Kate Vitasek

Kate Vitasek is an international authority for her award-winning research and Vested® business model for highly-collaborative relationships. Vitasek is a Distinguished Fellow for the University of Tennessee’s Global Supply Chain Institute where sh leads UT’s Certified Deal Architect program – a progressive program teaching the art, science and practice of how to create – and sustain – highly collaborative win-win business relationships.

Kate’s research has led to eight books. Vitasek is widely published with over 400 articles in publications including Harvard Business Review, Chief Executive Magazine, The Economist, FAST Company, Information Week, CIO Magazine, World Financial Review and Supply Chain Management Review and the University of Pacific Law Review. Her latest book – Preventing the Dispute Before it Happens – is published by the American Bar Association and was written in collaboration with Jim Groton, Ellen Waldman and Allen Waxman.

Vitasek has been lauded by World Trade Magazine as one of the “Fabulous 50+1” most influential people impacting global commerce and she has been featured on CNN International, Bloomberg, NPR, Fox Business News, and Forbes for her practical and research-based advice for creating and sustaining strategic business relationships.

Kate Vitasek is in both the Sourcing Industry Group and the International Association of Outsourcing Professional’s “Hall of Fame,” is a World Commerce and Contracting “Fellow,” and has been named a “Power Influencer” by World Financial Review.  In 2023 Vitasek was honored as the 2023 recipient of CPR’s Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention award.

Prior to joining the University of Tennessee, Vitasek held positions with P&G, Microsoft, Accenture, Stream International and Supply Chain Visions – a boutique-consulting firm she founded which was recognized by ARC Advisory Group as one of the “10 Coolest” boutique consulting firms.