Clara Kuhlman

About Clara Kuhlman

I’m an operations and people leader who operates comfortably in complexity - at the intersection of people, process, systems, and change. I lead with empathy not as a soft skill, but as a strategic one: it’s how organizations scale, teams stay resilient, and meaningful work gets done.In my current role, I oversee a broad and evolving operational portfolio that spans execution, cross-functional alignment, process design, and people leadership. I’m often the connective tissue across teams and initiatives - translating strategy into action, bringing clarity to ambiguity, and building systems that support both business outcomes and the humans behind them.With a strong foundation in change management, I’m trusted to step into high-impact, high-ambiguity situations and help teams move forward with focus and confidence. I bring a steady, pragmatic leadership style grounded in thoughtful decision-making, clear communication, and shared accountability. My work centers on creating structure where it’s needed, flexibility where it matters, and trust throughout.I’m also an active member of my company’s DEI Employee Resource Group, contributing to initiatives that advance equity, inclusion, and belonging. Advocacy is not separate from my professional life - it informs how I lead, how I design processes, and how I think about organizational responsibility. I care deeply about human rights, sustainability, gender equity, and democratic values, and I believe organizations are strongest when those principles are reflected in how work gets done.At my core, I’m a builder - of teams, of systems, and of cultures that prioritize clarity, fairness, and human dignity.(This includes literal building too; I have a long-standing appreciation for LEGO.) I’m motivated by meaningful work, strong partnerships, and the belief that empathy and accountability are not opposing forces, but essential counterparts.

Experience

1. Operations Manager, the Center for Executive Coaching

   Keystone Partners

   Mar 2024 — Present

   Lead operational strategy and execution for integration projects across all business functions, serving as a strategic partner to the EVP of the Center for Executive Coaching. Drive cross-functional alignment, design scalable processes, and deliver measurable business impact while managing B2C products, member experience operations, faculty programs, and credentialing compliance. Contribute to company-wide operations as part of the Operations Managers and DEI teams, advancing standards and seamless operations across the organization.Key Contributions & Impact:Direct end-to-end integration projects, designing processes that scale the division and enhance the client experience.Build and maintain B2C products in Salesforce, manage LMS content, and oversee member site content for a seamless user experience.Lead the member experience function through direct management of the Customer Experience Manager, ensuring high-quality support for member inquiries on programs, credentialing, and the member site.Serve as the primary faculty liaison, managing class schedules across 10+ cycles and coordinating resources to support student learning.Maintain deep knowledge of CEC, ICF, and BCC credentialing requirements, collaborating with credentialing bodies and military branches to ensure alignment.Contribute to DEI initiatives and foster a collaborative, inclusive, high-trust culture.Manage schedules, budgets, and interdependencies across multiple initiatives, ensuring operational continuity and scalability.

Education

• Xavier University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English Language and Literature/Letters

  2001 — 2005