Five Simple Rules to Better Business Relationships
Kate Vitasek
- International authority on strategic business relationships
- Architect of the award-winning “Vested” business model
- Author of six books on the art, science and practice of highly collaborative relationships
- Educator and business consultant
Featured In:
Bloomberg/Businessweek
Fox News
CNN
HBR
NPR
Chief Executive
Kate in Action
In today’s world an outdated, “win-lose” mentality won’t withstand a market that demands constant change and adaptation. Science and intuition teach us that a “win-win” mentality with highly collaborative relationships is the best way to drive innovation and achieve success.
Of course it is easy to say win-win, but hard to achieve true win-win successful relationships that deliver a competitive advantage. Passionate in her quest to help companies crack the code for creating successful partnerships, Kate leverages her unique background – having seen partnerships through the eyes as a buyer, supplier, consultant and now as an award-winning academic. Her unique “edutainment” style leverages her academic viewpoint combined with her experience real-world practitioner experience having worked for Microsoft, Accenture and Procter and Gamble.
Audience’s walk away not just motivated – but armed with five practical and proven “rules” for transforming their own business relationships. Kate brings the rules to life when she shares real-world examples of companies (big and small) that have achieved transformational results by adopting the rules.
Whether you want an evocative conference speaker with a big impact or insights into a specific relationship delivered at an intimate team meeting, Kate will customize her message you’re your audience to provide a roadmap for creating a true win-win strategic business relationship.
Kate’s Mission
To educate, advise, and empower organizations and individuals on the art, science and practice of highly collaborative win-win relationships that will forever change the way organizations and individuals approach partnerships.
An international authority on strategic business relationships, Kate Vitasek is the architect of the award-winning Vested business model for highly collaborative win-win business relationships. As an author, educator and business consultant she has inspired thousands of people around the world with her keynote speeches, intimate seminars and Executive Education courses at the University of Tennessee.
Lauded as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential people impacting global commerce by World Trade Magazine, her award-winning research with the University of Tennessee has proven successful with organizations around the world regardless of industry – including Dell, Intel, DHL, the Canadian government, ISS and the Swedish Telco Telia. Even small businesses such as Oregon-based Reliance Contract Manufacturing have successfully applied Kate’s “What’s in it for We” mindset and rules to improve their business relationships and grow their business.
Kate’s practical advice for driving transformation and innovation through highly collaborative strategic partnerships and supplier relationships launched a book series that includes:
- 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
Why Book Kate?
Whether you are organizing an industry-wide conference with hundred (or thousands!) or needing a speaker for a more intimate seminar for an offsite company retreat or client event, it’s important to meet the unique goals for your event. Kate will start by listening to your needs and personalizing just the right talk for your event. Schedule a one-on-one planning session with Kate to learn first-hand why booking Kate will make your event a sure hit.
Edutaining
You want an expert for your next event to bring fresh ideas that can result in real impact. But let’s face it. You also need a speaker with the ability to inspire and entertain. Kate Vitasek has mastered a unique “edutainment” style that delivers both an inspirational and educational event for your audience.
Customization. Customization. Customization.
Each event is unique. Each audience is different. Kate will personally participate in a planning session to tailor her message for your event. The extra effort ensures your audience walks away with the perfect message maximizing impact for your event.
RealPlay® – a High Energy, Interactive Option
Want to bring a high energy interactive option for your audience? Kate created RealPlay® – a dynamic approach for helping individuals put the concepts she shares into practice.
Ask Kate the best way to incorporate RealPlay® into your event during your personalized planning session.
TLC for your VIPs
Your VIPs deserve TLC from your speaker. Kate is happy to make herself available in a variety of ways for your VIPs. Dinner with your VIPs? Breakfast before your event kicks off? Book signing? No problem. For an even bigger impact consider having Kate do invitation-only seminar with your VIPs following her opening keynote with the larger audience.
Proven Content
Kate’s award-winning research led to six books on the art, science and practice of highly collaborative business relationships. She has appeared on CNN, Bloomberg, Fox Business News, and NPR and her work has been featured in over 300 articles including Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Chief Executive magazine. Kate brings her research to life in her evocative speeches and seminars that will inspire and power your team with proven strategies and tools.
