Kathy Gersch has been with Kotter since the beginning of the firm and worn many hats, each building on the last. As Chief Marketing Officer, she helped sharpen the firm’s brand and elevate its global profile. As Chief Growth Officer, she deepened client relationships and fueled expansion. And as Chief Commercial Officer, she united strategy and sales to drive smarter, more connected growth and delivery for customers across the business.
Now, as Kotter’s newly appointed President, Kathy steps fully into a role that reflects both her legacy and Kotter’s vision for the future. She’ll lead the firm into its next chapter, guiding strategy and operations, scaling impact, deepening client partnerships, and helping organizations lead through change with confidence.
A Look at the Past: From Sketch to Movement
Before looking ahead to what comes next, it’s worth looking back at where it all began. In 2008, Dr. John Kotter and Kathy Gersch sat down to map out a bold vision for the future, one rooted in Dr. Kotter’s research and , and aimed squarely at a single, powerful vision: Millions Leading, Billions Benefiting.
Together, they imagined a broad ecosystem: not just consulting and training, but a foundation, a Kotter Prize, a creative studio, and other innovative ways to bring Dr. Kotter’s work to life.
Kathy sheds some light on the founding days: “We envisioned ways we could drive impact with John’s research and the brand, well beyond consulting. We had this little piece of paper that still gets pulled out and circulated sometimes, which I hand-drew and worked on with John.”
Nearly two decades later, that rough sketch has evolved into one of the most respected consulting and training firms in the world. While Kathy remains focused on the future, she’s energized by revisiting that original vision, asking what still holds true and what’s newly possible.
“I like to pull that original drawing back out and rethink it sometimes, because we never intended to drive impact in just one way.”
Kathy Gersch, Kotter President
“I like to pull that original drawing back out and rethink it sometimes, because we never intended to drive impact in just one way. It was never just about consulting or even training. We’ve always aimed to reach people through multiple paths; to build something lasting, something that evolves and continues to drive impact well beyond our founding.
John used to talk about building a brand that lasts five generations. Whether it’s five or more, that idea stuck with me. It’s a powerful challenge: How do you build beyond a personal brand into something that can endure and grow? It takes real strategy and intentionality.
And that’s part of what makes this moment so exciting. We’re at a true inflection point. We’ve built something strong, and now the question is: how do we accelerate? The world is asking, How do I lead through uncertainty? How do I keep growing? We’re in a position to help answer that, and to expand our reach, our services, and the evolution of our research to meet what’s next.”
A Leadership Style Grounded in Accessibility and Empowerment
Though Kathy has always played a leadership role at Kotter, her new title places that responsibility front and center. It’s a natural fit, especially given Kotter’s deep focus on leadership development. Kathy’s own approach centers on connection and accessibility, whether working in-person or remotely.
“I’ve always believed in being accessible, being someone you can just walk up to and talk to. That’s harder in a remote world, but I’m working on finding ways to make sure people still feel that same ease and connection.”
When discussing her overall leadership style, Kathy leans heavily into the idea of creating leadership at all levels: “It’s a balance: you want people to feel supported, but also free to lead. I try to offer guidance and stay available, without ever making someone feel like they’ve been thrown into the deep end without a life raft.”
Even before becoming President, this leadership style helped Kathy cultivate a team of thoughtful, experienced professionals—each bringing a unique perspective to the firm and its clients. It’s also this team that continues to shape and strengthen her own leadership.
When discussing Kotter’s Head of Consulting, Dr. Vanessa Akhtar, Kathy highlights her deep connection with her team and clear, consistent focus on driving client success: “Vanessa strikes a great balance between maintaining strong relationships with her team and leading them forward. She’s accessible and supportive, but also clear and intentional about driving progress. That ability to lead while staying deeply connected is something she does really well.”
