KB Collaborative Impact

Humanity • Optimism • Pragmatism • Exploration

KBCI has leveraged practice-based evidence to create a highly effective model for organizational development. Change with a focus on humanity, optimism, pragmatism and exploration.

About

Katherine

KBCI founder, Katherine Burke, brings a focus on delivering results and cultivating people for success. She holds a unique combination of analytic skills, strategic vision, practicality, and an innate ability to connect with people and build trust. Katherine’s substantive focuses have included: U.S. federal and state advocacy strategy; affordable housing; humanitarian aid; forced displacement; refugee resettlement; and asylum.

Katherine brings over two decades of experience working with purpose-driven organizations that span from local to global.

At the International Rescue Committee, Katherine led strategy, planning and operations for the global policy and advocacy teams. She designed and facilitated global cross-organizational retreats, guided complex restructures, and worked with team members to establish effective ways of working and open new channels of communication.

At the U.S. Department of State, Katherine established a new department as part of a tiger team to redesign aid policy, and developed tools, processes and ways of working for the Office of the Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator.

During her tenure at the Community Preservation and Development Corporation, Katherine designed and led complex multi-stakeholder housing initiatives.

Katherine has led many impactful community and social initiatives in Washington, DC and DC Public Schools.

With an MBA and Master of Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina, a Public Policy bachelor’s degree from Duke University, and ongoing study in diversity, equity and inclusion, strategic planning, change management and project management techniques, Katherine is well-equipped to tackle a wide variety of organizational challenges. Katherine relentlessly seeks to learn new content and skills, and is always willing to roll up her sleeves and dig into any challenge in need of a solution.

When she’s not working toward organizational success for her clients, Katherine can be found bicycling on the streets of Washington, D.C., battling weeds in her garden, or enjoying time with her four amazing children, energetic dog, and feisty cat.

Katherine Burke, KBCI

Case Study: growing company seeks strategy refresh and leadership team realignment

minimal commitment. tangible results.

This case study highlights a successful recent engagement with a growing organization of about 300 employees. The 5-person leadership team was navigating leadership transitions, communication challenges, and strategic misalignment. The organization sought to retain the strong sense of accountability present on their leadership team while reducing friction and enhancing their overall effectiveness. Over a three-month period, KB Collaborative Impact helped this client refresh their strategy, realign their leadership team, and build a strong foundation for growth.

Approach

  • Develop deep understanding and build trust:
    • Conducted individual interviews with leadership team members and their direct reports to build trust and ensure and open and honest process.
    • Evaluated organizational structure, job titles, and role clarity.
    • Launched a 360° review process to inform personal development.
    • Analyzed existing workflows, tools, processes, and norms to identify communication gaps and opportunities.
    • Reviewed strategic plans and individual leader priorities and goals to identify points of misalignment or confusion.
    • Evaluated personality assessments to better understand team dynamics, talent gaps and strengths, and likely tensions across team members.
  • Design and facilitate collaborative planning sessions:
    • Analyzed outcomes of individual interviews, personality assessments and existing plans to design a comprehensive leadership retreat.
    • Facilitated a series of retreat meetings focused on establishing a shared vision, agreeing strategic priorities, clarifying roles, and defining communication expectations.

Outcomes and Impact

  • Strategic Clarity:
    • Redefined the organization’s mission to reflect its current reality and goals.
    • Developed an updated set of priorities and internal goals.
    • Re-aligned roles and individual work plans to support updated strategic plans.
  • Streamlined Communications:
    • Designed a comprehensive internal communications plan, including:
      • a refreshed set of standing meetings
      • the rollout of a digital collaboration platform
      • updated communications expectations.
  • Long-Term Success:
    • Produced a one-year action plan with clear objectives and tactics.
    • Recommended approaches to fill capacity and systems gaps.

Leadership Team Transformation

  • Leadership Team View: The team reported significantly increased clarity around organizational direction, individual roles, responsibilities, decision-making, and team communication approaches. Team members felt increased trust in one another and a sense of relief due to clearer role definition.
  • CEO Perspective: The engagement provided immense value to the organization and resulted in a more self-directed, collaborative leadership team. Communication shifts resulting from this engagement have subsequently been rolled out to the entire organization, and the action plan developed by KB Collaborative Impact was used as the basis for follow-on organization-wide strategic planning efforts.

KBCI’s guiding principles

ensuring our work leads to your success

ensuring our work leads to your success

Humanity

Any successful organizational change must begin and end with its people. We ground our work in humanity and bring staff into our process to reach the most effective and sustainable change outcomes.

Optimism

No organization or individual can grow and improve without a firm belief that better is possible. KBCI brings an attitude of possibility – seeing the potential in your organization and aiming high to exceed it.

Pragmatism

Katherine believes in setting ambitious goals while developing clear implementation plans that are feasible in today’s reality and flexible enough to meet the tests of time.

Exploration

Every organization is distinct and requires a unique approach. Before KBCI develops solutions and action plans, we will listen and explore all of the nuances of your organization, its needs, and potential pathways forward. We are eager to learn new substantive content – diving into your organization’s areas of work to serve you most effectively.

Learn more about what KBCI can do for you.