Who You Should Know

Kate LeVan

Owner & Managing Partner

Author:  Speaking with Strategic Impact

Kate is a former ad executive and marketing consultant who “gets” how superior communication strategies and skills distinguish the most successful business people.  That’s why she founded LeVan Partners in 2003 to help high-potential business people master their face-to-face and “virtual” effectiveness at every critical touch point—key presentations and meetings, team pitches, one-on-one influencing and industry forums.  

Kate has developed programs and written the “how-to book” on strategic business communication.  She brings her background in advertising, theater, journalism and performance criticism to practical applications in business.  She helps every client build stronger relationships and optimize business results through greater clarity, authenticity, empathy and impact in their interpersonal communication.

Kate works with:

• Executive and senior management teams on road shows and investor presentations,
• Sales teams on pitching and one-on-one sales effectiveness,
• Subject matter experts and innovators on internal presentations and media interviews,
• Leaders and managers on their annual meetings, internal communications and rollouts, and
• Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management as an instructor in their Executive Development Programs.

She has spoken at business and industry forums on leadership communication, sales effectiveness and personal presence.  Kate also works internationally with her clients’ global affiliates.  She is the author of Speaking with Strategic Impact: Four Steps to Extraordinary Leadership Presence and Persuasion, (Delton Press, 2017).

Formerly:

General Manager of Rogen International Chicago, a communications consulting firm
VP, Group Account Director at Draft Worldwide (now Draftfcb), Chicago
Assistant Producer:  Good Day Chicago, Fox News

M.A. Northwestern University, English literature & performance criticism

Post-graduate work:  Exeter College, Oxford University

Interests: Improv on the main stage at Second City and scene study at Piven Theatre