Success Labs Leadership Profile: An Interview with Katie Sternberg

Katie Sternberg holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Social Work. She joined the Success Labs team in the fall of 2013 and serves as an executive coach and facilitator for the Success Labs Management Incubator and Leadership Development Series. When she’s not facilitating these groups she can be found coaching emerging leaders and executives.

Read on to learn more about Katie Sternberg and her approach to leadership development and executive coaching.

What’s your leadership philosophy?

My leadership philosophy is an amalgamation from my diverse experiences working in corporate America, as a strategic business consultant and as a social worker. Great leaders are great listeners. They regularly seek feedback and aren’t afraid to hear and learn from key stakeholders within and external to their organizations.

Which business leader(s) do you look up to and why?

I had the privilege, early in my career, to work for Leonard Lauder, who is now chairman emeritus of the Estee Lauder Companies. Mr. Lauder taught me that creating iconic products first requires developing employees empowered to deliver great solutions.

What’s the hardest leadership lesson you ever had to learn?

In an ambiguous, quickly changing world, we are rarely lucky enough to have perfect information. Instead, timely decisions are often made based on a nuanced combination of intuition, experience and information at hand.

What’s the most common weakness you see in leaders and how do you help them improve on it?

I think many executives have gotten to their senior roles based on their action-oriented ability to get things done. At Success Labs, we help them realize that true leadership demands building an effective team, motivating others and mentoring.

Describe a client whose leadership growth has especially impressed you?

I’ve had the privilege of working with a young woman, who was hired and quickly promoted within a specialty hospital. She has succeeded and grown as a leader by seeking timely feedback, finding mentors and building a strong team. She has also leveraged talents including creativity and a great sense of humor.Success Labs is a full-service, strategic organizational and leadership development company located in Baton Rouge, La. For more than 25 years, our expert team of consultants has worked with hundreds of companies to explore their business potential and improve their company and cultural performance. Contact us to get proactive about your people strategy.