A Conversation With Katie Jarek, Consulting Director & Global Business Strategist
In this episode of the Failure Gap, Julie Williamson speaks with Katie Jarek, a Global Business Strategist and Consulting Director, about her career journey, the challenges of swimming the English Channel, and the parallels between personal challenges and leading organizational transformations. They discuss the importance of embracing opportunities, building trust, and creating a safe space for difficult conversations in leadership. Katie shares insights on navigating the messiness of transformation, connecting in a hybrid work environment, and the significance of normalizing tough discussions to foster transparency and collaboration.
Takeaways
Takeaways
- Embrace opportunities as they arise and be willing to explore new paths.
- Building a strong network is essential for career growth.
- Flexibility and creativity are crucial during challenging times.
- Creating a safe space for difficult conversations is vital for team success.
- Trust and transparency in leadership foster a positive work environment.
- Engaging in team-building activities can strengthen remote connections.
- The messiness of transformation is a natural part of the process.
- Normalizing difficult conversations can prevent issues from escalating.
- Empowering teams to learn and adapt is key to successful transformations.
- Celebrating small successes keeps the team motivated during long projects.
#transformationalleadership #leadershiptransformation #hybridwork #TheFailureGap
Creators and Guests
Host
Julie Williamson, PhD
Julie Williamson, PhD is the CEO and a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, a Denver-based, global-serving business consultancy. Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of The Failure Gap Podcast, Julie is a leading voice in how alignment can transform leaders and organizations.
Guest
Katie Jarek
Katie Jarek is an international business strategist and consulting leader based in Denver, Colorado. With a deep expertise in leading cross-functional global teams and optimizing processes for large-scale projects, she has made significant strides in change management, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. Currently, Katie serves as a Consulting Director at GEP Worldwide, where she spearheads initiatives in operational excellence, AI Powered transformation, data-driven decision-making, and process improvements. She has led diverse global teams across many countries, including Puerto Rico, Spain, and Fiji, where she lived, as well as managing teams with members spanning multiple continents. This past summer, Katie took on a new challenge outside of work by swimming across the English Channel as part of a relay team, demonstrating her passion for pushing limits. Katie is recognized for her strategic vision and her commitment to achieving impactful results.
