Katherine Tatsuda and her father, Bill Tatsuda, addressing their community after the landslide.

Leadership Rooted in Real Life,
Not Just the Stage.

Before I ever held a microphone, I learned leadership in places like this—beside my father, serving our community through decades of change.
What I teach isn’t theory. It’s lived.

It’s what I used to lead through devastating loss, public crisis, and personal betrayal, while staying grounded in service, integrity, and the kind of consistency that builds trust when everything else is uncertain.

Today, I help leaders, organizations, and teams prepare for the moments that test everything—so they’re ready to rise, not react.

Invite Katherine to Speak

About Katherine

Katherine Tatsuda is a crisis-ready leadership expert and School Board President who has guided organizations through impossible situations. She worked her way from cashier to CEO of her family's century-old grocery business, earning recognition as a Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Magazine and becoming an IGA Retailer of the Year finalist in 2017. Having established herself as a leadership coach by 2018, she was already training leaders at major organizations when a devastating landslide destroyed her business in 2020. She applied her own leadership principles to navigate complete professional and personal reinvention, proving that crisis-ready leadership isn't just theory—it works when everything falls apart.

Photo: Katherine Tatsuda, and her COO, Deborah Asper stand on the remains of her family's century old business that was destroyed in a landslide in February 2020.

Katherine Tatsuda standing on the rubble of her family's century old business

Speaking Topics

Katherine delivers powerful keynotes and trainings that meet people in the fire and show them how to rise.

Speaker Topics

"Leading Beyond Your Experience"

Build confidence when you have no roadmap or prior experience
Master the mindset shift from "I don't know how" to "I'll figure it out"
Lead with credibility while learning in real-time

Perfect for: Emerging leaders, succession planning, unprecedented challenges

"When Your World Catches Fire"

Master crisis-ready leadership vs. crisis management
Make decisions when there's no roadmap and no good options
Apply nervous system science to stay calm under ultimate pressure

Perfect for: Corporate leadership teams, executive retreats, industry disruption

"From Cashier to CEO to Crisis"

Why working your way up creates unshakable leadership foundations
Lead authentically when your credentials are questioned
Build resilience through relationship, not just systems

Perfect for: Emerging leaders, family businesses, ground-up promotions

"The Reinvention Imperative"

Navigate simultaneous personal and professional upheaval
Reconstruct identity while maintaining leadership credibility
Create your roadmap when old rules no longer apply

Perfect for: Major transitions, mergers/acquisitions, industry transformation

"Beyond Survival:

Building Crisis-Ready Teams"

Build psychological safety that withstands real pressure
Create decision-making frameworks for impossible situations
Lead with vulnerability while maintaining authority

Perfect for: Emerging leaders, succession planning, unprecedented challenges

"The Whole Leader"

Why personal healing work makes you a better leader
Lead through difficult seasons without losing credibility
Create boundaries that protect without disconnecting

Executive coaching, leadership retreats, wellness organizations

Professional Event Emcee

Bringing energy, warmth, authenticity, and engaging presence to events of all sizes.

What Katherine brings to your event:

Energy that keeps momentum flowing throughout your program.
Warmth that makes every audience feel welcomed and valued.
Authenticity that creates genuine, memorable moments.
Humor that connects with audiences and lightens key moments.
Professionalism that elevates the tone of your event.
Adaptability to seamlessly adjust to any audience or unexpected situation.
Crisis-ready composure to handle any moment with grace and confidence

Proven experience across all audience levels: Formal events with Alaska Governors • Corporate conferences • Multi-day leadership events • Chamber of Commerce gatherings • Community celebrations • Wearable art shows • Live music extravaganzas • Radio and television hosting

A decade of emcee experience includes:Alaska Credit Union League Conference • Stars to Scars 3-day transformative event • Chamber of Commerce events • Leadership conferences • Arts and entertainment events

Perfect for:Corporate conferences • Awards ceremonies • Multi-day events • Government functions • Leadership retreats • Community celebrations • Arts and cultural events.

Photo caption: Katherine brings authentic energy and professional polish to events of every scale

What People Are Saying

"Katherine is a positive, joyful presence that will transform your event! If you need an emcee that can energetically set the tone, add value and engage the audience, Katherine is the ticket! She also helped me as the host & speaker to keep things moving forward. Her motivation and willingness to jump in helped alleviate stress for me. She allowed me to have time between sessions to regroup and the audience LOVED her!"

— Deana Brown Mitchell, President, Genius & Sanity

"Katherine was awesome, she has a very bright, bubbly and fun personality. Sunny with a big smile."

ARK of King County

Event Participant

"Phenomenal."

General Manager of Kings Market with 40 years of experience, following Katherine's 8-hour leadership training.

Proven Impact at Every Event

At the end of every leadership training seminar, Katherine asks three simple questions:

Did you learn things that will make you a better leader?

Did you learn things that will help make your jobs easier?

Did I make you laugh?

The answer is always a resounding yes!

BOOK KATHERINE TO SPEAK

Ready to bring crisis-ready leadership expertise to your event?

Katherine delivers keynote presentations and serves as a professional emcee for corporate conferences, leadership retreats, industry events, and community celebrations.

Speaking Topics Include:

Crisis-ready leadership and decision-making under pressure
Leading beyond your experience and comfort zone
Building resilient teams and organizational culture
Personal and professional transformation
Authentic leadership development

Event Emcee Services:

Corporate conferences and awards ceremonies
Multi-day leadership events and retreats
Government functions and community celebrations
Arts and entertainment events

For booking inquiries, please include:

Event date and location
Event type and audience size
Speaking topic preference or emcee needs
Budget range

Investment varies based on event type, audience size, and travel requirements.