Kelly Montes

With 20+ years of leadership at the intersection of business, government, and education, Kelly brings a distinctive blend of commercial acumen, global perspective, and organizational transformation expertise. She has advised Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, and universities on how to build inclusive workplaces, strengthen global capability, and align shared values to drive measurable business performance.

At the core of her work is a clear throughline: bridging difference to unlock impact. From living and working in Inner Mongolia to hosting heads of state for diplomatic dialogue, Kelly has built her career on cultural agility, executive coaching, and navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Today, as Head of Global Business at Catalyst, Kelly leads a $13M+ portfolio and a high-performing global team serving ~300 organizations. She partners with her team and senior leaders to translate cutting-edge research into practical, scalable strategies, advancing inclusive leadership, accelerating organizational performance, and delivering value from the frontline to the C-suite.

A sought-after speaker and facilitator, Kelly has delivered 150+ keynotes and workshops on inclusive leadership, empathy, gender partnership, ERGs, and sponsorship. Recognized as a 2024 Women Worth Watching in Leadership Award honoree, Fulbright Scholar, and Young Sinologist Fellowship awardee, she continues to champion inclusion, cultural understanding, and exceptional leadership globally.