Session Description
As the workforce continues to evolve, leadership is increasingly defined not by title, but by the leader’s ability to develop people, build trust, and create environments where people and work can thrive. Rapid technological change, shifting workforce expectations, and increasing organizational complexity requires leaders who can coach for growth, demonstrate authenticity and integrity, and foster cultures of psychological safety that support learning, innovation, and high performance.
Kara Withers with the Washington State Department of Corrections will explore three leadership competencies that are quickly becoming essential for leading today’s workforce; adopting a coach-led approach to developing others, leveraging authenticity and strategic storytelling to strengthen influence and connection, and cultivating psychologically safe teams where feedback, learning, and continuous improvement become the bedrock of team culture. Participants will leave with knowledge, ideas, and practical strategies for strengthening employee engagement, accelerating development, and leading teams that are more resilient, adaptive, and prepared for the future of work.
Learning Objectives
- Integrate coaching-based leadership practices that empower employees, strengthen critical thinking, and support individualized development.
- Build trust and influence through authentic leadership, using vulnerability and strategic storytelling to inspire commitment and meaningful connection.
- Foster a culture of psychological safety where learning, experimentation, and feedback accelerate individual and team performance.
Presenter Information
Kara Withers began her journey in state service with the Department of Corrections (DOC) in 2013. Kara is currently the Director of Organizational Development for DOC, where she leads a purpose-driven team focused on supporting leaders, staff, and justice-involved individuals to thrive through enhancing leadership capabilities, increasing staff resilience, and creating meaningful human connection. Her work sits at the intersection of evidence-based research and genuine relationships, bringing together the science of organizational development with her heart-led approach to developing people.
Kara’s most notable career contributions include chairing one of DOC’s Diversity Advisory Councils (2016-17) where she shared her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, and serving as the Operations Section Chief in the statewide Incident Command Post (ICP) for the response to the State Supreme Court ruling on State v. Blake (2021) which impacted hundreds of thousands of convictions dating back to the early 1970. While humbled and honored by those opportunities to lead, Kara’s greatest career highlight has been leading and collaborating in the co-creation of the DOC’s first-ever comprehensive leadership development initiative. This initiative has transformed into her life’s work and purpose and has grown to include the co-creation of two women’s leadership programs, an executive mentorship program, a nurse residency program, a leadership podcast, and numerous other programs designed to strengthen leadership, mentorship, and organizational effectiveness across the agency. In recognition of these efforts, Kara received the Governor’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 2024.
Kara holds an Associate of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, a project management certificate, and is a Prosci® Certified Change Management Practitioner and Certified Leadership Coach. She is known for translating research into practical, tangible tools and actionable strategies that help leaders build trust, cultivate psychological safety, develop others through coaching and mentorship, and lead with greater authenticity, influence, and impact.
Whether designing transformational learning experiences, facilitating in the classroom, or coaching new and emerging leaders, Kara believes the most effective leadership is both grounded in evidence and deeply human; where data informs decision and connection inspires lasting change.