Lauded by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential people impacting global commerce, author, educator and business consultant Kate Vitasek is an international authority for her award-winning research and Vested® business model for highly collaborative and strategic relationships.

Kate’s practical and research-based advice ignited a movement on how to create healthy and sustainable business relationships.

Her work has led to six books, including:

Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing

Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s and Microsoft Are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships

Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships

The Vested Way: How a “What’s in it for We” Mindset Revolutionizes Business Relationships

Passionate in her quest to help companies transform their business relationships, Kate inspires and motivates companies around the world through teaching, speaking and workshops on Vested’s five proven “rules” for achieving transformational results.

Vested stems from award-winning research by the University of Tennessee funded by the United States Air Force to find a “better way to outsource.”

The Vested business model allows organizations to focus on desired outcomes and shared value to create a business relationship mutually beneficial for each of the partners. Rather than the “What’s-in-it-for-Me” mentality of conventional agreements, Vested’s “What’s-in-it-for-We” mindset invests both parties in the success of each other’s overall business, which in turn strengthens the sense of partnership and encourages a more lasting relationship. By sharing expertise and aligning their goals, both parties can drive innovation, adapt to changing needs and mitigate risk while working towards mutual success.

Many well-known organizations have turned to the Vested to help them create successful and sustainable partnerships, including; Dell, FedEx Supply Chain Services, Intel, DHL, the Swedish Telco Telia, and the Canadian government.

Kate has appeared on Bloomberg radio, CNN, NPR and on Fox Business News. Her work has been featured in over 300 articles in publications including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Chief Executive Magazine, CIO Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Journal of Commerce, World Trade Magazine and Intelligent Sourcing Magazine.

Kate’s groundbreaking work with Vested has also won many accolades. Vested was named one of “Outsourcing’s Top Trends” by Globalization Today, one of the “Top 50+1 Most Influential Trends” by The World Trade Magazine, and of the “Tops Trends in IT Services” by Vanguard Marketing International, Inc.

Kate herself has been recognized by The Journal of Commerce as a “Woman on the Move in Trade and Transportation” and as a “Rainmaker” by DC Velocity Magazine for her insights and contributions. Most recently she was named to the Sourcing Industry Groups “Hall of Fame” and to the Global Associations “A-List” of sourcing thought leaders. She has been recognized by Logistics Quarterly and Supply Chain Digest as a “Woman in Supply Chain,” honored as a “Woman of International Influence” by Global Executive Women, and named a top 10 finalist for “Best Entrepreneur—Service Business Under 100 Employees” by the American Business Awards for Woman.

Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Kate’s storied career included positions with P&G, Microsoft, Accenture, Stream International and founding Supply Chain Visions, a boutique consulting firm recognized by ARC Advisory Group as one of the “10 Coolest” Boutique Consulting firms.