Kate Isler is a gender equity activist, wife, author, mother, partner, friend, businessperson,
sister, and risk-taker. Born in Southeast Texas, raised in the Southwest, and educated in the Northwest, Kate said “yes” to adventure and career from the start. As a tech executive,
Kate’s work took her all over the world with her husband as they raised three sons.
She started her career with Microsoft in Redmond, Washington. As a woman in tech in the early 1990s, Kate faced and overcame
barriers in her work, and in the many countries where she lived, with humor and resilience. She was a trailblazer in her industry and in her personal life as she boldly stepped into the role as primary
breadwinner, with the support of her husband, Doug. After twenty years with Microsoft, Kate took her passion for business
into the startup world. With her depth of experience in tech, this healthcare-focused app grew almost to fruition. Kate considers
this one of her best experiences as she learned “what not to do.” A shift into a non-profit startup dedicated to celebrating International Women’s Day was the catalyst to Kate’s most recent adventure, launching an ecommerce platform for women-owned businesses, TheWMarketplace.
Kate’s passion for gender parity has led her to a seat on the global board of Girl Rising, and she is a committed mentor for the International Women’s Forum.
Kate lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband. Their three
sons are all grown and starting their own adventures.