Katherine James Schuitemaker
Senior Advisor
Katherine James Schuitemaker is driven to help life-changing ideas and the people behind them succeed. At williamsworks her focus is on helping client leadership develop strategies for effectively building the multi-faceted base of support – internally and externally—to achieve their vision.
Katherine’s 25-year experience in technology company executive, consultant and not-for-profit board roles ranges from scrappy, fast-growth entrepreneurial start-up ventures to designing and building globally-adapted impact programs for the Fortune 1000. She is especially passionate about ensuring the sustainability of organizations with complex, long-term missions, and building the governance, engagement, consensus, coalitions and leadership alignment necessary to achieve their goals.
Active in both private and public arenas, Katherine’s background includes work in more than 40 countries for commercial entities as well as with philanthropists, community leaders, educators, and federal, state and local officials in high-impact philanthropic organizations. Included among the latter are board chair roles at IslandWood (www.islandwood.org), a unique outdoor academic center designed to provide hands-on learning experiences while inspiring lifelong environmental and community stewardship for children, educations, families and adults; and Washington Technology Industry Association, a trade alliance of more than 100,000 members. Governor-appointed board and commission roles have included Washington Technology Center (www.watechcenter.org), helping to fuel the successful commercialization of innovative ideas born at Washington State's research universities; Washington State Economic Development Commission; Governor's Advisory Council on the Internet; and the Governor's Digital Education Task Force. Katherine's long-term contributions to the vibrancy of the state's technology sector have earned her a Washington State Governor’s award of recognition. Seattle Magazine has categorized her as one of “The Visionaries” in its selection those who are making a difference in the city.