Kathy Ameche ─ digital expert who aligns strategy and technology to drive measurable results…
March 17, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Kathy Ameche
VP, Executive Partner
Gartner Inc.
Are you looking for a digital expert who can help you align strategy and technology with your organization to drive real measurable results? We know the person—Kathy Ameche!
Kathy is currently the Vice President, Executive Partner with Gartner Inc. She serves as a strategic advisor and engages with C-level leaders of organizations of all sizes on best practices that help achieve desired market positioning and profitability goals. Throughout her career, she has served in a number of leadership, business and professional roles including Chief Information of the Tribune Company. She is also the author of the best-seller book The Woman Road Warrior: A Woman’s Guide to Business Travel.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman, Kathy Ameche!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
My family breeds/races thoroughbred horses. I have a personal goal to have a horse run in the Kentucky Derby.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Prior to the pandemic I flew approximately 100,000 miles each year.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
When I visited Japan (Kyoto) I ate Conger eel.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
As a consultant with Deloitte, I was offered a position that required relocation to New York City. Despite my strong desire to live in New York, my inner voice told me something wasn’t right, and I turned it down. Subsequently, the organization merged with a more prominent consulting firm, and the position I declined was eliminated. That experience taught me to trust my instincts and honor the red flags my inner voice shared with me.
I had always read that taking on a stalled or failed project could advance your career. While working at the Tribune Company, I was asked to take over a critical project that had fallen behind in timelines and effectiveness. Turning around a highly visible project and reporting to the board of directors provided an opportunity to showcase my leadership skills and resulted in my promotion to Vice President, Chief Information Officer.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
Throughout my career, I had informal mentors. During my time at Deloitte, a Partner in the firm supported my growth. He responded to my questions and provided insights to facilitate my career growth. As I have progressed throughout my career, I have served as a mentor to others to help younger professionals realize their passions and accelerate their growth.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
It’s ok to fail. Early in my career, my boss kept telling me I needed to know it was ok to fail. While I didn’t particularly appreciate hearing that, I learned to recognize that failure releases you from fear of risk. The amalgamation of my experiences has led me to serve as a senior leader. I left the Tribune before I completed everything I wanted to do, and I took this as a failure. But here’s what happened, I went on to write a best-selling book. The setback provided me the growth and resilience to move ahead with purpose.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
One of my personal north stars is to help the next generation of women succeed. I was a mentor with Menttium Corporation, an organization that offers support to high-achieving middle management women. To this day I still hear from my mentees.
When I was CIO of the Tribune I realized there was no networking group for other female CIO’s. I co-created the Senior Women in Technology community, which has continued to grow. I currently serve on the Women at Gartner Board. In all these roles, I have leveraged the depth and breadth of my experiences to capitalize on strategies needed for women to overcome persistent obstacles and accelerate advancement.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
Recently, I have been serving as a strategic resource advising IT organizations, C-level leaders, and boards of directors on how to advance their business agendas. I focus on applying data-driven insights, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital adoption.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I am a lifelong learner. I am a voracious reader of business books. I also listen to podcasts and participate in webinars. I find that I am inspired by ideas and people that work outside of technology to broaden my perspective and thinking. Being open to others' views allows me to incorporate new ways of thinking and working into my working life.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
Learning to prioritize and slow down. We are all working and moving at an incredibly fast pace. Setting boundaries on my time, acknowledging everything doesn’t need to be finished today is a lesson I am still learning.