Versatile
Collaboration and Win-Win business relationships are a topic that is a natural fit for just about any type of event. Kate can tailor her message to deliver a high energy and evocative opening keynote speech to set the tone for your entire meeting. Or she can design the perfect closing keynote to reinforce a message of teamwork, trust, and partnership for teammates as they head back to work to deliver winning business relationships. For those wanting a deeper dive, Kate offers an extended seminar/workshop experience with a variety of interactive RealPlay® sessions where attendees learn to put the Vested theory into practice in a more intimate setting.
Authentic. Real. Real-World Experience.
Kate is not your typical academic. So don’t expect death-by-PowerPoint about her research. Rather Kate’s passion stems from the fact she has seen the good, bad and ugly of partnerships first-hand. She held corporate/executive positions on both the “buy” side and the “sell” side. And she has also been a consultant. The result is an authentic style that touches the heart and soul of your audience and makes a lasting impact beyond the meeting.
What You Can Expect
Worried about getting the right speaker for your event? So is Kate. That is why she goes the extra mile – before, during and after your event.
When you book Kate for a speaking event or workshop, you can expect the following:
- Your phone calls and emails will always be responded to promptly and with the utmost professionalism.
- You’ll have a pre-event phone consultation to discuss your needs. This includes a content planning session with Kate where she can listen to your goals and challenges and work with you to customize a presentation that will deliver the most for your audience.
- No surprise costs. The fee quoted for your event will always include any customization and tailoring. For example, Kate will personalize your event by picking case studies and examples that will best resonate with your audience.
- We will go over the logistics details – ensuring we nail all of those little things that are important for a successful event. Whether it is when and how to do the AV check to having Kate give VIPs at your event special treatment, we are committed to getting the details right to make your event a success.
- If desired, we will prepare a customized “care packet” of handout materials to supplement learning after your event. Care packets include things like the presentation shared during the talk, articles, case studies or videos to help attendees put the strategies they’ve learned into action.
- You’ll receive a follow-up survey that will allow you to provide feedback and suggestions on how well Kate met your needs and how we might improve in the future.
“Great content – great presenter! Expert advice from someone with experience at all sides of the purchasing relationship.”
Aberdeen Supply Chain Management Summit
“When I need content that will impress and inspire, I know who to call.”
Katharine O’Reilly
Executive Director, eyefortransport
“…enlightening and provocative…”
Chyai Mulberg
Conference Producer, Richmond Events
Most Requested Topics
The Vested Way: How a “What’s in it for We” Mindset Revolutionizes Business Relationships
As the world marches towards reinvention, Vested partnerships aren’t just the best way to achieve business success; they’re the only way to work together to create success for a future we can no longer prepare for or envision. In this evocative speech, Kate Vitasek reveals why a “What’s in it for We” mindset has the power to revolutionize business relationships. Audiences will leave inspired to seek out the business equivalent of a Sherpa to help them climb their own “Mt. Everest” — achieving success with business relationships many thought were impossible.
Audiences will leave this presentation with insights including:
- How everyone can go home a winner in a world of “winner takes all.”
- How cooperation, not competition, guarantees the best results for everyone involved.
- How to apply John Nash’s Nobel Prizewinning equilibrium theory.
Vested: How P&G, McDonald’s and Microsoft Are Redefining Winning in Business Relationships
The 21st century demands businesses innovate, create value and get sustainable results. Kate Vitasek shares the real stories and real results of organizations using a Vested approach to redefine how they “win” in their business relationships. Whether it’s a relationship with suppliers, employees or a foreign government, Vitasek shows how the Vested concept has helped organizations develop award-winning and sustainable results.
Audiences will leave this presentation with insights including:
- How giants like P&G and Microsoft are redefining winning.
- How McDonald’s inspires their suppliers to invest millions and create innovations that keep them on the top of the business rankings.
- How the Department of Energy turned a highly toxic weapons sites into a wildlife refuge.
- How a small business with big ideas is helping their clients increase productivity by 300%.
The New Economics of Commerce: Evocative Insights That Will Change the Way You Think About Business
The 21st century demands businesses rethink their approach to commerce. Kate Vitasek provides what may seem paradoxical — a lighthearted yet evocative overview of some of the best academic research into how companies should be approaching the economics of commerce in the new millennium.
