K.M. Zouhary, the principal of KMZ Advisors, coaches executives, lawyers, leadership teams, physicians, and elected officials to develop their messages, increase their influence, and achieve measurable results. She uses her unique blend of experiences as a corporate VP, attorney, professor, producer, and improviser to inspire, connect, and ask provocative questions.
K.M. has a reputation as a trailblazer in leadership development because of her focus on theory, experiential learning, and direct feedback. From her time on stage to the courtroom to the halls of government, K.M.’s career has given her a front-row seat to all types of leaders and provided her with both a commitment to service and a creative approach to leadership. Most recently, K.M. served as a speech coach for the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Who we are
Before founding KMZ Advisors, K.M. led high-impact international programs in a range of settings. As Vice President of Leadership Initiatives at The Estée Lauder Companies, she led a global learning curriculum and created all content and coaching for a signature women’s leadership program that delivered on key metrics. K.M. has also delivered presentations at medical conferences, for energy start-ups, and at finance events, as well as for Vital Voices Visionaries, a negotiation program for international trailblazing women. She has presented in person or virtually around the world from Detroit to D.C. and Paris to Panama, and she appeared on 60 Minutes in connection with her work on the Dixmoor Five and Englewood Four exonerations. K.M. proudly served as the Chief of Staff of the National Endowment for the Arts.
An award-winning educator, K.M. has taught public persuasion and negotiation at Northwestern University, where she received the MSL Program’s Outstanding Teaching Award and the Law School’s Emerging Leader Award. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, K.M. has helped individuals and teams across industries—including consumer products, academia, and the military—unlock their potential and excel in their fields.
K.M. earned her JD from Northwestern (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) and a BA from Yale (cum laude) and graduated from The Second City Chicago’s Conservatory Program. She serves on the advisory board of NYU Law’s Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center and has served on non-profit boards focused on social justice.