Who We Are
Fortune 500 leadership and communication coaches and engaging keynote speakers, Jennifer Edwards and Katie McCleary, are passionate about curiosity, conversations, culture, and collaboration. They are the authors of BRIDGE THE GAP: Breakthrough Communication Tools to Transform Work Relationships from Challenging to Collaborative (McGraw-Hill, Feb. 17, 2022), which shows everyday professionals how to use the social psychology of human connection and behavior to drive meaningful communication and collaboration at work by operationalizing curiosity. Bridge the Gap is a thoroughly researched book, featuring credible data and best practices from 59 thought leaders and professionals.
Edwards and McCleary know the power of collaboration between diverse, talented, and smart people. They embrace their own dichotomies: Conservative/Liberal; Country/Rock-n-Roll; Christian/Buddhist; Executive/Creative; Wealth/Upper Middle Class, Jennifer and Katie have succeeded in helping thousands find the sweet spot in their relationships by transforming how they think, communicate, and behave across the divide. Their work has appeared in Fast Company, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Inc., Apple News, PBS, NPR, New York Post, Shondaland, ComputerWorld, and more.
Jennifer Edwards, MA,
is a business and leadership advisor working with Fortune 500 companies and boards, equipping them to perform and collaborate optimally when pressure and stress hit. She is a partner at Winning Streak Ventures, an early- stage venture capital fund which invests in disruptive technology companies. She co-authored Bridge the Gap: Breakthrough Communication Tools to Transform Work Relationships From Challenging to Collaborative (McGraw Hill). In 2022, Inc. Magazine named it 1 of 3 business books to read. Her bridging differences framework fuels better conversations, communication, and collaboration in corporations, schools, government, and social-sector organizations, and has been adopted by many top leaders, teams and boards across the globe. Her work has been featured in Forbes, WSJ, Fast Company, PBS, New York Post, Apple News, Shondaland, Computerworld, and more. She lives in Granite Bay, California and enjoys a vibrant life of family, cooking, wine, golf, the gospel, and building communities with great humans.
Meet Katie, MFA,
is a storyteller, professor of leadership, and a socially driven entrepreneur who helps leaders, changemakers, and creatives launch big ideas that change lives. She co-authored Bridge the Gap: Breakthrough Communication Tools to Transform Work Relationships From Challenging to Collaborative (McGraw Hill). In 2022, Inc. Magazine named it 1 of 3 business books to read. Her bridging differences framework fuels better conversations, communication, and collaborations in corporations, schools, government, and social-sector organizations, and has been adopted by many top leaders, teams, and boards across the globe. Her work has been featured in Forbes, PBS, New York Post, Apple News, Shondaland, Computerworld, Vox, and more. She is the host of “The Drive” podcast on NPR’s CapRadio with the American Leadership Forum-MV and teaches leadership in a Master’s program at Pacific University. She lives in Fair Oaks, California on a hobby farm with her children, partner, and a menagerie of feathered and furry creatures.
Meet Katie
Katie McCleary, MFA, is a socially driven entrepreneur and storyteller who trains leaders, creatives, and changemakers to launch big ideas that uplift communities and people. She is the founder of 916 Ink, a nonprofit that has transformed over 4,500 vulnerable youth into confident authors who know the power of story and their voice. She is the host of “The
Drive” podcast on NPR’s CapRadio with the American Leadership Forum-MV. Katie is a professor of leadership in Pacific University’s Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership program. She lives in Fair Oaks, California on a hobby farm with her children, partner, and a menagerie of feathered and furry creatures.
What People Are Saying
“Bridge the Gap teaches professionals how to intentionally put genuine curiosity at the heart of any working relationship where understanding, collaboration, and respect are paramount for success. Packed with examples and tools, this is a truly practical guide to being effective at work in the 21st century.”
Amy C. Edmondson, Professor, Harvard Business School; Author, THE FEARLESS ORGANIZATION (Wiley, 2019)
“Teamwork is ubiquitous—and underappreciated. Almost every job depends not only on getting the work done, but also on getting that work done through other people. Edwards and McCleary have written a clear and timely guide for any professional who wants to build a better collaborative environment.”
Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of WHEN, DRIVE, and TO SELL IS HUMAN
“For years I have asked ‘Why do people struggle to understand each other?’ It’s the wrong question! A better question is’ ‘How do any of us ever understand each other?” And that’s because there is a veritable chasm-the gap as McCleary and Edwards out it-keeping is in our own heads, keep us lonely and our relationships less effective than they could be. The challenge and the solution are brilliantly captured in this new book!”
Greg McKeown, author of the New York Times bestsellers, EFFORTLESS and ESSENTIALISM
“Bridge the Gap” is ripe for the marketplace. It’s a great resource for engaging resistant employees in diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging work.”
Marilyn Tam, Former CEO of Aveda Corp., President of Reebok Apparel and Retail Group, and Vice President of Nike Inc.