings to her work a comprehensive, systems-based perspective and proven methodologies to build unified, high-performing organizations. She excels at partnering with leaders to better align processes and culture with organizational goals.

Kate's credentials include organizational development consultant, executive coach, certified mediator, author, conflict resolution expert, and trainer. Prior to founding Iron Scaffold, Kate was VP at Chorda Conflict Management, Inc., a leading global conflict resolution systems design firm. Her management experience spans diverse industries and geographical locations. She has taught in leading MBA programs in the United States and Mexico. 

Kate holds a PhD in interpersonal/organizational communication, an MBA, and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, as well as a BA in cultural anthropology from The University of Florida. She is author of Storied Conflict Talk: Narrative Construction in Mediation, released in April, 2010 by John Benjamins Press (with M. Maxwell). Another book, Goal Scaffolding: Use Skillpower, Not Willpower to Accomplish Any Goal, is also scheduled for publication in 2010.

In addition to consulting support, Kate provides presentations, workshops and seminars to professional audiences. She has trained corporate groups from five to several hundred participants and seminars from one to 40 hours, including 20-hour certification courses for the Society for Human Resource Management.