This outdated attitude is the foundation that most business relationships are built on—a zero-sum game where one party wins at the expense of the other. Organizations say things like “valued employee,” “strategic partnership,” and “healthcare system,” but the reality is they are stuck on a transactional treadmill focusing on this task, this time, this deal, and under these terms. The relationships they create are static and the results are status quo.
Author, educator, and business consultant Kate Vitasek has cracked the code on how to truly create successful win-win relationships. Kate’s evocative and edutaining Vested Way® keynote unpacks Five Rules that turn transactional relationships into transformational relationships. Her keynote takes attendees beyond the theory of “win-win” and is packed with real stories from real organizations getting real results by applying the Five Rules.
Kate Delivers
Kate Vitasek is an international authority on how to build better business relationships. Her award-winning research is the subject of seven books and she has been featured as an international authority on how to build better business relationships on CNN International, NPR, Bloomberg, and Fox Business News. Kate regularly shares her insights as a Forbes contributor in her column on the art, science, and practice of highly collaborative relationships.
Attendees walk away:
The vast majority of business relationships operate with an “us vs. them” mindset: management vs. union, buyer vs. supplier, health care providers vs. payers, boss vs. employee and functional silo vs. functional silo. Organizations say things like “valued employee,” “strategic partnership,” and “Healthcare System,” but the reality is they are often stuck with policies and practices and functional metrics that pit organizations, departments, and even team members against each other. The result is a culture that feels like a virtual tug-of-war with team members pulling against each other rather than collaborating for mutual success.
Kate’s Getting to We® keynote shares five proven steps for creating an engaged, collaborative culture. Her keynote inspires audiences with behind-the-scenes stories of how organizations such as Island Health and their hospitalists transformed their culture from a tense, troubled, and toxic relationship to one team members proudly call trusting, collaborative, and innovative. Kate will leave you with tangible advice, tips, and tools for making the shift from a What’s-in-it-for-Me culture to a What’s-in-it-for-We culture.
Kate Delivers
Kate Vitasek is an international authority for her award-winning work on how to build better business relationships. She has been featured on CNN International, NPR, Bloomberg, and Fox Business News. She is the author of seven books. Kate regularly shares her insights as a Forbes contributor in her column on the art, science, and practice of highly collaborative relationships.
Attendees walk away:
In our fast-paced and interconnected world, the success of any organization hinges on the strength and productivity of its teams. High-performing teams are not merely a result of chance or luck; they are cultivated by fostering an environment built on transparency and trust. But all too often individuals and organizations have a mantra that trust must be earned. What if we shifted our mindset and chose to lead by trusting?
Join Kate in her evocative and edutaining Power of T keynote speech as she shares profound insights from her groundbreaking research. Kate’s inspiring and interactive presentation will help you challenge traditional notions of how to build trust and demonstrate how viewing transparency and trust through a new lens can unleash the full potential of teams.
Kate Delivers
University of Tennessee supply chain professor Kate Vitasek has been researching the power of choosing to lead with transparency and trust for over 20 years. Her work has led to seven books and she has been featured as an international authority on how to build better business relationships on CNN International, NPR, Bloomberg, and Fox Business News.
Attendees walk away with:
Many outsourcing deals are structured with fundamental flaws in the business model that prevent transformational results. The problem is not outsourcing itself, but rather the outsourcing business model. The vast majority of outsourcing deals are structured using a conventional transactional business model. This buy-sell transactional mindset pits buyers and suppliers across the table in a virtual tug-of-war when business needs change.
Join Kate in her evocative and edutaining Vested Outsourcing keynote where she will share how to flip the conventional outsourcing approach on its head with her award-winning Vested Outsourcing business model. You will learn how to align the interest between a buyer and supplier with Five Rules. The result? A highly collaborative win-win outsourcing relationship where the parties are vested in each other’s success. Walk away inspired by the art of the possible when outsourcing and learn from real case studies from those making the switch to Vested Outsourcing.
Kate Delivers
University of Tennessee supply chain professor Kate Vitasek —lauded by World Trade Magazine as one of the Fabulous 50+1 most influential people impacting global commerce—is an international authority on outsourcing. Her pioneering research on Vested Outsourcing has sparked a movement to flip conventional outsourcing on its head with over 10,000 people from over 500 companies taking her Executive Education courses with dozens who have gone on to achieve award-winning results from their outsourcing partners.
