Prospeakers is proud to announce the addition of two wonderful speakers: Kathleen Taylor & Howard Behar.
Welcome to the team!
As a global executive, Kathleen Taylor attributes her business success to an unyielding customer focus, strong core values, constant innovation and authentic leadership. These key elements combined with her ability to build high performing teams have enabled the ongoing delivery of superior long term results. During almost 25 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts – and over a decade serving successively as its President, Worldwide Business Operations (1999), Chief Operating Officer (2007) and CEO (2010) – Katie played an instrumental role in establishing the Company’s global portfolio of luxury properties and ensuring the brand’s international success. In that period, Four Seasons quadrupled in size – growing to 90 locations operating in 37 countries – while at the same time earning more consumer and industry awards than any other luxury hospitality brand in history.
Katie’s unique leadership style, negotiating expertise, and strong relationship management capabilities allowed her to drive the modern evolution of an iconic Company with the support of almost 100 hotel ownership and development partners around the world.
Katie is the recipient of numerous accolades for her business achievements, including being the first woman ever to receive the Corporate Hotelier of the World award from Hotels Magazine. She also received the Cornell University Hospitality Innovator Award, the Schulich School of Business Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership, the inaugural Medal for Career Achievement from the Hennick Centre for Business and Law at York University, and has been inducted into the Canadian Marketing Hall of Legends.
Yet, despite myriad professional achievements, Katie has made work-life integration her mantra, always describing her relationships with her husband and their three grown children as her “greatest achievements”.
Howard Behar’s career in business spans over 50 years, all in consumer oriented businesses covering several industries. He retired from Starbucks Coffee after 21 years where he led both the domestic business, as President of North America, and was the founding President of Starbucks International. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.
Howard now serves on several Boards including for-profit and non-profit organizations. They include Anna’s Linens, Sterling Savings Bank, Education Elements and the advisory boards of Anthos Capital and Roadtrip Nation. His non-profit commitments are to the University of Washington Foundation, and Washington Business Alliance.
Howard is committed to the development and education of our future leaders and has been a longtime advocate of the Servant Leadership Model. He has also authored a book on leadership titled “It’s Not About the Coffee”
He lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife Lynn, and enjoys spending time with his children and his five grandchildren. Boating is his favorite hobby, exploring the waterways from Seattle to Alaska.
To book Kathleen or Howard for your next event, give us a call at 416-420-4525 or be in touch via our site.