Keep Your Eye on the Horizon: Kathy Eberwein on Leading with Integrity, Going Global, and Building Real Impact Artwork

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Badass Women in Business

Keep Your Eye on the Horizon: Kathy Eberwein on Leading with Integrity, Going Global, and Building Real Impact

July 15, 2025 • Aggie & Cristy • Season 4 • Episode 34

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Kathy Eberwein is the founder and CEO of Global Edge Group, one of the first woman-owned recruitment agencies serving the global energy industry. From managing multimillion-dollar engineering projects to building a workforce of over 1,000 people across 18 countries, Kathy’s journey is rooted in resilience, values, and bold decisions. In this episode, she talks about leading through rapid growth, the importance of personal relationships in business, and why staying grounded in your core values is what fuels long-term success. Kathy also shares the story behind the Doyenne Initiative, her nonprofit that empowers women in engineering, IT, healthcare, and business through global education and leadership opportunities. This conversation is a masterclass in authenticity, grit, and what it really means to build legacy.

Show Notes:

1:52 – Kathy’s journey from mechanical engineer to international recruiter
4:40 – Building credibility as the only woman on a job site of 1,100 men
9:18 – The pivot to recruiting and the early days of Global Edge
11:47 – Starting her business the day after her divorce, as a single mom of four
14:29 – Hitting growth milestones: 18 countries, 1,000+ staff
16:50 – Why resilience and relationship-building are at the core of her leadership
20:10 – Trust, transparency, and building an executive team that shares the mission
22:56 – Keeping culture consistent across continents
26:38 – The value of inclusivity without uniformity
30:00 – Taking early risks: Going global within the first 9 months
34:25 – Learning to scale without losing your values
38:41 – How her leadership style has evolved (and what she’d tell her younger self)
41:30 – The five core values that shape Global Edge
46:14 – Doyenne Initiative: Empowering women globally through education
52:32 – Building a nonprofit that aligns with your business values
55:10 – What Kathy sees ahead in the global economy and workforce trends
59:48 – Her perspective on AI in recruiting and why people still matter most
1:03:06 – Advice for young women: Be who you are, and own it
1:06:42 – If she started over with $10K and a laptop, here’s what she’d do
1:10:17 – Final words of wisdom: Stay grounded, keep your eye on the horizon