Founder & Partner @ Kanvas | Foster Innovation, Develop Business Strategy, Drive Growth

Katie Nowak

It’s been 3 years without my dad.
Here’s what I'm reflecting on today -

My dad taught me to build a career that I loved.

He did that by taking me to his medical presentations and dinners around the world when I was young.

I remember I joined him at a private investigator meeting in Munich, Germany, and his colleagues were torn over whether or not Dr. Nowak’s 12-year-old daughter needed to sign an NDA to attend. 😂 

In that same meeting, he introduced himself as being from “Day-toi,” instead of Detroit, as everyone else was from various European cities. Lots of laughter ensued, and the whole room suddenly felt warmer, kinder. It was his magic.

Every time I travel internationally for work or step on stage (virtually or in-person), I think of my dad. 

Every time I make a pun or a joke in a meeting (approx 23408 times a day) and see my team light up, I think of my dad.

I wish I could share with him how watching his love of his work, and thus his love of people, all over the world fundamentally shaped who I am today….

…someone who loves what she does.

I often reflect on how I could someday pay this forward to my future family, someday.

How could I involve them in international travel? Have them attend my presentations or panels? Ask them to join me while I write invoices in my office? (That was hilarious - “what do you think, Kate, let’s add an hour, I read fast!!”) … and how might I make each shared moment more fun than the last?

Today, I’m reflecting that I hope to be even half of the role model that he was for me.

I hope this inspires a reflection for you, too - he would love that.

Miss you, dad.

—
I'm Katie Nowak, an investor, innovation leader, and new venture designer sharing examples & lessons weekly. Follow me + hit 🔔 to stay tuned.

Innovation Leader, New Venture Designer, Speaker @ Kanvas || Investor @ Altra Venture Partners

Persona Media

We believe in the power of thought leadership to drive your influence, build trust, and serve at scale.  Our clients have included leaders at SANS Institute, Center for Internet Security, World Economic Forum, AWS, Upwork, Salesforce, Gateway Church, Asset Funders Network, Phillips Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, along with startups, founders, speakers, consultants across the U.S.  

Our current clients include global leaders and organizations in national security, AI, cybersecurity.  

Each engagement is carefully assessed for fit, and accepted if we can provide meaningful value to you and your audience. A tailored team and work plan is built around you and your influence objectives.

CEO; Thought Leadership Strategist

I speak on the why and how of modern thought leadership. I’ve spoken at CMO Huddles, National Cybersecurity Alliance’s Convene Conference, various ERGs, network events, meetings and on panels, virtually and in person. If your audience needs to represent your brand, I can show them how.

Guest Speaker

Today's leaders share their own thought leadership journey. And I teach the tactics of personal writing, speaking, monetization, B2B revenue, and how to serve at scale. Shape the future of your field.

Host | How To: Thought Leadership podcast

SecurityBiaS

Advisor

Level Up Ventures

Mentor

DIY Influence

You’re a leader. Now it’s time to become a thought leader. So we built a learning network! Learn to market yourself and monetize your subject matter expertise in a supportive community. It’s time to bet on yourself.

Founder

SecureTheVillage

Head of Thought Leadership

The Webby Awards

Jury Member

Chief

Member

Citizens Committee for New York City

Chief Marketing Officer

Communities Foundation of Texas

Assistant to the Chief Philanthropy Officer

UC San Diego

Corporate Communications

Thought Leadership Strategist | AI, Cybersecurity, National Security | 15-year founder | Social media obsessed | Build your influence to serve at scale.

If you’re reading this, you have influence. Everyone does. It’s just a matter of how adept you are at welding it to get what you need done. Stick around to learn from a thought leadership strategist for startups, executives, and orgs in AI, cybersecurity, national security. 

I’ve seen thought leadership win when marketing impact is dull in an AI-powered world and the customer journey is fragmented and self-driven. 

I’m obsessed with how ideas spread, how people earn trust, and how our brightest minds can serve at scale. 

Equally obsessed with sharing these ideas that I learn in client work and studying the leadership field with all interested in expanding their influence. 

In my work, I advise and create thought leadership toward revenue and influence, and to help clients create a more secure tomorrow. 

At my firm, Persona Media, now 15 years in, my team and I develop and execute visibility strategies, from idea and interview to live thought leadership content. We embed within executive and stakeholder ecosystems, partnering with your organization's comms, product, and policy teams to align with strategy behind what’s being built and align thought leadership to bring about those revenue and influence objectives. 

Every message we craft is grounded in trust, discretion, and a deep respect for the complexity and consequence of their work. A handful of examples of our work: 

Our client engagements often begin with board members in quiet conversations asking our help to make their C-suite comfortable and confident (palatable!) on camera. 

We work alongside crisis comms to adapt statements into something palatable the humans and social platforms. 

We take keynotes from our clients and turn them into TikToks, blogs, articles in major publications that your PR team can work with. 

Our thought leadership content becomes the best performing marketing content on your brand channels.

I am based in Dallas with my brilliant communications strategist and YouTuber husband and two daughters. Here, there’s always a notebook open, books consumed, nerding out over 'the future of,' sci-fi, and tech, cooking avoidance, and the outdoors. 

I teach weekly, speak often, and host the How to Thought Leadership podcast. My first book, coming in 2026, is a reinvention field guide to align on what you want, what the market wants from you, and how to MVP that brand in AI-first world.

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Katie Nowak's LinkedIn Performance

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