Kate Payne

Kate Payne is an executive coach and trusted advisor to senior leaders and teams, helping them elevate their skills and activate their confidence to achieve breakthrough results. With over 25 years of experience coaching hundreds of executives–one-on-one and in groups–she transforms capable professionals into inspiring leaders that others want to follow.

Respected for her smart, practical and authentic style, Kate is described by her clients as a “motivator, truth-teller and game-changer”. As one CEO recently shared, “Kate changed my life. I never imagined I could enjoy and excel in this role the way I do now”.

Kate works with C-suite executives, high-potential leaders and teams across industries, ranging from bioscience to Broadway and finance to fashion. She brings deep expertise in leadership development but also the business acumen to help clients navigate complexity.

A sampling of her client work includes; NBCUniversal, McKinsey and Company, Titleist, CLEAR, SmartBear, United Natural Foods, Acushnet, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, CBS Sports and Patomak Global Partners and Rue-Gilt Group.

Her impact is measurable: clients exceed expectations in new roles, earn promotions within six months to a year, dramatically increase team engagement scores and successfully navigate major professional transitions. She even turns coaching skeptics into believers.

Blending business strategy with psychology, Kate listens with intention and empathy to help her clients clarify core issues, envision outcomes, remove obstacles (real and perceived) and accelerate their growth. Her work not only transforms careers but also creates a gateway to a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Leaders partner with Kate to:
Refine their communication style and exhibit behavioral agility
Enhance executive presence and influence
Strengthen relationships with key stakeholders
Unleash team potential
Create cultures of high engagement and accountability
Maximize both impact and career fulfillment

Kate didn’t parachute into coaching – she built her career mastering the mindsets, behaviors and strategies of the most successful leaders. A cum laude graduate of Middlebury College, she earned an advanced degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Clemson University. She then honed her expertise as a management consultant and head of talent at some of the world’s most dynamic companies such as Accenture, Fast Company Magazine, Proteus International and Disney Stores of North America. Kate has traveled around the world delivering leadership programs and has partnered with her clients through nearly every workplace challenge, from inside the C-Suite to the frontline operations. Extensively trained through the Coaches Training Institute, Kate is certified in numerous personality and behavioral assessments.

Outside of work Kate is an “everyday” health enthusiast with a passion for hosting and creating memorable gatherings. She serves on education boards, coaches youth lacrosse, and, above all, loves spending time with her husband, three teenagers, and two high maintenance dogs at their home outside Boston or in the mountains of Maine.