case study

St. Cloud YMCA

Shifting leadership culture through trust, clarity, and coaching

Service
Trust-building facilitation, Defensiveness training, Leadership coaching, Communication strategy
Client
YMCA St. Cloud
Greg Gack, Executive Director, St. Cloud YMCA
"Understanding Kathy’s professional and life experiences made her an easy choice to work with my team on strategic initiative to deepen trust, improve communication, and promote a culture of accountability within our leadership. Early in our work together, it became clear that she brought not only clarity and structure but also an understanding of the nuanced dynamics of teams navigating change.

Our focus areas evolved over time, starting with building trust and reducing defensiveness and progressing toward fostering extreme ownership at all levels of leadership. This intentional progression allowed for sustainable culture shifts rather than short-term fixes.

As a result of this work, we’ve seen measurable improvement in the cohesion of our team. Previously siloed or guarded relationships have grown into open, supportive, and constructive partnerships. Kathy’s facilitation helped create space for honest dialogue, helping leaders feel both safe and challenged. Team meetings are now characterized by a level of candor and collaboration that was rare before.

No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
"Another valuable aspect of the engagement has been the individual coaching offered to key leaders. These sessions provided the opportunity for deeper self-awareness and the space to explore personal leadership challenges in a meaningful way. For several of our team members, long-term engagement with Kathy has been transformative supporting them with clarity and confidence.

What stands out most about Kathy’s approach is the balance between empathy and directness. There is an unmistakable ability to name what’s present in the room—whether it’s tension, avoidance, or opportunity—while still inviting others into growth with respect and care. Kathy brings a presence that is both calm and a spark, and the team consistently felt seen, supported, and challenged in the right ways.

Greg Gack, Executive Director, St. Cloud YMCA
projects

Explore more work

Arbor Hair + Spa

KWT helped Arbor grow from an idea into a thriving salon and spa by building strong business foundations, guiding the team with clarity, and supporting both owner and staff through transformative coaching and leadership.
Keep Reading
Keep Reading

Tabasco

KWT partnered with Tabasco to assess company culture, design impactful trainings, and develop leadership programs that strengthened communication, trust, and accountability throughout the organization.
Keep Reading
Keep Reading

Interstates

Through the Highlands Ability Battery and one-on-one coaching, KWT helps Interstates’ emerging leaders uncover their natural strengths and align their career paths with greater confidence and clarity.
Keep Reading
Keep Reading