Kathy H.
Motivational Speaker on Leadership, Empowerment and Wisdom - Inventor of Pause to Riseยฎ at Heart Mind Tuning
Information Technology and Services
Education: Statistics - Masters in Engineering from University of Southern California (USC)
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Biography
As a speaker, Kathy Hadizadeh empowers IT, Product, and Engineering leaders to enhance their leadership skills, increase their impact, and thrive without burnout. With 15 years of corporate leadership experience at Fortune 100 and 500 companies, including DIRECTV and Omnicom, Kathy, a former global IT executive, has a deep understanding of the pressures and complexities of fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
Over the past six years, Kathy has helped more than 1,500 leaders across 30+ industries level up, live more fulfilled lives, and embrace human-centered leadershipโa sought-after skill as AI reshapes the workforce.
As the founder of Heart Mind Tuning Corp and the creator of the trademarked ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ยฎ methodology, Kathy leverages her expertise in transformational coaching and vertical development to help leaders break through limiting patterns, enhance their decision-making capacity under pressure, and develop a sustainable leadership style that fosters both personal and organizational growth.
Named a top coach for her innovative approach, Kathyโs insights have been featured in leadership forums and executive panels. Her storytelling and actionable insights captivate audiences, providing them with the tools to shift their mindset from "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐" as the key to success, to "๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐." Her expertise and presence inspire leaders to explore a new perspective on their world, as they connect with the common humanity in Kathyโs stories and see a reflection of themselves. By the end of her talks, audiences feel empowered to embrace a ๐๐๐๐ ๐ in how they lead, think, and approach their work and life.
Passion
Many high-achieving individuals struggle with a lack of fulfillment. Despite having the right knowledge and experience, they often fall short of becoming the leader theyโve always wished they had. Leadership can feel isolating, and without a trusted advisor to confide in, itโs easy to feel stuck. So, whatโs missing?
I am passionate about empowering these leaders to discover their authentic selves, unlock their full potential, and create lasting, meaningful change in both their personal and professional lives. I believe human-centered leadership is the foundation of thriving organizations and am committed to helping leaders build resilience, emotional intelligence, and adaptability in our fast-evolving world.
Surface-level achievements rarely satisfy the soul. The constant busyness of modern life keeps leaders spinning but deprives them of true meaning and fulfillment. Through my LeaderSHIFT system, I guide individuals to pause, reflect, and embrace transformational growth. By regaining the power of their attention through Pause to Rise and aligning their actions with the desires of their heart, they can evolve into inspiring leaders while enhancing their well-being and sense of purpose.
My mission is to help leaders find balance and purpose, creating a ripple effect of growth, compassion, and innovation that transforms teams, organizations, and communities. Each step forward brings us closer to a world of wisdomโwhere the heart thinks, the mind feels, and the river of wisdom flows.
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I am willing to travel
More than 100 miles
When it comes to payments
Everything is negotiable
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Best Story
The story of my journey to America is one of heartbreak, humor, and unwavering grit. After two years of relentless effortโtraveling to Singapore, Dubai, and Cyprus to take the GRE and other examsโI finally earned admission to some PhD programs in the U.S. My dream was within reachโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Iran doesnโt have a U.S. embassy, so my visa quest turned into a whirlwind adventure. I traveled to Ankara, Istanbul, Cyprus, and Syriaโracking up six rejections along the way. Each โnoโ felt like a door slamming in my face, but as someone once said,โ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ I refused to take my eyes off mine.
By the time I reached Syria for my sixth attempt, I was running on sheer determination, already plotting Plan B: I had secured a Schengen visa to tour Europe in search of securing a visa and I had a flight to Milan from Damascus booked! . As I sat in the embassy waiting room, I remembered the words, โ๐๐ช๐๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ช๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐๐๐๐ก๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐ก๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ก๐ค๐จ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ช๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ข.โThat officer finally said yes, and in that moment, my entire world cracked open.
Looking back, the whole experience felt like a comedy of errors mixed with a masterclass in resilience. It taught me one profound truth: โ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ .โ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27JeCRca9PY&t=8s
Origin Story
While serving as a Global IT Leader at DIRECTV, managing onshore and offshore teams, I got a front-row seat to what FEARLESS LEADERSHIP really means. Spoiler alert: it wasnโt all about charging ahead like a superhero. It made me pause and reflect on my own fears ๐จ and the fascinating quirks of the human mind. That intense year was further complicated by the loss of my beloved ๐ต๐ผ grandmother, and as if life wasnโt throwing enough curveballs, my burnout and grief decided to tag-team and exacerbate a Traumatic Brain ๐ง Injury I sustained in 2016.
