Kelly (Kleinkort) Montes, Mpa
About Kelly (Kleinkort) Montes, Mpa
Kelly Montes serves as the Executive Director of US Corporate Engagement at Catalyst Inc., where she oversees a team that delivers research and solutions for inclusive workplaces. With a background in public administration and extensive experience in corporate engagement, she advocates for cross-cultural dialogue and has delivered numerous speaking engagements on leadership and empathy.
Current Role at Catalyst Inc.
Kelly Montes serves as the Executive Director of US Corporate Engagement at Catalyst Inc., a position she has held since 2022. In this role, she oversees the largest segment of the Catalyst portfolio in the U.S., managing a team of Relationship Managers. Her focus is on delivering actionable research and solutions aimed at fostering inclusive workplaces. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Director of Expert Community at Catalyst Inc. from 2021, and before that, she served as the Director of Corporate Engagement from 2019 to 2021.
Previous Experience
Before joining Catalyst Inc., Kelly Montes held several significant positions. She was the Director of Learning Abroad at the University of Houston from 2016 to 2019. Prior to that role, she worked at Asia Society as the Director of Education, Business & Policy from 2014 to 2016. She also served at Texas A&M University in various capacities, including Director of the Confucius Institute and Assistant Director of Global Projects and Partnerships from 2010 to 2014, and as Program Coordinator for one year in 2009.
Education and Expertise
Kelly Montes earned a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied from 2013 to 2015. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Communication from Texas A&M University, completed between 1999 and 2003. Additionally, she studied Mandarin at Inner Mongolia University in China, obtaining a certification from 2003 to 2005.
Recognitions and Fellowships
Kelly Montes has been recognized as a Fulbright Scholar and a Young Sinologist, a fellowship awarded by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. These honors reflect her commitment to cross-cultural understanding and her expertise in international relations.
Advocacy and Speaking Engagements
Kelly Montes advocates for courageous conversations, curiosity, and intentional bridge building across cultures as solutions to contemporary challenges. Throughout her career, she has delivered over 70 speaking engagements on topics such as empathy, inclusive leadership, and allyship, contributing to discussions on diversity and inclusion in the workplace.