Testimonials
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LEADERSHIP & RETIREMENT COACHING
Over the past 9 years, Dr. Kelly Ottman has served as my trusted leadership coach. Kelly has been instrumental in supporting my professional development as a leader. Her expertise spans the full arc of my administrative career, from my initial transition into leadership through my preparation for retirement. She brings deep knowledge of leadership principles and practices that she tailors to diverse situations, enabling growth both personally and professionally.
Her mentorship has been instrumental in developing my leadership capabilities and fostering a positive organizational culture that resonates with our stakeholders. She has equipped me with practical strategies to advance my team's performance and drive meaningful change for the greatest impact.
As I transitioned into retirement, she provided thoughtful guidance that helped me reframe this significant life change. Her support enabled me to explore new perspectives and possibilities, reshaping my understanding of success beyond my career.”
Her mentorship has been instrumental in developing my leadership capabilities and fostering a positive organizational culture that resonates with our stakeholders. She has equipped me with practical strategies to advance my team's performance and drive meaningful change for the greatest impact.
As I transitioned into retirement, she provided thoughtful guidance that helped me reframe this significant life change. Her support enabled me to explore new perspectives and possibilities, reshaping my understanding of success beyond my career.”
- Mark Supa, Retired Principal
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EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COACHING
Dr. Ottman is an exceptional leadership coach. I have had the privilege of working with her since 2018 (over 8 years). Throughout this time, she has been a warm, compassionate, and trustworthy coach, confidant, and teacher. She has been an invaluable support in my leadership journey. Her deep knowledge and unwavering professionalism have made every interaction meaningful and productive.
When I first began working with her, I was a middle management leader. She was instrumental in helping me recognize my potential and understand how I needed to show up for the stakeholders I led. Over the years, I grew substantially in my leadership skills, and I now serve as an executive leader.
Dr. Ottman has an exceptional ability to know when to ask the right question, hold up a mirror and push, or pause to share a story or relevant research. Her warmth and compassion create a space where honest reflection feels safe, while her professionalism and expertise ensure that every conversation is grounded and purposeful. It is because of her that I've developed the capacity to reflect thoughtfully and honestly on my own leadership practice.
When I first began working with her, I was a middle management leader. She was instrumental in helping me recognize my potential and understand how I needed to show up for the stakeholders I led. Over the years, I grew substantially in my leadership skills, and I now serve as an executive leader.
Dr. Ottman has an exceptional ability to know when to ask the right question, hold up a mirror and push, or pause to share a story or relevant research. Her warmth and compassion create a space where honest reflection feels safe, while her professionalism and expertise ensure that every conversation is grounded and purposeful. It is because of her that I've developed the capacity to reflect thoughtfully and honestly on my own leadership practice.
- Nicole Marble, PhD. Chief Academic Officer,
Wauwatosa School District
Wauwatosa School District
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ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE CONSULTING & FACILITATION
Kelly brought a thoughtful, strategic, and highly effective approach to the complex topic of employee engagement and its connection to organizational culture. Through her consulting and facilitation, she helped our team move from a broad and potentially ambiguous concept to a clear, practical employee engagement framework that is being cascaded to leaders across the organization to drive not only engagement but also better leadership skills.
Kelly brings exceptional skill in facilitating leadership teams through complex organizational issues. She has a rare ability to bring together diverse perspectives while skillfully navigating the contextual power dynamics that shape organizational life. She creates the conditions for productive dialogue, shared understanding, and genuine alignment around a common approach. The result was a focused, actionable framework that is helping our organization strengthen employee engagement while also developing stronger, more effective leaders.
I highly recommend Kelly as both a thought leader and a skilled facilitator. She has a rare ability to bring clarity, structure, alignment, and actionable outcomes to complex discussions and organizational initiatives.
Kelly brings exceptional skill in facilitating leadership teams through complex organizational issues. She has a rare ability to bring together diverse perspectives while skillfully navigating the contextual power dynamics that shape organizational life. She creates the conditions for productive dialogue, shared understanding, and genuine alignment around a common approach. The result was a focused, actionable framework that is helping our organization strengthen employee engagement while also developing stronger, more effective leaders.
I highly recommend Kelly as both a thought leader and a skilled facilitator. She has a rare ability to bring clarity, structure, alignment, and actionable outcomes to complex discussions and organizational initiatives.
- Chris Wells, EVP Strategy and Corporate Development at Charter Manufacturing
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GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT
It is my pleasure to be associated with Dr. Kelly Ottman, professor in the Radar School of Business in the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and leadership consultant.
Her expertise in leadership, strategic planning, team development and organizational behavior has been of unique value to me and the organization which I lead in India, Indo Universal Collaboration for Engineering Education (IUCEE) (https://iucee.org/).
IUCEE has the mission of assisting higher education institutions to produce graduates who are more employable and relevant to the needs of the changing world, using student-centric teaching and learning approaches. For the past 10 years, IUCEE has partnered with 50 institutions to build these skills into engineering education.
Kelly has visited India several times in recent years and offered workshops on academic leadership as well as effective teaching at several IUCEE colleges. In particular, her facilitation at two of our recent Annual Leadership Summits has been exceptional and has led to significant transformations in the outlook of the leadership of many of these institutions. During her most recent visit in 2025, she used interactive experiential learning strategies, with over 110 leader participants from over 40 Universities. The participants learned strategies which they applied immediately following the leadership summit to impact their leadership effectiveness.
I would like to note that during these visits, she has been able to understand the needs of the university owners and leaders in India who are a part of IUCEE. As a result, her assistance in leadership development and promoting a culture of collaboration has been extremely valuable to all of us at IUCEE in India.
Her expertise in leadership, strategic planning, team development and organizational behavior has been of unique value to me and the organization which I lead in India, Indo Universal Collaboration for Engineering Education (IUCEE) (https://iucee.org/).
IUCEE has the mission of assisting higher education institutions to produce graduates who are more employable and relevant to the needs of the changing world, using student-centric teaching and learning approaches. For the past 10 years, IUCEE has partnered with 50 institutions to build these skills into engineering education.
Kelly has visited India several times in recent years and offered workshops on academic leadership as well as effective teaching at several IUCEE colleges. In particular, her facilitation at two of our recent Annual Leadership Summits has been exceptional and has led to significant transformations in the outlook of the leadership of many of these institutions. During her most recent visit in 2025, she used interactive experiential learning strategies, with over 110 leader participants from over 40 Universities. The participants learned strategies which they applied immediately following the leadership summit to impact their leadership effectiveness.
I would like to note that during these visits, she has been able to understand the needs of the university owners and leaders in India who are a part of IUCEE. As a result, her assistance in leadership development and promoting a culture of collaboration has been extremely valuable to all of us at IUCEE in India.
- Dr. Krishna Vedula Executive Director, IUCEE, India Dean Emeritus,
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Massachusetts Lowell
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RETIREMENT COACHING
The path that I’m taking is non-traditional and rooted in faith. Kelly was accepting of this and helped me see my concerns and opportunities. Through the homework prescribed, it reinforced my direction and helped me clarify my thinking.
- Kathy, Board Member and Retired CEO Tech Industry