During my healing journey, I stumbled upon the life-changing power of coaching and mindfulness meditation ๐งโโ๏ธ. Letโs just say, my brain (and my sanity) owe a lot to those moments of stillness. Inspired by my experience with fearless leadership in tech and armed with a newfound passion for personal growth, I dove into a new path of learning, certifications, and self-discovery.
In 2018, I founded Heart Mind Tuning and havenโt looked back since. Over the years, Iโve had the privilege of working one-on-one with more than 1,500 leaders across 30+ industries, as well as leading countless group coaching sessions. Itโs been a wild ride, and I wouldnโt trade it for anythingโexcept maybe a lifetime supply of dark chocolate and ending up on the Richard Bronson retreat in Virgin Island!
Example talks
๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐ ๐: ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
In ๐๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐๐ ๐: ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, Kathy Hadizadeh reveals how C-level women leaders in technology can harness data-driven insights and self-awareness to amplify their leadership impact. Drawing from her expertise in personality assessments, emotional intelligence, and neuroscience, Kathy demonstrates how leaders can use these tools to make informed decisions, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful results. This talk highlights how cultivating a deep understanding of oneโs strengths and potential blind spots can sharpen leadership, enhance resilience, and inspire innovation within tech teams.
Takeaways:
* Understanding the role of data driven assessment in self awareness
* Learning neuroscience based approaches to becoming more impactful
Audience: Women Leaders
Format: Keynote, Presentation, Panel
From Silent Observer to Bold Leader: Thriving in Male-Dominated Workspaces
Confidence is more important than competence.
Confidence often outweighs competence when it comes to climbing the leadership ladder. In this empowering talk, Kathy draws from her years of facilitating womenโs leadership groups and her own experience as a leader in male-dominated industries to uncover the barriers that hold women back from reaching their full potential.
Attendees will gain:
* A clear understanding of the difference between competence and confidence.
* Insights into Executive Presenceโwhat it truly is and isnโt.
* The importance of building a personal brand and why it matters for career success.
* Practical steps to craft an authentic and impactful leadership brand.
This session equips women leaders to step out of the shadows, embrace their boldness, and thrive in spaces where their voices are needed most.
The target audience are women leaders.
This topic is available as workshop/speech/demonstration for larger audience and group coaching for smaller audience.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐: ๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก-๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐
In the fast-paced, high-pressure world of tech and engineering, leaders are often celebrated for their ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐, ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐ก๐๐ข-๐จ๐ค๐ก๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฌ๐๐จ๐จ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ง๐๐จ๐ช๐ก๐ฉ๐จ under tight deadlines. Yet, this constant pursuit of achievement can lead to ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฃ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ, ๐๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ค๐ข ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐จ.
This talk introduces the concept of "๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐" as a transformative tool for tech and engineering leaders to break free from the relentless hamster wheel of high achievement. Drawing on her own journey from a global IT executive to an executive advisor and coach, as well as insights from coaching over 1,500 leaders in tech and engineering, Kathy will share actionable strategies to help you:
* Step back and recalibrate your priorities to align with your long-term vision.
* Cultivate clarity and innovation by integrating deliberate pauses into your leadership style.
* Redefine success beyond constant output, fostering sustainable impact and personal fulfillment.
* Discover how pausing strategically can empower you to lead with greater focus, creativity, and influenceโwhile building a culture that values both innovation and well-being.
This session is an invitation to reimagine leadership in tech and engineering, where achievement and sustainability go hand in hand.
Target audience: Tech, Product, Analytics and Engineering professionals
This topic is available as speech or workshop. It can be customized for small or large audiences.
๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ: ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐
At 25, Kathy set off for India, convinced that happiness was the key to life. She thought she had it figured out after learning about contentment from the teachings of Oshu Rajneesh. After all, happiness was just being okay with the present moment, right? But as life often does, it threw her a curveball in 2017, when she realized that what she had been searching for wasn't happiness at allโit was fulfillment.
Join Kathy as she shared the pivotal lessons learned from her travels, her leadership journey, and her personal evolution. She will explore why happiness is often mistaken for fulfillment and why this misstep can lead to a life of perpetual discontent. With a mix of humor, personal stories, and a touch of philosophy, Iโll unravel the difference between happiness and fulfillment, and more importantly, why understanding fulfillment can transform not only your life but also your leadership.
Takeaways:
* Why fulfillment is the missing piece in most leadership journeys.
* How to recognize the difference between seeking happiness and striving for fulfillment.
* Practical steps to achieve fulfillment in life and leadership.
* How fulfillment leads to sustainable happiness (yes, thatโs possible!).
This talk is designed for leaders, professionals, and anyone curious about the deeper questions of life and work. If youโve ever wondered why chasing happiness hasnโt quite worked for you, this session will provide the clarity you need to shift your mindset and embrace a more meaningful pursuit.
(PS: Spoiler alertโfulfillment wonโt be found on Instagram.)
This topic is available as speech or demonstration.