Kathleen Kennedy, Senior Director, MIT Horizon; Executive Director, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence
Kathleen is a dynamic leader with an exceptional record of achievement, positioning her at the forefront of technology and innovation. Her current pursuits revolve around AI education, digital transformation, organizational design and sustainable fashion, where she passionately drives advancement. With her strategic acumen, she possesses a distinctive skill set that allows her to both revitalize established organizations and build new ones.
In her role as Executive Director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence, Kathleen collaborates with a multidisciplinary research team on Supermind Design—a groundbreaking methodology for creating innovative intelligent human/machine organizations. She applies this expertise at MIT Open Learning, where she leads MIT Horizon, a learning platform that enables organizations to scale their training in emerging technologies like generative AI, digital twin, and quantum computing.
Throughout her career, Kathleen has held several key leadership positions, including President of Technology Review, MIT’s media company; Chief Strategy Officer, MIT Technology Review; President, MIT Enterprise Forum, a global community for tech entrepreneurs; and Cofounder and board member of Hubweek, an unprecedented civic collaboration and city-wide festival involving Harvard, MIT, the Boston Globe, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Kathleen’s commitment to empowering innovative ventures is evident in her role as a venture partner at Good Growth Capital, a fund dedicated to supporting ambitious founders who strive to improve lives through their ventures. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in successfully launching The Engine—a venture fund aimed at bolstering tough tech startups—and MIT Solve—a dynamic marketplace that drives social impact innovation.
Recognized as an influential figure within the innovation community, Kathleen is highly sought-after as a speaker at global conferences. She actively contributes her expertise to prestigious selection committees such as the MacArthur Foundation 100&change and the Eisenhower Fellowships. She also dedicates her expertise as a mentor for MIT DesignX.
Kathleen’s exceptional contributions have been recognized through accolades, such as the Folio: 40, which honors the most innovative and influential individuals in the media industry. Additionally, she has been named one of Boston’s Most Influential Women by the Women of the Harvard Club.
