Kay Peterson

Kay Peterson is the founder of the Institute for Experiential Learning, a coach, and organizational development consultant. Kay lives as a lifelong learner and brings an approach to curiosity, creativity, and inspiration to her clients.

Her previous career roles have included: clinical nurse specialist, sales manager, start-up entrepreneur, family-business owner, CEO, and president of a healthcare and library board. It was not until Kay “learned how to learn” with Experiential Learning that the lights went on regarding how people change and develop. Now, Kay delivers a creative and direct approach to help leaders and professionals to reach their highest potential at any point in their careers within organizations that are deliberately using the power of learning and development to thrive. She applies the values and ideas of Experiential Learning with clients and in her own life.

Kay’s goal is to put Experiential Learning on the agenda of every organizational change and development effort and anyone looking to enact personal change. Her research on learning flexibility is contributing to the already vast body of evidence about the power of learning to transform lives. Together with David A. Kolb, Kay has developed a Learning Style Flexibility 360° Assessment that promotes personal and professional development through by measuring skills associated with the Learning Styles of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0.

Kay earned a MS-POD and MBA from Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, a MN from Emory University and a BS from Vanderbilt University. She is a Board Certified Coach and Associate Certified Coach.  She has earned a Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry in Positive Business and Society Change, a Certificate for Developing Leadership through Emotional Intelligence for Coaching and Sustainable Change and is certified in the Hay Group Emotional and Social Competency Inventory and the Leadership Circle.  Kay has completed post-graduate training at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland in Gestalt Coaching, Training and Somatic Studies. Kay completed the Center for Leadership Maturity Coaching program focusing on vertical adult development. Her work in Experiential Learning has been published in HBR Guides, OD Practitioner and the Journal of Experiential Learning. She has co-authored a book with David A. Kolb published by Berrett-Koehler entitled How You Learn is How You Live: Using Nine Ways of Learning to Transform Your Life.  Kay can be reached at Peterson@experientiallearninginstitute.org.