Past Experience
Throughout my career, I’ve been an advocate and mentor for diversity and meaningful change—challenging mindsets, moving the needle, and holding people and organizations accountable for doing the right thing. That work taught me something powerful: real change doesn’t happen without accountability.
Keynote, Mentoring, Panelist, Moderator:
New Jersey Veterans Chamber of Commerce
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Supplier Diversity Development Council
Minority Construction Council
General Contractors Association
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Mentor Prodigy Program
MTA-Mentor Prodigy Program
Awards and Recognition
Women Builders in Construction- Outstanding Women in Construction
New York Tri-State Chapter NAMC-Diversity Champion
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities-SDDC- Outstanding Commitment
Minority Construction Council Champion, 2021, 2022, 2023; Corporate Diversity Champion 2022
Stop Asking For An Encore: How accountability helps you recognize patterns, reclaim your power and change what happens next.
What happens when accountability disappears?
In families, relationships, workplaces and leadership, consequences don't simply disappear, they are often transferred to someone, a sibling, spouse or a colleague; possibly a high performer. And unfortunately, that person usually carries the weight of everyone else on their shoulders.
That leads to burn out.
Who is Catherine?
Drawing from powerful personal experiences, childhood trauma and decades of professional expertise, Catherine Best examines how a lack of accountability can shape individuals, compromise trust, drain high performers, and ultimately shape corporate culture.
Through candid storytelling, humor, personal experience, and professional experience, Catherine challenges audiences to challenge what accountability really means.
Accountability isn’t about blame, punishment, or perfection. It’s about having the courage to own what belongs to you and return the rest.
Implementing her SEE IT. OWN IT. CHANGE IT. framework, Catherine explores both a personal and practical way to help others recognize their behaviors, set boundaries and evolve into transparent leaders.
Because you can't always control whether someone else takes responsibility for their words or their actions.
But you can decide what to own, what to change and what to move forward.
OWN YOUR PART RETURN THE REST.
SOMEONE ELSES DENIAL DOESN’T REWRITE YOUR TRUTH.
BEING YOURSELF DOESN’T EXCUSE HURTING SOMEONE ELSE.
WHAT YOU REPEATIDLY TOLERATE YOU EVENTUALLY NORMALIZE.
YOU DON’T NEED THEIR APOLOGY TO TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP.