2026 SPEAKER

in

Katie Thomas

Lead, Kearney Consumer Institute

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Kearney

Katie Thomas is a consumer insights expert, retail strategist, and head of the Kearney Consumer Institute who helps brands understand how consumer behavior is reshaping retail and growth.

Consumer Insights

Retail Strategy

Consumer Behavior Trends

Academic Background

Katie earned her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and her BBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. Her background in both business and brand management informs the consumer-first lens she brings to strategy and research.    
Industry Experience

Katie has more than 15 years of experience across consumer, retail, and media, spanning consulting, brand management, and thought leadership. She now leads the Kearney Consumer Institute, where she partners with Fortune 500 brands and brings large-scale consumer research to business strategy.  