Catherine M. Rymsha, EdD, knows what makes a leader, a leader. Based on her years of training, research, and consulting, she's determined how a person becomes one: they make the decision to lead.

Catherine is a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where she teaches courses on leadership. She has taught for Merrimack College and several adult education community programs. Catherine spent over ten years in marketing/communications leadership roles ranging from marketing healthcare conferences to writing speeches on payment card security. She now leads learning and development for a software company. Between her academic and professional experience, she has taught thousands of courses on leadership, feedback, and career to global leaders across an array of industries.

Her TEDx Talk, "Want to Become a Better Leader? Here's How. Just Listen," focuses on the importance of listening to leadership. She holds a master of science in leadership and a doctorate of education with a focus on organizational leadership from Northeastern University in Boston and was a member of the Sigma Epsilon Rho honor society. Her research at Northeastern University focused on leadership development within healthcare.

Catherine received her bachelor of arts in English/Communications from the Massachusetts Colleges of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Massachusetts, where she was nominated into "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" and became a member of the Alpha Chi and Lambda Iota Tau honor societies.

Catherine is from West Newbury, Massachusetts, and attended Pentucket Regional High School. She lives on the north shore of Massachusetts with her dog, Mia. She is a four-time marathon runner and an avid snowboarder. Catherine loves craft beer, Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Stowe, Vermont.