Leadership

Cathryn Mattson
Executive Director & CEO

Cathryn Mattson is a seasoned executive who has worked domestically and globally across various industries and sectors. She has held senior leadership positions in Fortune 100 companies and leading nonprofits throughout her career. 

In 2013, she launched Mattson Coaching, an executive coaching and strategy consulting practice serving corporate, nonprofit and government clients. Through this practice, Cathryn has guided clients in developing their full leadership potential, strengthening their communication and interpersonal skills, and building effective strategies to achieve desired business outcomes. 

Before founding her own business, Cathryn was a Partner and Chief Administrative Officer for the Bridgespan Group, a leading social impact consultant and advisor to nonprofits, NGOs, philanthropists, and investors. She led all operating functions of the firm and critical strategic initiatives, including re-branding and improvements to financial systems/reporting and human resources processes. In addition, Cathryn spent twenty years with Bestfoods and Unilever Bestfoods after their merger. During that time, she held the positions of Senior Director of Strategy and Business Intelligence, Corporate Director of Government Relations, Corporate Director of the Values and Policies Office and had P&L responsibility for several businesses. 

She has also served as Chief Operating Officer for Tiger21, a premier learning group for high-net-worth investors, and Women’s World Banking, a global network of microfinance institutions dedicated to providing financial services to low-income women for entrepreneurial activity. 

She began her career in education and the arts as a Program Director for the South Carolina Arts Commission. Then, she relocated to New York City to become the Artistic Director for NY Young Audiences, which provided concerts and artist residencies for the NYC public schools. She later became the Executive Director of the Theater at St. Peter’s, an off-Broadway theater. In addition, she has provided consulting services and executive coaching to numerous arts organizations. 

With her deep love for and commitment to the arts, Cathryn has championed programs that promote equal access to arts experiences in diverse urban and rural communities. She has served on the boards of various arts organizations, most recently the Board of Overseers of the Boston Ballet, where she was a member of the Education/Community Outreach and Finance committees. 

Throughout her career, Cathryn has focused on building high-performing teams and fostering a positive, collaborative work environment. In each role, she committed to sharpening strategic focus, ensuring a sustainable economic infrastructure, and 
nurturing professional development for staff. 

Cathryn’s educational background includes an MBA in Marketing and Strategy from the Columbia Business School and a BA magna cum laude in English/Spanish from Tufts University. Additionally, she has completed leadership programs at the Aspen Institute and the Center for Creative Leadership and received her coaching certification from the Newfield Network. 

Cathryn enjoys attending visual and performing arts events in her leisure time as well as pursuing her own music as a singer and pianist.