Kristin A. Mannion founded Aura Leadership and Development in 2019, an independent consulting firm focused on identifying, recruiting and developing global executive talent. Kristin’s career has included executive roles in the private, corporate and public sectors.  Over 14 years as Vice Chair of Korn Ferry's CEO and Board Practice, Kristin worked with hundreds of companies and organizations to recruit strategic leadership in CEO and Board roles.  She serves as a client-focused, strategic advisor to CEOs and Boards on leadership and governance issues, with a special focus around diversity, gender equity and inclusion.  Her approach includes combining innovation and deep original research along with her extensive network.

Before joining Korn Ferry in 2004, she was CEO of Aura Associates, a company she founded to advise corporations and organizations on positioning and marketing strategies.  Earlier, and over a decade on Wall Street, she built and led PaineWebber's Government Relations and Public Affairs Department.  There, she managed the firm’s public policy agenda, legislative issues, corporate giving, Foundation activities, and Political Action Committee.

Prior to Wall Street, Ms. Mannion served in the New York State Executive Chamber as Director of Governor Mario Cuomo’s New York City office.  She served as Appointments Officer where she placed cabinet level Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors across Agencies, Departments, and Boards of New York State.  In her earlier career, Kristin held Account Manager roles in Mass Marketing International and was a financial underwriter and marketing representative for Aetna Life and Casualty.

Kristin has served on numerous nonprofit and private corporate advisory Boards.  She resides in Washington, DC with her husband, an international lawyer and consultant, H.P. Goldfield, and is the happy mother of their college aged twins.  She has advised political candidates, served in a presidential transition committee, and is a frequent speaker on gender, diversity, leadership and talent development.

Katie is a Principal at Aura Leadership and Development.  In this role she acts as an advisor to both clients and senior executives on organizational development and talent management.  Katie also works with the Aura Leadership and Development management team in operations, business development, and internal strategy.  She brings international experience, and an expertise in organizational and cognitive psychology.

Prior to joining Aura Leadership and Development, Katie was a Global Knowledge Manager and Research Associate at Korn Ferry.  She lead research, diligence, and go-to-market plans for many successful Executive-level searches.

Earlier in her career, Katie worked in Real Estate and Land Development as an Assistant Project Manager.  Her work focused on developing and designing highly differentiated customer experiences to guide corporate strategy decisions.

Katie received her MBA from Oxford University with distinction in Finance.  Previously, she received her MA in Organizational/Social Psychology from Columbia University where her research focused on the economic impact of cognitive processing models and human capital.  She graduated Summa Cum Luade, studying Psychology, from George Mason University.