Cathy Benko

Cathy Benko is renowned for being among the first to design and implement a systemic response to the changing world of work. A nationally recognized thought leader and authority on talent strategies and transformational change, she pioneered a response to the workplace and workforce trends in The Corporate Lattice and is also the architect of Mass Career Customization®, an innovative tool for scaling personalized career pathways.

In recognition of the increasing importance of reputation and brand in corporate value creation, Deloitte recently appointed Cathy the leader of the Brand, Communications and Community group. This role taps into her acumen for business strategy, workplace innovation, and transformational change, skills she honed in her prior roles as chief talent officer, high technology industry sector leader, global eBusiness leader and national managing director of Deloitte’s award-winning Women’s Initiative. She continues to serve as advisory principal for high tech clients.

Cathy’s previous books include the best-seller Mass Career Customization: Aligning the Workplace with Today's Nontraditional Workforce (Harvard Press 2007), and Connecting the Dots: Aligning Projects with Objectives in Unpredictable Times (Harvard Press 2003). Her books have been translated into multiple languages and her byline and insights appear regularly in such outlets as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, New York Times, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Time, Leadership Excellence, and the Harvard Business Review. She is a frequent speaker regarding organizational transformation to international corporate, nonprofit and public sector audiences.

Cathy has received numerous honors for her professional achievements, including Consulting Magazine’s “25 Most Influential Consultants” and “Frontline Leader” recognitions, and its inaugural “Leadership Achievement Award” for Women Leaders in Consulting. She has also been honored by the YWCA, Women in Technology International (WITI), and the San Francisco Business Times, which inducted her into the “Forever Influential” Honor Roll for exceptional women leaders.

Cathy is a member of Catalyst’s board of advisors, Consulting Magazine’s advisory board, and Harvard Business School’s Alumni Association/Northern California board and executive committee, and is a past member of its global alumni board of directors. She also serves as a judge for the Harvard Business Review 2011 “best of” awards.

Cathy earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS from Ramapo College, which recently recognized her with its Distinguished Citizenship award. She lives in Northern California with her husband and two children.