Kathy Lenz

About Kathy Lenz

I hold space for people to return to their essence—and lead from there.I believe leaders and organizations can shape cultures that are deeply human and wildly effective. As a Principal in a global consulting and search firm, I bring a thoughtful, strategic lens to transformation—aligning purpose, values, and behavior to fuel real change.As an Essence Coach, I help leaders return to the core of who they are—before performance, pressure, or fear took over—so they can lead with clarity, presence, and wholeness.My style is clear, calm, and intentional. I ask questions that get underneath the surface, speak with grounded honesty, and hold a high bar for what’s possible. I don’t show up to impress—I show up to move things forward, with integrity and impact.I’m wired for systems, attuned to people, and committed to doing the deep work that enables growth—whether that’s in boardrooms or in the quiet moments of personal leadership. That same commitment shows up in my life outside of work, too—as a partner, a parent, and a person always learning to be more present.I’m here to build relationships that matter, do work that lasts, and shape cultures where people don’t just perform—they thrive.

Experience

1. Principal

   Heidrick & Struggles

   Jan 2025 — Present · Huntington Beach, CA, US

   A creative, innovative solutions partner to help drive top leaders\' strategic ambitions accelerated by shaping a healthy, high-performance culture. Scope/architect client\'s unique journey. Coach and challenge one\'s’ thinking and actions. Leads and delivers agile, high quality, end-to-end engagements that accelerate performance and reinforce the reputation of the client organization.

Education

• California State University, Long Beach

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Administration - International Business

  1995 — 1997

• California State University, Long Beach

  Master of Arts (MA), Linguistics - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

  1997 — 2000