Audiences will leave this presentation with insights including:
- John Nash’s equilibrium theory proving businesses can turn 1+1 into 2 (or more) by working collaboratively to optimize results and solve tough business problems.
- Solow’s Law explaining why brains are better than brawn when trying to improve your business’s balance sheet.
- Coase’s Law reminding business how to avoid the ever-fatal “Priceberg.”
- Oliver Williamson’s advice on why being nice to suppliers can help reduce costs better than a “Pit Bull of Procurement.”
Getting to We: Negotiating Agreements for Highly Collaborative Relationships
For years, businesses have worked under the assumption that the goal of negotiation is simply to get the deal. Hundreds of books have been written on “getting to yes”, “getting past no” and “getting more” — the prevalent assumption being that once you get a signature, you’re done, Yet these strategies and tactics focus merely on getting the deal, not making sure the deal provides sustained value in the future. In today’s ever-dynamic and interconnected world, business success depends on strategic relationships built to endure long after the deal is done.
Audiences will leave this presentation with insights including:
- Why “getting to yes” is no longer enough.
- Why they must challenge the way they’ve traditionally played the “game” of negotiations.
- The proven five-step approach to negotiating a relationship, not just specific deal points.
Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing
Many outsourcing deals are structured with fundamental flaws in the business model that prevent transformational results. The University of Tennessee’s research into leading companies that are challenging conventional outsourcing proves outsourcing is not a dirty word. Rather, it can help organizations transform their business — if they create highly strategic and Vested supplier relationships. Kate Vitasek shares the game-changing rules for outsourcing from her research and book Vested Outsourcing: Five Rules That Will Transform Outsourcing.
Audiences will leave this presentation with insights including:
- What Vested Outsourcing is.
- 10 critical flaws inherent in most outsourced business relationships.
- The Five Rules of Vested Outsourcing that transform how companies outsource.
Strategic Sourcing In the New Economy
The business battlefield of this century will be based on harnessing the latent power of Sourcing Business Models. The procurement playing field is no longer one of lowest cost or best value, but knowing when and how to apply collaborative relationships where suppliers are incentivized to drive transformation and innovation with purposeful investments designed to create value for your organization.
Attendees will leave with a fresh perspective and a new lens for thinking about supplier relationships. Key takeaways include:
- Why some of the worlds’ most popular sourcing strategies are incomplete for today’s modern procurement challenges
- Why and when it is essential to make the shift from “buying” to “architecting” supplier relationships
- How systems thinking can optimize supplier relationships
- How to apply Sourcing Business Model theory for any spend category
Attendees will also leave with a link to download an open source Business Model Mapping resource they can use immediately to turn Sourcing Business Models theory into practice.
Kate is happy to draw on the above popular topics or create a customized speech or workshop for your event that draws on her vast experience as one of the world’s most influential experts in global commerce.
Whether you’re looking for an inspirational and motivating conference speaker with a fresh perspective on business, or a customized workshop to point your team in the right direction, your group will walk away motivated and armed with actionable steps to improve their own business relationships
What They Are Saying
“It’s rare in any industry that you find a speaker as passionate, thought-provoking and engaging as Kate Vitasek.”
Supply Chain Forum Executive Conference Organizer
“We wanted a presentation on collaboration that would be both engaging and insightful for a mixed group of business, education and elected officials. Kate delivered!”
John Grueling
President & CEO for Will County Center for Economic Development
“Enlightening. Engaging. Evocative. A 21st century pioneer.
Much-needed advice. A paradoxical truth. WOW”
Contact Kate
I’d Love to Learn About Your Event
Let’s face it. Booking a speaker for your event is a big deal. That is why I always personally consult with event coordinators and key stakeholders about their event. This helps me tailor the perfect speech or seminar for your organization guaranteed to address your specific challenges and goals. Let’s chat about your event!
- Reach Kate Via Email: kate(at)vestedway(dot)com
- Reach Kate Via Phone: (206) 414-8378
- Connect Via the Form Below. Requests are almost always responded to in 24 hours.