Kristen Kavanaugh

Meet Kristen Kavanaugh, a dynamic force shaping the landscape between leadership practices and organizational culture in both corporate and government spheres. As the Co-founder and CEO of The Agency Initiative, a highly respected organizational development consulting firm in Austin, Texas, Kristen is at the forefront of equipping leaders and organizations to navigate their current workplace challenges and those that lie ahead.

Kristen is passionate about serving others. She is appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve as the Vice Chair of the Department’s Defense Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Her military experience and tech background uniquely position her to advise the Secretary on racial/ethnic diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity initiatives within the department.

Kristen's expertise was refined during her six-year journey at Tesla, a $700B global tech powerhouse, where she rose through the ranks to lead the global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Talent Management, and Learning & Development functions. Known for her empathetic leadership, unwavering commitment to serving others, and relentless dedication to fairness, Kristen played a pivotal role in driving Tesla toward a more inclusive and equitable culture.

As a queer, black, female veteran, being on the periphery is Kristen’s lived experience. She shares her journey in the military and tech sector to inspire others to lead courageously and authentically, create inclusive mission-driven organizations, and make positive impacts in the world. By embracing her personal journey, bringing people together, cultivating community partnerships, and facilitating constructive dialogues, Kristen gives voice to the silenced, space to those left behind, and hope for a better future. She has taken the stage at the Democratic National Convention, TEDx, the Grace Hopper Celebration, Yale University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Harvard Kennedy School, The Naval Academy, and the University of Southern California.

Kristen holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy.