Kate Malter McLean, Ph.D., is a Senior Director at Heidrick & Struggles, where she leads assessment innovation across the firm’s leadership advisory offerings. She focuses on integrating AI with qualitative and quantitative data to advance how leaders are evaluated, including the development of immersive assessments and next-generation leadership insights.
Kate partners closely with data science and product teams to translate research into scalable solutions, spanning leadership taxonomy development, people analytics, and AI-enabled coaching and assessment tools. Her work sits at the intersection of science, technology, and executive decision-making, helping organizations make more informed leadership choices.
With over 20 years of experience, she brings a multidisciplinary background as an industrial-organizational psychologist, with expertise in assessment design, product development, software implementation, and talent strategy. Her experience spans front-line selection, executive assessment, and employee engagement, enabling her to bridge rigorous science with practical business impact.