Turning to Kotter’s Head of EMEA, Nick Petschek, she says: “Nick continues to innovate in how we deliver A-plus service across regions, adapting our approach to different audiences and cultural contexts. He’s really leading the way in that effort.”
In Kotter’s Head of Research and Development, Gaurav Gupta, Kathy finds inspiration in
“his ability to ask really insightful questions—the kind that push our thinking and challenge us to see things from new angles. He does this not just with his direct reports, but across the team. It’s never about being contrarian for the sake of it—he’s genuinely curious and committed to helping us grow as an organization. That kind of outside-in thinking is incredibly powerful.”
Kathy’s appreciation for the Kotter team extends throughout the organization. While she notes that she can’t highlight everyone, she singles out two individuals for their recent impact: Laurin Parthemos, Senior Manager of Business Development and Lead for the Public Sector, and Leslie Zemnick, Principal and Head of Kotter’s Partnership Program.
“When I look at a leader like Laurin, she’s navigating an almost unprecedented level of uncertainty in her market—and yet she’s leaned in, continued to develop within that space, and taken on leadership in other parts of the firm as well.
And Leslie—I really admire the energy, enthusiasm, and connectivity she brings to our partners. She’s raising our profile in global markets and representing the firm with a real sense of presence and purpose.”
Facing the Future: Uncertainty, Action, and Evolution
As Kathy reflects on the past and looks toward the future, one truth is clear: she’s here because of how she’s shown up—her mindset, her clarity, and her willingness to lead through ambiguity. And that skill has never been more relevant. Today’s leaders aren’t facing a single, seismic shift. They’re navigating constant, compounding uncertainty.
“It’s no longer just one big transformation. Increasingly, we’re hearing leaders say, ‘I don’t know how to manage all that’s coming at us, or how to help my people through it.’”
So how does she lead through that? For Kathy, it comes down to direction over certainty, and movement over paralysis.
“When you’re in rough waters, the worst thing a ship can do is drop anchor.”
Kathy Gersch, Kotter President
“In times of uncertainty, leaders can’t afford to freeze or retreat. When you’re in rough waters, the worst thing a ship can do is drop anchor. That’s how it gets crushed. Instead, you need to find a way to keep steering. You may not be able to see five years out clearly, and you won’t scenario-plan your way to certainty, but you can start moving in the right direction. The key is creating the ability—both in yourself and in your organization—to navigate uncertainty with flexibility and focus.
That means understanding your North Star and staying true to it, while also being willing to shift course slightly when needed. It won’t be a perfect straight line, and expecting that is no longer realistic. But if you keep adjusting and steering, you’ll eventually be able to look back and see the path you charted. Even if it was winding.”
She brings that mindset into her own leadership, leading with momentum rather than hesitation. “I tend to move quickly to, Okay, this is what it is, so what’s the best path forward? That doesn’t mean I don’t want to learn from what happened. But, I don’t dwell. If I’ve broken my ankle, I’m not spending energy wishing I hadn’t. I’m figuring out how to move forward with it.”
It’s a mindset Kathy sees becoming essential across the organizations Kotter serves, and one the firm is actively helping leaders adopt.
“If you just rest in the water, you’re going to drown. It’s not enough to survive the sea of change—you have to learn to ride the wave and move in a positive direction. That’s the shift we’re seeing in how leaders are feeling, and why they’re turning to us in new ways. It’s no longer just, ‘I have an SAP implementation.’ It’s, ‘How do I help my people navigate all of this?’ We’ve evolved what we offer to meet that need: that’s exactly why we created the Leading Through Uncertainty course and supporting consulting services. It’s about helping clients navigate not just one change, but the constant wave of uncertainty they’re facing.”
In a world that won’t stop changing, Kathy Gersch isn’t waiting for stability. She’s leading into the unknown with clarity, energy, and vision. As she steps into this next chapter, she’s embodying the very mindset the firm helps others build: steady in uncertainty, grounded in purpose, and always moving toward what’s possible.
