Kate Vitasek: Collaborative Culture
Collaborative business strategist Kate Vitasek empowers organizations to transform traditional partnerships into high-performing, Vested relationships that drive innovation, shared value, and sustainable long-term success.
Quick Facts:
- Highlights:
- Architect of the Vested business model for collaborative partnerships
- Recognized as one of World Trade Magazine’s “Fabulous 50+1” most influential individuals
- Former supply chain and strategic sourcing leader at Procter & Gamble and Microsoft
- Faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business
- Formats: Keynote speaker, collaborative strategy consultant, educator, workshop facilitator
- Audiences: Corporate executives, supply chain leaders, procurement teams, partnership managers, government agencies, and organizations seeking stronger strategic alliances and transparent, value-driven collaborations.
- Outcomes:
- Practical tools for designing Vested agreements and high-performing partnerships
- Strategies to shift from transactional models to collaborative, shared-value ecosystems
- Frameworks that enhance innovation, reduce risk, and drive sustainable performance across supplier and partner networks
- Travels from: Seattle, WA
- **Fee range: $20,001 - $35,000
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
The Vested Way: Redefining Winning in Business Relationships
This outdated attitude is the foundation that most business relationships are built on—a zero-sum game where one party wins at the expense of the other.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:
- Challenging the game they are playing in their existing relationships
- Armed with the Vested Five Rules to help them transform their relationships
- Inspired by real-world examples of how the Vested Way has worked in practice, creating value far beyond traditional us-vs-them transactional approaches
Getting to We: Five Steps for Creating an Engaged, Collaborative Culture
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:
- Understanding why “getting to yes” is no longer enough
- Learning a proven five-step approach for creating a highly engaged and collaborative culture
- Inspired by real-world examples of how the organizations such as Island Health and their hospitalists transformed their culture
- Gaining access to proven tools to facilitate teams in transitioning from a “Me” to “We” mindset
The Power of T: Choosing Transparency and Trust to Enable High-Performing Teams
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:
- Valuable insights that will empower their organization to thrive in today’s competitive landscape
- Five pillars for building trust and transparency in teams
- Real-world examples of from real organizations getting real results by choosing to lead with transparency and trust
- Tangible tips and tools to foster a culture of trust and boost team performance
Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules that Transform Outsourcing Relationships
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:
- Knowing what Vested Outsourcing is—and why outsourcing does not have to be a dirty word
- Understanding the Five Rules of Vested Outsourcing and how they help organizations shift from transactional to transformational outsourcing
- Inspired by real stories from real companies with real results
- Motivated to rethink how they are working with outsourcing partners
Talent Short Bio
Kate Vitasek is a globally recognized authority on collaborative business relationships and the architect behind the groundbreaking “Vested” business model—a transformative framework that shifts organizations from transactional, win-lose contracting to cooperative partnerships built on shared value, transparency, and long-term success. Celebrated by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential individuals impacting global commerce, Kate has redefined how companies structure outsourcing, strategic alliances, and supplier relationships.
With a career that includes leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and Microsoft, Kate brings deep, practical expertise in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and complex partnership ecosystems. Her corporate experience laid the foundation for her pioneering work in developing collaborative contracting models that encourage innovation and create measurable, mutual benefit for all parties involved.
As a faculty member at the University of Tennessee’s Haslam College of Business, Kate leads research initiatives focused on strategic partnerships, relational contracting, and the evolution of modern business collaboration.
Read Full Bio
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 Vitasek 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 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.
Hashtags: #KateVitasek #VestedBusinessModel #CollaborativeLeadership #StrategicPartnerships #BusinessInnovation #SupplyChainExcellence #Outsourcing #LeadershipDevelopment
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Talent Videos
Creating Win-Win Business Cultures Through Trust and Collaboration | Kate Vitasek
Kate Vitasek challenges transactional thinking and shows how trust, transparency, and shared purpose unlock collaborative, outcome-driven business performance.
Video Summary & Key Moments
In this speaking reel, Kate Vitasek explores why many of today’s business challenges are rooted in decades of adversarial, “us versus them” ways of working. She argues that sustainable success requires a fundamental mindset shift, moving away from a “what’s in it for me” approach toward a “what’s in it for we” philosophy.
Kate explains that when individuals and organisations collectively focus their energy on shared problems, they unlock exponentially greater power than when working in silos. She describes this as “getting to we”, a state where collaboration replaces competition and value creation replaces value exchange.
A central theme of her message is trust. Kate highlights how trust has become more critical than ever in modern business, referencing extensive research and thought leadership on the subject. She emphasises that trust and transparency allow organisations to move beyond transactional relationships and begin co-creating outcomes that benefit entire ecosystems.
Using the metaphor of a shared Mount Everest, Kate explains the importance of defining a common vision that unites all parties involved. This shared goal creates alignment and provides a foundation for collaboration. She stresses the role of guiding principles in creating psychologically safe environments, where people can respectfully disagree, raise concerns, and speak up about risks without fear.
Kate also addresses the power of transparency, noting that while information is power, information shared becomes exponential power. She encourages organisations to openly share data, forecasts, and insights, particularly across supply chains, to enable optimisation and better decision-making.
Key Moments
- 00:35 Collective power and redefining winning in business
- 01:05 Trust as the foundation of collaboration
- 01:40 Shared vision and the “Mount Everest” metaphor
- 02:20 Guiding principles, psychological safety, and transparency
Why Kate? Transforming Company Culture with Real Success Stories
Kate Vitasek explains why organisations worldwide choose her work to transform culture, shifting from transactional thinking to trust-based, outcome-driven collaboration.
Video Summary & Key Moments
In this short, high-impact video, Kate Vitasek explains why organisations across industries turn to her when they want to fundamentally transform company culture and business relationships. She positions culture change not as a theoretical exercise, but as a practical, results-driven shift grounded in real success stories.
Kate emphasises that many organisations struggle because they remain locked into outdated, transactional ways of working that prioritise control, silos, and short-term wins. In contrast, her work focuses on helping leaders and teams adopt collaborative, trust-based approaches that enable long-term value creation.
She highlights that transformation happens when organisations move beyond surface-level change and commit to new ways of thinking, behaving, and working together. Drawing on global case studies, Kate shows how trust, transparency, and shared purpose unlock stronger relationships, better decision-making, and measurable performance outcomes.
Key Moments
- 00:15 Moving beyond transactional ways of working
- 00:30 Trust, transparency, and shared purpose as drivers of change
- 00:45 Real success stories and measurable outcomes
Interest to Book? Send us your enquiry
Overview:
Kate's RealPlay® workshops and presentations have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from industry leaders, highlighting her innovative approach and impactful insights. Reviewers praise her ability to foster strategic partnerships and enhance supply chain management, emphasizing the tangible results achieved through her virtual sessions. Her blend of practical experience and academic knowledge resonates well with professionals seeking to create value in their operations.
Strengths:
- Proven results in enhancing partnerships and value creation.
- Strong reputation as an innovative thinker and communicator.
- Effective virtual delivery that maintains engagement and relevance.
- Positive feedback from high-profile industry leaders.
Weaknesses:
- No specific weaknesses were mentioned in the reviews.
Overall, Kate's offerings are highly regarded, making her a recommended choice for organizations looking to improve their strategic initiatives and supply chain effectiveness.
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