Lauren Catenacci, PhD

Dr. Lauren Catenacci is an organizational psychologist, coach, and fractional People & Culture leader with nearly 15years of experience helping organizations build strong cultures, aligned teams, and effective people strategies. She partners with mission-driven businesses—especially during times of growth or change—to create the conditions where people and performance can thrive.

With deep expertise in Social-Organizational Psychology, Lauren brings a systems lens to leadership, team development, and culture transformation. She has held leadership roles including Head of People and Culture (Galaxy Vets) and Associate Director of Organizational Effectiveness (Gartner), and her work spans startups, nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies.

An expert in executive and leadership assessment, Lauren is certified in a wide range of tools, including the Hogan Assessments and the NEO Personality Inventory. In her doctoral research at Columbia University, she developed a validated instrument to measure learning agility in leaders. She has built custom frameworks for assessing and developing leadership talent and believes strongly in the power of assessment—not just for making smart talent decisions, but also as a catalyst for self-awareness and development.

As a coach, Lauren’s style is deeply rooted in curiosity and systems thinking. She creates space for leaders to explore the nuanced context of their challenges, recognizing that leadership effectiveness isn’t about universal “right” or “wrong” answers—but about understanding the complex interplay of systems, relationships, and culture. Her incisive questions help leaders surface critical insights, while her expertise in organizational psychology enables them to approach challenges from multiple angles.

Lauren holds a PhD in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, and certifications in executive coaching and psychological assessment. She also teaches and coaches at IMD Business School and Columbia University, staying at the forefront of leadership and culture development. Based in Atlanta, she’s a proud mom of two energetic boys, a dog, and a cat—and brings warmth, curiosity, and purpose to everything she does.