Catherine Urbanowicz
COO/Organization, People & Culture Strategist
Transformation, operational strategy, and business alignment expert. Experienced in designing and executing complex organizational initiatives that enhance efficiency, support growth, and drive long-term value. Led restructuring and expansion initiative with 47% YOY revenue growth, increased operational capacity by 70%, and drove significant EBITDA margin improvements. Experience in professional services, international development, and global nonprofits.
Areas of Specialization:
Strategic Organizational Alignment & Execution – Catherine excels at translating business vision into actionable strategy, aligning structure, resources, and leadership to support enterprise-wide goals. Has driven operational efficiency, while improving service delivery to enable sustainable growth across sectors. One organizational restructuring scaled delivery capacity +70% while reducing logistics and procurement costs -18%. She wholistically integrates organizational design, fiscal oversight, and strategic planning to optimize outcomes in complex, evolving environments.
Optimized, Data-Informed Operations – Catherine leverages analytics and performance systems to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and reduce costs. Her effective use of designs, tools and processes achieved 99.8% execution accuracy and 97% production efficiency. Data-driven strategies have accelerated cross-functional execution, improved forecasting, and enabled teams to scale with agility, resulting in 90% cost savings through streamlined workforce acquisition strategies and a 22% increase in engagement aligned to corporate objectives.
Enterprise and Leadership Transformation – Whether driven by organic growth, market expansion or restructuring needs, Catherine aligns strategy, structure, and execution to successfully guide leadership transitions, redesign operations, and lead post-integration initiatives. She has transformed cultures and integrated operations across 15+ startups and multiple M&A transactions ensuring results are not just achieved, but sustained.
Industries: Catherine’s experience spans professional services, commercial and residential development, manufacturing and heavy equipment, technology, nonprofit networks, media and creative sectors, public-private partnerships, and international diplomatic service across North America, MENA, and Eastern Europe.
Education: Cornell University & Queen’s University (Dual Executive MBA); McMaster University (Honours BA, International Relations, Human Rights & Psychology); Certified Business Management Consultant; Senior HR Professional; Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion.
Multi-lingual: English, Arabic, French (professional), Russian (working proficiency).