Attendees leave:
Kate Vitasek is a distinguished authority in collaborative business relationships, renowned for her pioneering work in transforming traditional business models into cooperative partnerships that drive innovation and mutual success. Her groundbreaking “Vested” business model has redefined how organizations approach outsourcing and strategic alliances, emphasizing a “What’s-in-it-for-We” philosophy that fosters shared value and long-term sustainability. Recognized by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential individuals impacting global commerce, Kate’s insights have become instrumental in guiding companies toward more synergistic and effective collaborations.
With a career spanning roles at industry giants such as Procter & Gamble and Microsoft, Kate brings a wealth of practical experience to her thought leadership. Her transition from corporate executive to educator and consultant has allowed her to influence a broad spectrum of industries, providing organizations with the tools and frameworks necessary to cultivate high-performing partnerships. As a faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, she leads research initiatives that delve into strategic partnerships and collaborative business practices, further cementing her status as a leading thinker in her field.
Kate’s professional journey is marked by a series of influential positions and accomplishments that have shaped her expertise in collaborative business strategies. At Procter & Gamble, she honed her skills in supply chain management, gaining firsthand experience in the complexities of large-scale operations. Her tenure at Microsoft provided her with deep insights into the dynamics of supplier relationships and the importance of strategic sourcing in the technology sector. These roles laid the foundation for her later work in developing innovative outsourcing models that prioritize mutual benefit and transparency.
Her academic contributions are equally noteworthy. As the architect of the University of Tennessee’s Certified Deal Architect Program, Kate Vitasek has educated and mentored a generation of professionals in the principles of collaborative contracting and strategic partnership development. Her curriculum integrates real-world case studies and interactive learning modules, ensuring that participants can apply theoretical concepts to practical scenarios effectively. This program has become a cornerstone for organizations seeking to enhance their collaborative capabilities and achieve more sustainable business outcomes.
Kate Vitasek’s thought leadership extends to her prolific writing. She has authored seven influential books, including “Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing” and “Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships.” These works dissect traditional business paradigms and offer actionable frameworks for companies aiming to adopt more cooperative approaches. Her articles, exceeding 300 in number, have been featured in prestigious publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Chief Executive Magazine, where she explores topics ranging from innovation in supply chain management to the nuances of relational contracting.
Her expertise has also been sought by major media outlets. Kate Vitasek has appeared on CNN International, Bloomberg, NPR, and Fox Business News, where she has shared her insights on the evolving landscape of global commerce and the critical role of collaboration in achieving business excellence. These appearances have amplified her message to a broader audience, influencing how organizations perceive and implement collaborative strategies.
Event planners seeking a speaker who can deliver transformative insights into building and sustaining collaborative business relationships will find Kate Vitasek to be an exceptional choice. Her presentations are not only grounded in rigorous research but also enriched by her extensive real-world experience, making her content both credible and relatable to diverse audiences.
Kate Vitasek’s ability to demystify complex concepts and present them in an engaging, accessible manner ensures that attendees leave with practical strategies they can implement immediately. Her workshops and keynote speeches are tailored to address the specific challenges faced by organizations today, from navigating the intricacies of global supply chains to fostering innovation through strategic partnerships. This customization ensures that her sessions resonate deeply with participants, providing them with valuable tools to drive change within their own companies.
Moreover, Kate’s status as a thought leader in collaborative business practices adds significant value to any event. Her involvement can attract a wide array of professionals eager to learn from her experiences and insights, thereby enhancing the event’s profile and appeal. Her collaborative approach not only enriches the content of her presentations but also fosters a spirit of partnership and mutual respect among attendees, aligning perfectly with the goals of conferences focused on leadership, innovation, and organizational excellence.
In summary, Kate Vitasek stands as a pioneering figure in the field of collaborative business relationships. Her extensive experience, coupled with her academic and literary contributions, provides a rich reservoir of knowledge for organizations aiming to transform their business practices. By focusing on creating win-win scenarios through her Vested business model, she offers a pathway to sustainable success in an increasingly interconnected and complex business environment.
Hashtags: #KateVitasek #VestedBusinessModel #CollaborativeLeadership #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessInnovation #SupplyChainExcellence #Outsourcing #LeadershipDevelopment
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