Joanna M. Murray

person - Joanna M. Murray

Joanna Murray’s career is distinguished by her success in building successful organizations, leading high-performing teams and developing authentic executive leaders within diverse corporate, non-profit and educational settings. Recognized as a strategic thinker, an effective change agent, and an inspiring coach, Ms. Murray has artfully moved several organizations from good to verifiable excellence. She has earned a reputation for her creative problem solving, strategic agility, and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external clients by gaining their trust and respect.

Ms. Murray is a former Founding Partner with Ki ThoughtBridge, where she provided client support in the areas of leadership development, post merger integration, change management and the resolution of conflict. Working within Fortune 500 companies and national non-profit organizations Ms. Murray developed constructive and effective consulting and coaching relationships and demonstrated her ability as a versatile learner who can quickly translate complex problems and discern clear, actionable, solutions for her clients.

Most recently Ms. Murray served as the Senior Vice President for Community Impact with the United Way of the Midlands in Omaha, Nebraska. Her additional experience includes, serving as the President and CEO of the Leadership Investment, in Denver, Colorado, and Vice President for Trustee Leadership Development, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was also the founding Executive Director of the Metro Denver Chamber Leadership Foundation in Denver, Colorado. Prior to her roles in the nonprofit and business sector, Ms. Murray worked in higher education, including five years as the Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Denver.

Her diverse leadership experience allows Ms. Murray to offer a range of consulting services to her clients including the development strategic plans, leadership formation and coaching, conflict resolution, and coalition building. Ms. Murray holds a Bachelor of Science with a double major in English and Sociology, and a Masters of Science in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Development.

  • Awards & Accolades
    • Sagamore of the Wabash - an honor the Governor of Indiana bestows on citizens who have contributed to their community
    • Indiana Youth Institute’s Pathfinder Award – she received the very first award for her work in leadership education
    • Edna B. Lacy Service Award - for her contribution and service to the Indianapolis community and the Stanley K. Lacy Alumni Association]
    • Distinguished Leadership Award - from the National Association for Community Leadership
    • “Woman in the Forefront” - by the Indianapolis Business Journal and Indiana Lawyer publications in 1998
    • Woman of Achievement & Phyllis Wheatley Award – by the Indianapolis YMCA for her work in race relations and received the Hoosier Heritage award for leadership
  • Leadership Involvement & Organizations
    • Trustee Leadership Development (TLD), Founding Director - a program that worked with over 50,000 leaders and consultants; and 1,000 organizations across the country.
    • International Leadership Association Board (ILA), Chair
    • Panel of Leaders, Representative for ILA – a congregation of scholars and practitioners selected to write on issues related to leadership for the Washington Post and the New York Times.
    • Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Race Relations History Project, Former Chair - she helped develop a training curriculum, Finding Common Ground, for community-wide dissemination
    • Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Program, Graduate
    • SKLA Board, Former President - served on the Commission for Downtown and on the boards of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee
    • Coalition of 100 Black Woman, Indianapolis chapter, a Founding Member
    • Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, Past President of the board
    • The House of Deputies, Counsel to the president
    • Church Pension Fund of the Episcopal Church, Former Trustee
  • Publications

    Katherine has written extensively on the topics of leadership, governance, organizational development, and change management.