catebjohnson
ImpactHub DC
"Creatively solving problems around the world."
― my career mantra
CONSULTANT & COACH
Founder of an innovation consultancy focused on nature-centered design, workshop facilitation, and coaching.
EVENT DESIGNER
Founding teammate and content manager for international tech and innovation conference in Canada.
FELLOW & MENTOR
StartingBloc Social Innovation Fellow and Mentor to incoming Fellows focused on transformative leadership.
BRAND STRATEGIST
Launched the online brand for
Zaina Lodge, a start-up ecolodge company in West Africa.
REIKI MASTER
Certified practitioner of traditional Japanese healing art.
DESIGN FACILITATOR
Designed and facilitated workshops with top leaders across NASA to drive innovation toward 2030 goals.
ONLINE EDUCATOR
Teaching team member for human-centered courses offered to a global cohort of learners.
STRATEGIST & INNOVATOR
Founder of the United Way Worldwide Innovation Lab and Manager of the United Way Network-wide Strategy.
ENVIRONMENTALIST
International contract manager for World Wildlife Fund's Market Transformation Initiative.
VOLUNTEER
Barn volunteer for a herd of 40 rescued horses in Colorado.
SPEAKER & JUDGE
Advisory Board Member since 2019; Design Track speaker in 2024
DESIGN THINKER
Senior facilitator for MIT's first International Development Design Summit in Southeast Asia.
SENIOR ADVISOR
Innovation and change-management consulting for leadership of a growing digital start-up.
PUBLIC SPEAKER
Graduate Student Commencement Speaker for Kogod School of Business at American University.
WRITER
Blogger focused on the intersection of design, innovation, and nature.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
Cate is a masterful facilitator, design thinker, and communicator. I have had the pleasure of collaborating with her on multiple convenings and have seen her focus on delivering authentic, meaningful, and effective sessions first-hand. Most recently, Cate co-created and co-facilitated a workshop rooted in design thinking and biomimicry for an Impactathon event. She was able to foster a sense of grounding and deep connection among participants which added depth to their subsequent small group work. Highly recommend Cate for catalysing an innovation mindset for any group!
NEETAL PAREKH, SHE RAISES CAPITAL
"Cate is exactly the type of person that you want to engage with to help transform your organization. Whether your challenges are cultural, strategic, or focused on diversity and equity she’s one of the first I’d call for a spark of enthusiasm and action. I've hired Cate as a speaker, innovation consultant, and most recently a strategist to drive forward a range of global initiatives for me and my company. She has never ceased to exceed my (and my team’s) expectations every step of the way."
PETE SENA, DIGITAL SURGEONS
"Cate is a rare, and valued talent and I want others to know. Cate is a leader in improving the culture...in a way that encourages authenticity and engagement. She asks us to think about our end users and listen to them rather than letting us rest in thinking that we know what they need. Cate is a great addition to any team. Thank you, Cate, for everything you do, Post-Its and smiles every day."
STEPHANIE CHIN, SPICY CONVERSATIONS
"Working with Cate has transformed my capacity to problem solve. Cate has an ability to bring the latent ideas I hadn't ever managed to identify straight to the surface. She asks thoughtful, probing questions and creates a container for creative thinking unlike anyone I've ever worked with. Cate draws on her own experiences and perspectives to provide insights and strategies, but also emphasizes the strength of a multi-faceted approach to problem solving. Her wisdom in design thinking is rich, and she makes the process enjoyable and useful. I would highly recommend Cate to anyone who is looking to take their thinking, strategizing, and problem-solving to the next level."
ANNIKA ERICKSON-PEARSON, STARTINGBLOC