Kathy Jourdain

Kathy Jourdain is an internationally recognized consultant, trainer and coach with two decades of experience. She is a co-founder, with Jerry Nagel, of Worldview Intelligence. The innovative, thoughtful approach they have developed to understanding the impact of worldviews on how we each see and interact with the world around us has been well received in business, government, not-for-profit and community environments, as a general practice and to advance specific issues.

Worldviews are the lenses through which we each see and experience the environment around us and the world more globally. They are different for each of us and they work largely in our unawareness. Individuals, teams, organizations, communities, cultures, cities and countries all have worldviews. Worldview Intelligence is the ability to give voice and visibility to many worldviews, to make connections, open explorations and bridge differences. Our proprietary Worldview Intelligence Six Dimensions Framework provides a structure to explore and understand our own worldviews and the worldviews of others, including teams and organizations.

Our worldviews are closely associated with our sense of identity. When we feel our identity has been challenged, we can respond as if our very life has been threatened. Changing minds or worldviews is not as simple as we want to believe. This is why Worldview Intelligence draws on neuroscience and behavioural science to understand how and why we are attached to our worldviews, why clashes of worldviews happen and why arguing does not work to change people's minds. Worldview Intelligence offers insights and strategies to open exploratory conversations and make progress on issues that matter. 

Building Trust and Relationship at the Speed of Change, the first Worldview Intelligence book, was published in January 2020. Praise for Building Trust and Relationship at the Speed of Change includes its practicality, stories that bring the concepts alive and reflection questions that guide the reader in understanding their own worldview and its impact on building trust and relationship. The book is the basis of a series of online courses, webinars and other resources available at WorldviewPrograms.com. Kathy and Jerry are currently working on a book for change leaders: Dancing on the Razor's Edge of Change.

A consultant, facilitator, trainer and speaker for over two decades, Kathy's diversity of experience in process design and co-creating adaptive strategy is called upon by a wide variety of clients and colleagues in addressing issues that matter. The variety of clients is represented by Black Hills Energy, Sanford Health, the Kansas Economic Development Association (KEDA), the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), Blandin Foundation, Bush Foundation, Wilder Foundation, South Dakota Mines University, United Tribes Technical College, IGR University in Rennes, Bermuda College, Turtle Mountain College, Oceanview Long-Term Care, Halifax Harbour Bridges and municipal governments.

Kathy was a driving force behind Envision Halifax (now Engage Nova Scotia): a voluntary organization whose mission was to ignite a culture of civic engagement. She co-designed and co-facilitated the leadership development program and her leadership was recognized in 2009 with an Award. She is a global steward and practitioner of the Art of Hosting Conversations that Matter, a body of knowledge that offers a suite of patterns and practices for working with complexity and to engage the minds, hearts and commitment of individuals, groups, organizations and systems on issues of collective interest or concern.

As CEO of the Atlantic Division of a major health charity, she streamlined their internal systems. During her not-for-profit career, she was a member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives (C.S.A.E.), and was on both the local and national boards. She earned the designation of Certified Association Executive (C.A.E.). Her outstanding leadership and contribution in the not-for-profit sector were recognized with local and national awards.

Kathy is certified in Strategic Planning and Strategic Change Management through the International Center for Strategic Management headquartered in San Diego, CA. She holds an MBA from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is a graduate of the Banff Centre for Management’s Executive Leadership Program.

Kathy's company, Shape Shift Strategies Inc, is based in Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada. It, along with Worldview Intelligence Canada is certified by WEConnect International as a Woman Owned Business. Kathy's memoir, Embracing the Stranger in Me: A Journey to Openheartedness, has been hailed as a deeply authentic sharing of the journey that has shaped who she is today. She is also a contributing author to Gift of the Hit.