About – Insight Leadership Consulting

About Insight Leadership Consulting

Empowering individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential through authentic leadership, evidence-based human capital strategies, and a relentless focus on people.

My Journey

My journey into leadership consulting is rooted in over two decades of hands-on experience in human capital management—where the focus is always on people as the driving force behind organizational success. From talent acquisition and development to performance management, employee engagement, and succession planning, I’ve worked at every level to ensure that organizations not only attract but also retain and grow their most valuable asset: their people.

In 2018, I began a doctorate in interdisciplinary leadership, eager to deepen my understanding of engagement, resilience, servant leadership, and change management. From day one, I applied what I learned to real-world challenges within the defense intelligence community and beyond. By aligning human capital strategies with organizational goals, I helped teams and leaders navigate complex transitions, foster inclusive cultures, and build resilient, high-performing workforces.

As I successfully defended my dissertation in 2022, I expanded my impact—sharing key insights with leadership development programs, leading workshops for nonprofit leaders and small business owners, and supporting defense offices where culture was the foundation for improved teamwork and mission success. My work has always been anchored in the core pillars of human capital management: talent management, learning and development, performance optimization, employee engagement, and leadership pipeline development.

Simultaneously, I immersed myself in national and local organizations, building a network to better understand the evolving needs of leaders and teams. Since 2022, I’ve joined three nonprofit boards, earned an executive coaching certification, and become proficient in Wiley’s DiSC and Five Behaviors.

What drives me is a deep belief in the power of authentic leadership and the transformative impact of investing in people. I’ve seen firsthand how intentional culture-building and evidence-based human capital strategies can transform organizations—leading to stronger teams, higher morale, and measurable results. Every client engagement is tailored to their unique needs, blending academic insight, practical tools, and a transformational, servant leader’s heart.

I founded Insight Leadership Consulting LLC to support others on their leadership journeys, and I’m committed to continuous learning and community engagement to bring the best possible solutions to those I serve.

Our Mission & Values

At Insight Leadership Consulting, our mission is to empower individuals and organizations to reach their highest potential through authentic leadership, evidence-based human capital strategies, and a relentless focus on people.

We believe that leadership is about service, resilience, and continuous learning. Our values guide every engagement:

People First

We prioritize the growth, well-being, and engagement of every individual.

Integrity

We act with honesty, transparency, and respect in all interactions.

Innovation

We challenge the status quo, bringing creative solutions to complex challenges.

Collaboration

We partner with clients to co-create strategies that drive lasting impact.

Excellence

We are committed to delivering measurable results and exceeding expectations.

We work by blending academic insight with practical tools—from Wiley’s DiSC and Five Behaviors to tailored coaching and consulting—always meeting clients where they are and supporting their unique journeys.

Meet the Founder

With 25 years in defense intelligence, Karalee honed her skills in making critical decisions with limited information on complex, multifaceted problems, all while prioritizing the development and well-being of her teams. As a seasoned executive coach and accomplished board leader, she brings over a decade of hands-on experience in human capital management—focusing on talent acquisition, development, performance optimization, employee engagement, and leadership pipeline growth.

Karalee’s exceptional ability to listen, understand diverse perspectives, and align people strategies with organizational goals has made her a trusted advisor and mentor. With extensive experience spanning both public and private sectors, she has a proven track record of enhancing organizational effectiveness, fostering dynamic leadership, and driving measurable results.

Her passion for authentic leadership and her commitment to excellence make her a compelling thought leader and a trusted resource for those navigating today’s ever-changing business environment. Karalee’s unique blend of academic insight, practical experience, and transformational leadership enables her to help organizations unlock their full potential.

Dr. Karalee Picard

EdD, ACC

Client Wins

"Your coaching was critical to carrying me through my professional and personal experiences during the most challenging time of my life. I really appreciate you. As I take coaching training myself, I think back to our first session, when you may have come to the meeting anticipating a newly-selected senior leader thinking through their next steps, and instead you received someone ominously waiting on a cancer diagnosis and unsure of how it would impact my job and my life, while simultaneously being assigned to greater work responsibilities. How you figured out where to go from there—I will never know but will always appreciate your generous gift of coaching. Thank you!"

Dr. Picard's culture project has been a transformative experience for our division. As a senior leader, I've witnessed firsthand the drastic improvement in camaraderie among our team members, forged by identification of our shared expectations. We created a culture tailored to our function because a blanket vision across multiple organizations is not enough to create a work center identity. Dr. Picard's insightful guidance and engaging workshops have fostered a culture of collaboration, trust, and mutual respect. Our division has become more cohesive, productive, and resilient as a result, and I feel I have a better understanding of the workforce. I highly recommend Dr. Picard's expertise to any organization seeking to enhance their workplace culture and drive success.

This workshop far exceeded my expectations. As a leader I found it extremely valuable to hear my team's perspective. The environment that Dr. Picard established made everyone feel comfortable to provide open and honest feedback. I also felt that folks were very comfortable to engage and provide input. I am hoping to encourage [my manager] to conduct this workshop for the broader team.