Catherine Allen
Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer
Catherine Allen is Co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of AO People Partners, a Leadership Development and Culture Transformation firm dedicated to inspiring and supporting the conscious practice of people development in the workplace.
Catherine is the co-author of a book with Ed Offterdinger titled, Conscious, Capable, and Ready to Contribute: A Fable–How Employee Development Can Become the Highest Form of Social Contribution.
At-A-Glance
- INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE: Management Consulting | Technology | Professional Services | Manufacturing | Real Estate | Education & Nonprofit | Wealth Management | Private Equity
- Over 30 years of experience spanning organizational consulting, executive coaching, and public service
- Specialist in executive transitions, leadership development integration and culture transformation
- Keynote speaker and podcast guest, speaks on making leadership development central to business purpose and performance
- Professional Certifications in Coaching and Mediation, M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason
- Among my favorite things: cooking, great conversations over great meals, dance parties, reading, family hikes and vacations
Favorite Quote
“Everything is perfect, and we get to figure out why”. Over the years, this phrase has served me well by reminding me to look at everyone and everything as a teacher – a source of learning and growth. This way of thinking has made all the difference in how I navigate every aspect of my personal and professional life. Hang around me long enough and invariably life will dish up an opportunity for me to ask, “what might be perfect about this situation?”
Catherine's Publications
Conscious, Capable, and Ready to Contribute
Ed Hutner, CHRO, Deltek
“AO has been instrumental in bringing a common language and understanding to the Deltek Executive Team, individually and collectively. With the use of the Leadership Circle, coupled with AO’s coaching and consulting services, we have been able to significantly improve our communication, enhance our effectiveness as leaders, and evolve as a cohesive group. From new hire onboarding to training at all levels within the organization, we are being intentional around how we build and sustain employee learning. We moved from an episodic development approach to a holistic methodology to scale leadership throughout our organization.”
Favorite Quote
“Everything is perfect, and we get to figure out why”. Over the years, this phrase has served me well by reminding me to look at everyone and everything as a teacher – a source of learning and growth. This way of thinking has made all the difference in how I navigate every aspect of my personal and professional life. Hang around me long enough and invariably life will dish up an opportunity for me to ask, “what might be perfect about this situation?”