Katherine Porter, Esq., PMP

Founder and Principal Consultant

A Catalyst for Change

Katherine’s journey from a traditional legal career to designing high-performance cultures is a testament to her resourcefulness, determination, and passion for positive change.

A Unique Beginning

Growing up in a family of public school educators, I never imagined I would become a lawyer. My path began with curiosity, leading me to law school because it sounded like fun. Little did I know that this decision would plunge me into a world where the rules for success were very narrow.

Facing Systemic Challenges

As I navigated my early years in a law firm, I encountered numerous obstacles that many new employees face. During on-campus interviews, I was met with comments about how my marital status would limit my opportunities for advancement. I openly expressed my uncertainty about pursuing a partnership track, only to be met with skepticism. Despite my hard work and dedication, I was told I lacked the “right personality” for promotion.

These experiences left me feeling undervalued and questioning my place in the legal profession. I realized that while firms ostensibly supported employees like me, when it came to who gets ahead, there was but one path.  This was frustrating to me and I knew there had to be another, better way.

Discovering Human-Centered Design

The turning point came when I was introduced to human-centered design—a creative problem-solving method that had transformed industries from healthcare to technology. As the name implies, it’s an approach that puts people in the center – designers seek to understand the needs, desires, and behaviors of the people they’re designing for. Initially skeptical about its application in business, I soon recognized its potential to address the complex and very human challenges of firm cultures that allow every top performer to thrive.

The High-Impact Leadership Framework

Motivated by this revelation, I developed the 5-stage High-Impact Leadership Framework so that leaders would have a clear model for creating different, and better, culture. The Framework’s 5 stages:

• • Empathize & Discover
  • Define and Align
  • Ideate and Innovate
  • Evaluate and Experiment
  • Reflect and Refine

This framework is designed to help firms create tailored solutions that fit their unique needs and values, fostering an environment where all employees have the opportunity to advance into leadership.

Overcoming Resistance

I knew from experience that traditional definitions of success and how to achieve it are deeply embedded in most firms. Speaking both “firm” and “human centered design” means I bridge traditional thinking and new models of success that improve financial performance while embracing diversity, equality, and inclusion. It isn’t easy for firm leaders to “unlearn” the way they’ve always done things, but I’ve learned that change is possible.

A New Era

Today, through my signature High-Performance Culture Accelerator, I empower firm leaders to design a fair, equitable, and high-performing culture.

I am not just a consultant; I am a catalyst for positive change in firm culture.

Let’s Design a High-Performing Firm Together

If you’d like to learn more about the work I do and how I can help your firm, book a free introductory call.

J.D., UCLA School of Law

Articles Editor, UCLA Law Review
Admitted in California

B.A., cum laude,
Connecticut College