Meet the Team

Donna Chrobot-Mason is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences. Her research and consulting work has spanned two decades and centers on leadership for creating organizations that support diversity, equity, inclusion and intergroup collaboration. Chrobot-Mason has published over 40 articles and scholarly works in journals such as the Journal of Management, Leadership Quarterly, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Group and Organization Management. She has served on the editorial review board for the Journal of Management, Personnel Psychology and the Journal of Business and Psychology. Additionally, Donna co-wrote the book "Boundary Spanning Leadership: Six Practices for Solving Problems, Driving Innovation, and Transforming Organizations."

Chrobot-Mason’s dedication to service has remained steadfast throughout her career. She’s addressed numerous audiences with the Brookings Institute, FBI, EPA, IRS, Catholic Health Partners and the International Leadership Association. Chrobot-Mason has consulted with various organizations, including Fifth Third Bank, Briggs and Stratton, Dayton Public Schools, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Emory University, Milacron and Forest City Enterprises.

She serves as a member of the Inclusion & Reconciliation board for the Cincinnati Art Museum, as a founding board member of non-profit Lead Beyond and is the director for UC Women Lead, an executive leadership program for high-potential women at UC.

Chrobot-Mason holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Applied Psychology from the University of Georgia.

Charlene Garrett serves as Assistant Director of the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute, where she supports the development of student leaders across the university through coaching, cohort programs, and high-impact learning experiences. She first joined the Institute in August 2024 as a programming consultant and stepped into the Assistant Director role in May 2025.

A professional facilitator, executive coach and emerging scholar, Charlene is passionate about developing leaders of character for both public and private purpose, with interests in leadership identity, paradox mindset and virtue-based development. Grounded in her Christian faith and a lifelong commitment to service, she approaches leadership as both a practice and a calling.

Alongside her work at the institute, Charlene brings more than two decades of global leadership development experience and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies with a focus on community-based action research. Charlene is also the host of The Accidental Mentor podcast, where she shares real stories of mentoring and growth, and she is deeply committed to helping others discover their leadership voice through meaningful relationships.

Outside of work, Charlene loves board games, cycling and travel. At the end of the day, you'll usually find her at home in Kentucky with her dog, Niko, dreaming up the next adventure.

The daughter of Warren Bennis, Kate Bennis is a professional actor and clinical social worker who draws from the skills and techniques of the theater, therapeutic training, and years of experience to give her clients everything they need to communicate as their fullest, most perfectly imperfect selves. Kate’s presentation and communication practice is grounded in mastering the skills that give the speaker freedom, agility, creativity, humor, ease, presence and the ability to connect with their audience. This work helps clients to bring their most authentic selves to everything from wedding toasts to TED Talks, from political debates to flirting!

A professional actor with over 30 years of experience in TV, film and stage, Kate has coached senior and mid-level leaders at American Express, AOL, Deloitte and Touche, Apex Clean Energy, the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve Bank and the CIA; Harvard Business School Executive Education, Columbia University Executive Education, Darden Business School Executive Education, UVa’s McIntire School of Commerce, and University College London. As the Lead Coach for the Charlottesville TEDx, Kate has coached dozens of speakers and overseen the coaching for over 80 TED Talks. While with The Ariel Group, Kate delivered trainings around the world, developed training curricula, and served as Director of Outreach. A licensed clinical social worker, Kate has worked with children and adults in a private practice, as well as schools and prisons.

Former CEO/President of Campbell Soup Company, former President of Nabisco Foods and former Chairman of Avon Products now runs his own business, ConantLeadership, a mission-driven community of leaders and learners.

Doug is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, keynote speaker, and thought leader with 50 years of leadership experience at global companies.

Betsy Myers is on a mission to improve leadership by developing leaders and teams who infuse passion and purpose into their organizations by leading from both the head and the heart.

With over three decades as a thought leader, author, speaker and consultant, Betsy is a renowned expert on emerging leadership trends and women’s leadership. Her extensive experience includes working with corporate, government, nonprofit and higher education leaders. She is the author of “Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You.”

A senior adviser to two U.S. presidents, Betsy served as President Clinton’s Advisor on Women’s Issues, was the first Director of the White House Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. She was Chief Operating Officer of President Obama’s 2008 National Presidential Campaign.