Karen Kassebaum, PhD.
Emerging Manager Coach & Mentor | Belonging & Inclusive Leadership | Helping New Leaders Build Confidence, Connection & Cultural Competence
Dr. Karen Kassebaum is a nationally recognized thought leader in the space of diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB) with a powerful message: If you want to be included, you must be inclusive. With over two decades of experience leading transformative inclusion initiatives across higher education, athletics, and corporate sectors, Dr. Kassebaum brings depth, strategy, and inspiration to every initiative she leads.
A Chicago native, Dr. Kassebaum served as the inaugural Global Inclusion Lead at Hudl, where she shaped inclusive practices on a global scale. Her career spans leadership roles including Assistant Vice Chancellor for Inclusive Leadership and Learning at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Director of Diversity Education at the University of South Carolina. At USC, she launched the university’s first Inclusive Excellence Institute a game changing initiative that empowered staff and faculty to lead across difference.
Dr. Kassebaum is the founder of Athlete2Athlete, a mentoring and leadership development program that helps student-athletes navigate the challenges of college transitions confidence, clarity and purpose. focused on supporting student-athletes during college transitional phases. Through her consulting firm, she delivers impactful workshops that help organizations actionize intentional inclusion, moving beyond checkboxes to everyday change.
Known for her authenticity, practical wisdom, and results driven approach, Dr. Kassebaum is also a sought-after mentor to emerging leaders, using an action driven leadership approach. Through guided coaching and peer connection, athletes discover how to lead with authenticity, embrace inclusion, and build a strong sense of belonging on and off the field.
Her work extends to mentoring early-career professionals pursuing careers in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging (DEIAB), equipping them with the confidence and clarity to lead inclusively.
Her contributions have earned her prestigious accolades, including the 2017 Chancellor’s Fulfilling the Dream Award and the 2024 Inspire Award for Excellence in Business, which honors women who lead with influence across industries. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Omaha Chapter of The LINKs, Inc.
Whether she’s addressing a boardroom, university, or conference mainstage, Dr. Karen Kassebaum inspires action, empowers leaders, and redefines what it means to create cultures of true belonging.
As an Emerging Manager Coach and Mentor, I specialize in helping new and rising leaders’ step into their confidence, lead with authenticity, and cultivate inclusive workplaces where teams thrive.
Drawing from years of experience in higher education, human resources, and organizational development, I create action-driven coaching experiences that merge evidence-based leadership practices with the principles of inclusive excellence.
My mission is simple: to help individuals unlock their leadership potential through clarity, connection, culture, and action. Every coaching relationship is designed to build self-awareness, strengthen purpose, and inspire meaningful results both personally and professionally.
Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about impact. Let’s build yours together.
